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Hiking and Swimming the North Fork of the American River
Gambolin’ Man writes long essays about his hikes complete with philosophy and natural history. His latest post covers a recent summer sojourn North Fork American River in the Sierra Nevada foothills:
One early evening, with the wind whipping up into swirls of dancing dust devils, I’m enjoying a moment of quiet respite sitting on a rock writing my bear memoir when, suddenly, Gambolin’ Gal – approaching from the river – lets out a startled gasp, which causes me to drop my pen and whirl around just in time to see a bear tear off faster than possible for such a lumbering animal, leaving scattered sets of giant paw prints and clear indentations of five inch long claw marks scarring the trail. Ursula, bad girl!
North Fork American River. (Photo by Gambolin’ Man)Rattlesnake near the North Fork American River in the Sierra Nevada. (Photo by Gambolin’ Man)
Another fascinating post. Be sure to check it out.
Camp for Free in California National Forests
California’s national forests and BLM lands have thousands of miles of dirt roads with lots of spots for dispersed camping (boondocking). My book provides all the info you need to get started (but is not a guide to specific sites):
I watched a rattlesnake near Morris Meadows in the Trinity Alps as it slithered across the trail and then circled back toward me. I’m not saying I was a target, but I’m not sure it was coincidence either.
So the snakes don’t go in the swimming hole do they? I live in Central Valley and need somewhere I can swim and relax this summerive tried to find a place forever here to swim and relax but haven’t. Do you know of a place?? Thank you. Pamela
Well, I’ve heard stories about rattlesnakes in lakes and streams, but I think it’s very rare! There are hundreds of swimming holes in the rivers and larger streams of the Sierra Nevada. Most hiking guidebooks will tell you which ones are near hiking trails, and you can also ask locals about swimming holes along roads.
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California’s national forests and BLM lands have thousands of miles of dirt roads with lots of spots for dispersed camping (boondocking). My book provides all the info you need to get started (but is not a guide to specific sites):
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%22%20transform%3D%22translate(.6%20.6)%20scale(1.17188)%22%20fill-opacity%3D%22.5%22%3E%3Cellipse%20fill%3D%22%23e2d5bf%22%20rx%3D%221%22%20ry%3D%221%22%20transform%3D%22rotate(-155%20112%2050)%20scale(117.46636%2046.71765)%22%2F%3E%3Cellipse%20fill%3D%22%23004cc3%22%20rx%3D%221%22%20ry%3D%221%22%20transform%3D%22matrix(252.06102%20-13.65114%201.97334%2036.43674%20139.2%209.9)%22%2F%3E%3Cellipse%20fill%3D%22%23261d19%22%20rx%3D%221%22%20ry%3D%221%22%20transform%3D%22matrix(-42.68706%2017.85638%20-11.82445%20-28.26725%20231.4%2055.8)%22%2F%3E%3Cellipse%20fill%3D%22%233674e2%22%20cx%3D%229%22%20cy%3D%2212%22%20rx%3D%2265%22%20ry%3D%2265%22%2F%3E%3C%2Fg%3E%3C%2Fsvg%3E "2024 Free Entrance Days at Northern California National Parks and Monuments")
Wow great photo! Was it dangerous to take the picture of the snake from that close?
He might have used zoom, so perhaps the snake wasn’t as close as it appears.
As I wrote in the account, rattlesnakes, when given enough room, are not really threatening creatures. I was probably 4 or 5 feet from this snake.
I watched a rattlesnake near Morris Meadows in the Trinity Alps as it slithered across the trail and then circled back toward me. I’m not saying I was a target, but I’m not sure it was coincidence either.
So the snakes don’t go in the swimming hole do they? I live in Central Valley and need somewhere I can swim and relax this summerive tried to find a place forever here to swim and relax but haven’t. Do you know of a place?? Thank you. Pamela
Well, I’ve heard stories about rattlesnakes in lakes and streams, but I think it’s very rare! There are hundreds of swimming holes in the rivers and larger streams of the Sierra Nevada. Most hiking guidebooks will tell you which ones are near hiking trails, and you can also ask locals about swimming holes along roads.