Saturday, February 13, 2021

Culbertson Lake - Nevada County, California

 

Visited on 10/25/2019, Jeff and I decided to travel to Tahoe National Forest and go on a 7.5 mile hike with our dogs and packed a lunch for our day trip journey.  Culbertson Lake is a 71 surface acre lake at an elevation of 6,520 feet above sea level.  The Lake is named after J.H. Culbertson who built the original dam in the 1850’s.  This lake is located in the Grouse Ridge Recreation Area of the Tahoe National Forest which is located 8 miles north of Highway 20 just off of Bowman Road then 4 miles until you reach the Lindsey Lake Campground.  The last 4 miles along the Lindsey Lake Road is a little rough and a 4x4 vehicle is advised due to clearance, but we made it just fine with our Jeep Wrangler.  We parked at the designated backcountry parking area just below the Lindsey Lake dam.  We hiked up the grade thru the campground where four separate shoreline campers were enjoying a relaxing day along the northern shore of Lindsey Lake.  We ventured thru the gate accessed with a trail head sign and a map of the area.   About a mile along the hiking path (private road) we decided to take a right turn at Middle Lindsey Lake and hike along the eastern shore until we reached the much smaller Upper Lindsey Lake.  We continued along the creek until we got our first view of Culbertson Lake approaching from the southwest end of the lake. 

The view of the Lake was gorgeous with the Fall colors exploding and it was such a perfect weather day.  Very little wind, 64 degrees as a high and we only saw one other hiker on the trail the whole way.   We stopped and had lunch on the western shore of Culbertson and soaked in the serenity and peaceful surroundings while enjoying a few ducks swim across the lake in the distance.  We continued along the western side of the lake until we joined back up with the main hiking trail and private road.  We continued to the most northern point of Culbertson Lake where the dam is located.  There are two or three resident homes along the lake near the dam.  Our dogs enjoyed us tossing the stick into the lake a few times before we made our way back to where we parked our Jeep Wrangler at the parking lot.  We covered over 7.5 miles and enjoyed our day at Culbertson Lake.  We both agreed this was one of the most enjoyable hikes to a remote lake that we have taken.

There we are at Culbertson Lake enjoying the peacefulness and serenity of this beautiful 71 surface acre lake at an elevation of 6,250 feet above sea level. We are standing on the dam on the north end of the lake.








Friday, February 12, 2021

Lake Manzanita - Shasta County, California

Jeff and I enjoyed a wonderful day with our two Chocolate Labs, Summer and Skye exploring Lassen Volcanic National Park in Northern California. We entered on the northwest entrance at Manzanita Lake. Manzanita Lake is 26 surface acres at an elevation of 5,988 feet above sea level. Manzanita Lake was formed when Manzanita Creek was dammed 300 years ago by a rock avalanche from the northwest slope of the Chaos Crags, which also resulted in the debris formation known as Chaos  Jumbles.  This National Park is only 175 miles north of our home.

While visiting this amazing National Park we learned so much about this wonderful place and captured beautiful scenery along our 30 mile journey through the main section of the Park. We made all 16 stops on the self-guided point of interest drive through the heart of the Park. First stop was the National Park sign group shot, then we captured amazing super cloud reflections casting off of Manzanita and Reflection Lakes. We then visited many of this parks features including: Chaos Crags; the Novles Emigrant Trail; Hot Rock; the Devastated Area with it's very informative 1/2 mile trail describing the Lassen Peak in 1915; beautiful Hat Creek Lake and meadow; Kings Creek and Meadow; Lassen Summit trailhead at a staggering 8,512 feet; Helen and Emerald Lakes which are still iced over; Sulphur Works with it's boiling sulfur pools and pots; and concluding with a nice picnic lunch for both us and our dogs at the Kohm Yah-mah-nee Visitor Center which is the southwest entrance to the park.





