Mid Sierra Musings

Sunday, March 17, 2019

The Lake Trail Along Eastman Lake

Dale Matson

Click On Photographs To Enlarge

My Lake Trail Hike Route

For more background information I have a previous article on Eastman Lake. https://midsierramusing.blogspot.com/2018/02/eastman-lake-raymond-ca.html

There is a nice trail that begins at Eastman Lake runs along the east shore and ends at the Raymond Bridge. It is four miles one way. You can also begin the trail at the Raymond Bridge and go to Eastman Lake. For this route, you need to find your way to the town of Raymond and take highway 613 to the bridge where the highway crosses the Chowchilla River that feeds Eastman Lake. I began at the bridge and did about 6 miles round trip on the trail Saturday.

There is a lot of up and down and I did about 600’ of elevation gain round trip. If you are a fisherman, there are a lot of places to drop down to the water. I think the view is scenic with lots of different birds to see along the way. The trail is used by those on horseback and folks bring their dogs when they hike also. I think mountain bikes are allowed also. Check first at: https://www.spk.usace.army.mil/Locations/Sacramento-District-Parks/Eastman-Lake/

There was an eagle nest with eggs last year but for some reason, the eagles abandoned the nest. This year, there is no evidence of eagles at all near the nest. It is located between the trail and lake. And can be seen from the trail. There are little creeks that flow across the trail this time of year so be prepared to jump or wade. You might see a newt or two on the trail as you hike.

There is a large place to park by the bridge and a toilet nearby.

Coots They Are Favorite Eagle Food

Abandoned Eagle Nest

Passing Hawk

Portion Of Dam At Far End Of The Lake

Visitors Center And Observation Area Far End Of Lake

One of Several Small Seasonal Creeks That Cross The Trail

Saturday, March 9, 2019

Susie The Airedale. My Trail Companion Part III

Dale Matson

Susie

Susie is our Airedale and you can sample her exploits over the years. Part I is here: https://midsierramusing.blogspot.com/2014/05/susie-airedale-my-trail-companion-part-i.html

And part II is here: https://midsierramusing.blogspot.com/2014/05/susie-airedale-my-trail-companion-part.html.

These have been difficult days for Susie (and us). She is no longer able to get to Woodward Park here in Fresno. She is nearly 14 years old and the Veterinarian said Susie has severe arthritis in her left hip and right shoulder. She also has various undiagnosed tumors. She can barely put any weight on her right front leg yet she has never even whimpered. We give her pain medication from the Veterinarian that can be tolerated by dogs. Dogs cannot tolerate NSAIDs. For a time, this gave her enough relief that she could make it to the park but then it became a half mile round trip for our morning walk.

Early this week she refused to go into the garage to “leash up”. She went to the door in the morning to go outside to toilet and would come back to her pillow in the kitchen. The tile kitchen floor is becoming more difficult for her since she lacks the leg strength to keep herself stable. She is better on the carpet and on grass. Three days ago, I wrote in my journal that I had taken her for her last walk.

This morning I had let her out and she had come back in to her pillow. When I went to the garage door to walk her younger brother, she got out of her pillow and walked to the door. “OK Susie, let’s give it a try”, I said. Duke, you’ll have to wait. She jammed her neck into the leash like the old days and we were off. Today was an unexpected and special day for Susie and me. Today, I let her linger at every smell. Smells are a big part of the life of a dog. We got out about a quarter mile and turned around. She seemed relieved to be heading home again to her pillow.

Her appetite has been fairly good and she seems to be in little pain when she lays in her pillow. She is right there for table scraps and now she is always first in line. Duke seems to understand and waits. He also no longer tries to play with her, knowing at some level she is too frail.

She was once about robust 75 pounds and I would guess she is now in the fragile 50-pound range. Because she has accidents we now keep her in the kitchen at night. She still barks at cats that come through the yard.

I don’t know how much longer this dying process will be but as long as she can still make it outside and is not in pain except when moving around, we will keep her with us. For when she is gone, she will be a long time gone. The grieving has already begun. She has had such a full and wonderful life. We are so blessed. As the days pass now our pain increases along with her infirmities. My hope for her is that she will pass during the night in her sleep.

Monday, March 4, 2019

Day Trip From Fresno CA To Huntington Lake 2019

Dale Matson

We had a partly sunny day today and I thought it would be fun to grab the camera and head up there. That is one of the beauties of living in Fresno. You can be in Huntington Lake in 90 minutes on good pavement. The major change is based on the elevation change, not the distance. Fresno is about 300’ and Huntington Lake is about 7,000’ in elevation.

Right now, we are about an inch of rain above normal for the season (8) and 150 percent above normal snowfall in the Sierra Nevada. The creeks are flowing and the one along Auberry Rd. as you travel northeast is just dandy. I also stopped at Shaver Lake (5,500’) for a couple of photos, Tamarack Snow Park (7,500’), Big Creek and the Lakeshore area of Huntington Lake. Huntington Lake is frozen over.

I also took a trip out of Shaver Lake to Dinkey Creek. That is as far as the road is plowed. In the Summer, you can go from there to the McKinley Grove of Giant Sequoias, Courtright Reservoir and Wishon Reservoir.

I took these photos with my Leica Q 28mm 1.7 lens.