Lake Merritt - Alameda County, California


We visited Oakland, California on 3/31/19 during a weekend camping trip to the South Bay Area.  Lake Merritt is a 155 acre large tidal lagoon located at an elevation of 43 feet above sea level in the center of Oakland, California, just east of Downtown. It is surrounded by parkland and city neighborhoods. It is historically significant as the United States' first official wildlife refuge, designated in 1870, and has been listed as a National Historic Landmark since 1963, and on the National Register of Historic Places since 1966. The lake features grassy shores; several artificial islands intended as bird refuges; an interpretive center called the Rotary Nature Center; a boating center where sailboats, canoes and rowboats can be rented and classes are held; and a fairy tale themed amusement park called Children's Fairyland.  A popular 3.4 mile walking and jogging path runs along its perimeter.

The lake was originally an arm of the San Francisco Bay formed where several creeks empty into the bay. It was surrounded by 1,000 acres  of wetlands when the Ohlone people fished, hunted and gathered food along its shores. By 1810, the remaining Native Americans were removed to Mission San José and the estuary and 44,800 acres  of surrounding land was deeded to Sergeant Luis Maria Peralta to become Rancho San Antonio. After gold was discovered in 1848 in present-day Coloma 125 miles  to the northeast, Anglo squatters led by lawyer Horace Carpentier took control of the East Bay area which was to become downtown Oakland, including the estuary known as "San Antonio Slough." In 1856, Peralta fought and won a United States Supreme Court case against the squatters but further court cases between his sons and daughters would greatly diminish their holdings. The Peralta brothers had to sell much of the land to Carpentier to pay legal fees and new property taxes. Oakland was incorporated in 1852 with Carpentier as its first mayor and the estuary became the city's sewer.

Lake Merritt naturally had tidal flows via a broad 600 foot outlet, but this has been steadily reduced with development of the region after 1869. Currently the tidal flows are limited in size and managed for flood control.  For years the lake acted as a waste collector. It was regarded as ideal for sewage because of its chemical contents, which have high acidities that cause it to decompose human feces at very high rates. Sixty miles of brick and wood channeling sent the broken down sewage to the bottom of the lake to then be eaten by bottom feeders. The stench at the lake during the decomposition of the sewage was a problem for Oaklanders on the west shore and residents of Clinton and San Antonio villages on the east.

Dr. Samuel Merritt, a mayor of Oakland who owned property at the shore's edge, was keen to get the body of water cleaned up so that it could become a source of civic pride. In 1868, he proposed and funded a dam between the estuary and the bay by which the flow of water could be controlled, allowing the water level inland to rise higher and become less saline, turning the tidal lagoon into a lake. Sewage was to be redirected elsewhere by two new city projects, though these weren't completed until 1875. The resulting body of water was called variously "Lake Peralta", "Merritt's Lake" and later Lake Merritt.



The lake at that time still had thick wetlands fringing the shores and it continued to attract large numbers of migratory birds. In order to protect the birds from duck hunters and stop the noise and danger of gunfire so close to the city, Dr. Merritt proposed to turn the lake into a wildlife refuge in 1869. The state legislature voted Lake Merritt Wildlife Refuge into law in 1870, making it the first such refuge in North America. No hunting of any sort was to be allowed and the only fishing was to be by hook and line.

The Camron-Stanford House was built by Samuel Merritt in 1876 along the southwest corner of Lake Merritt in Oakland, California.  The ornate Camron-Stanford House was built in 1876 near the lake's western shore. Tax records suggest that Samuel Merritt built the Italianate Victorian as part of his plan to promote and develop downtown Oakland and the new lake. In 1877, the house's title was transferred to Mrs. Alice Camron, a purchase she was able to make due to an inheritance from her father, California pioneer Dr. John Marsh. She, her husband Will and their two daughters were the first residents of the home. Further fine homes were built on the lakeshore by others following Dr. Merritt's lead, though none but Camron-Stanford remain today. Beginning in 1910, the house served as the Oakland Public Museum. In 1967, the Oakland Museum moved to other quarters, and the Camron-Stanford House is now a separate museum.

Protection for the wetlands was nonexistent and residences kept being built on reclaimed land around the shore of the lake. Cleanliness continued to be a problem because of incomplete sewage projects and the lake kept silting up since the natural tidal flow had been interrupted by Merritt's dam. Dredging of the lake began in 1891, with the removed silt being piled along the eastern shore to make a foundation for a road which became Lakeshore Avenue.

From 1893 to 1915, Lake Merritt saw major changes. Inspired by the new City Beautiful movement which got its start at the World's Columbian Exposition (Chicago World's Fair), the lake became a city-owned park. In 1913 an elaborate Mission Revival pergola was constructed at the northeastern tip of the lake. Adam's Point was cleared of houses, planted with lawns and imported trees and became Lakeside Park.  Eastshore Park was created where East 18th Street brought Trestle Glen's watershed to the lake. Oakland Civic Auditorium was built at the south edge of the lake in 1914.

Lake Merritt's natural wetlands are long gone—converted to parks, pathways and roads. Some of the wetland vegetation has been restored to five "Bird Islands" constructed of dredged silt between 1925 and 1956; islands which shelter hundreds of nesting and roosting water fowl. The islands have a fresh water irrigation system to bring drinking water to the birds. A boom and a rope/buoy barrier protects the islands from recreational boaters.[14]
Under the name Lake Merritt Wild Duck Refuge, the site became a National Historic Landmark on May 23, 1963.

Children's Fairyland is a 10-acre park designed by William Russell Everett, and built in 1950 in Lakeside Park. When Walt Disney was planning Disneyland, he visited Children's Fairyland for ideas.

A "necklace of lights" encircles Lake Merritt. Featuring 126 lampposts and 3,400 "pearly bulbs", the necklace was first lit in 1925. In 1941, the lights were removed to comply with World War II blackout conditions. After a decade-long campaign by the Lake Merritt Breakfast Club, the lights were again illuminated in 1987.

During Oakland's annual gay pride celebration, the city replaces the white bulbs with multicolored bulbs.





North Battle Creek Reservoir - Shasta County, California


Our camping adventure in the Lassen National Forest and Lassen Volcanic National Park for the week began the week of June 15, 2020! We found this excellent and very scenic, free dispersed camping spot along side Hat Creek near Old Station, California. Plus, I visited North Battle Creek Reservoir and had my first black bear sighting of the season! North Battle Creek Reservoir is a 78 surface acre dammed reservoir at am elevation of 5,581 feet in Shasta County. North Battle Creek Campground and the adjacent reservoir are operated by Pacific Gas and Electric Company. For those seeking the solitude of a remote mountain lake, North Battle Creek Reservoir is worthy of consideration. The reservoir is next to the Lassen National Forest. Sites at North Battle Creek Campground can be reserved through PG&E's reservation system. But, they currently have it closed due to Covid-19.
Non-motorized boats can be used on the half-mile long lake. A car-top boat launch site is available. Late in the summer water levels can drop, making early summer the best time to visit. Five walk-in tent sites are situated close to the water, while the other sites are in a nearby loop.









Monday, January 20, 2020

Upper Truckee Marsh - El Dorado County, California


On 10/19/2019 Jeff and I visited four California lakes and reservoirs on this day and we had a fun time adventuring in the Sierra Nevada Mountains. It was nice to witness the fall leaves changing colors. We witnessed nice Fall color changes near Carson Pass and ventured to South Lake Tahoe and stopped at the Truckee Marsh. Not much water to see this time of year, but interesting and beautiful in it's own way! The Upper Truckee Marsh of South Lake Tahoe, California, is a 220 surface acre small wetland area, located where Trout Creek and the Upper Truckee River flow into Lake Tahoe.  The Truckee River continues from the northwest shore of the lake in Tahoe City via the Californian town of Truckee to Reno/Sparks and finally flows into Pyramid Lake, Nevada.  The Upper Truckee Marsh sits at 6,225 feet above sea level which is the same elevation as Lake Tahoe.

The Upper Truckee Marsh ecosystem is managed by the California Tahoe Conservancy. Unique populations of plant and animal life in this fragile environment deserve to be protected by and for local residents and visitors.

The Upper Truckee Marsh is located north of Lake-Tahoe Boulevard between Al Tahoe and Tahoe Keys. It is surrounded by patches of pine forest, a harbor and residential areas from where it can be accessed at different points such as the corner at which Macinaw Road, Springwood Drive and Rubicon Trail intersect.  






Upper Truckee Marsh Trailhead -  Interesting fact that this Marsh is the largest remaining wetland in the Sierra Nevada. Nice 1.5 mile hike to Lake Tahoe. Dogs welcome on a leash of course, and it is your duty to pick up their dooty!  Check before you go with your dog on the trail because dogs are not allowed certain times of the year due to nesting birds, etc.

Thursday, July 25, 2019

Alpine Lake - Marin County, California


Visited on 8/11/2018, Jeff and I loaded up our two chocolate Labradors and went for a day drive to Marin County to visit several lakes.  This reservoir is located just 3 miles south of the town of Fairfax (Home of the Mountain Biking Hall of Fame), nestled on the slopes of Mount Tamalpais in Marin County, California just 25 miles north of San Francisco. At an elevation of 646 feet above sea level, there are great hiking trails that surround and encircle the lake.  Alpine Lake is a 224 surface acre reservoir formed by Alpine Dam, it provides water to the Marin Municipal Water District. Alpine Dam is a gravity dam which was completed in 1917. It is 524 feet long and 143 feet high, with 8 feet of freeboard.  Below the dam lies Kent Lake.   Alpine Lake is to the west of Bon Tempe Lake. Fishing is allowed and Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, and trout can be caught. Boats and dogs are not allowed on this lake.



Thursday, June 20, 2019

Gerle Creek Divide Reservoir - El Dorado County, California


Gerle Creek Divide Reservoir is a 57 surface acre reservoir located in the El Dorado National Forest, Crystal Basin Recreation Area.  The Reservoir is located just 17.5 miles from Pollock Pines, near Jacobsen which was a historical town in the area.  On the north side of the lake is a newly renovated, beautiful 50 campsite campground is located on the shore of Gerle Creek Divide Reservoir, which is 27 miles north of Highway 50 on Ice House Road and Forest Road 33. The campground is at 5,300 feet and is usually open from Memorial Day weekend to mid-September. The campground amenities feature vault toilets, piped water, picnic tables, grills, fire rings, bear boxes.  The Harvest Trail, a wheelchair accessible interpretive trail meanders around the north side of the lake and includes a nice fishing pier.


The 50 campsites nestled under the lodge pole pine trees at this recently renovated campground are big enough to build a house on and calm Gerle Creek Reservoir (no motorboats allowed) is an idyllic place to paddle a kayak or canoes. There’s even an island where the kids—and Fido—can play pirate while parents watch from the shore.  The lake is no longer stocked with fish, but you'll see plenty of folks casting their lines anyway from a wooden dock. A wheelchair-accessible trail on the lake makes for easy walking and those willing to bushwhack can hike completely around the lake's perimeter.  Access to Desolation Wilderness is available from Loon Lake just up the road.


Lower Bassi Falls is located on the northeast side of Union Valley Reservoir and is a beautiful 4 mile hike up to the Upper Falls.  The water was flowing nicely still early in the summer on June 15, 2019.

Gerle Creek Reservoir is one of a string of lakes—Ice House, Union Valley, Wrights and Loon are the others—in the Crystal Basin Recreation Area used by the Sacramento Municipal Utility District for water storage and power generation. The only drawback for campers at Gerle Creek is that water levels are raised and lowered at unpredictable times, sometimes leaving a ring of sticky mud along the shoreline. Watercraft should be beached high so that a sudden rise in lake level doesn't float them away.

Bears can be a problem in this area, but bear-proof boxes for food storage are provided at every site. The well maintained campground has vault toilets and piped water, but no showers. Bring all the food and provisions you'll need; it's a long way back to civilization! Ice and sundries can be purchased at Ice House Resort about a half-hour away.

Dogs welcome in campsites and on trails but not at the swimming beach. You'll have to bushwhack a bit to find a good place to enter the water from the shore.