LAKE NATOMA LOOP 13X February 4, 2007

Rathering that I be doing a good peak hike, I chose instead to stick about home, and not be any kind of polluter, today. While I have grand plans for minimally emitting travel, the recent findings on global warming prompted me to again use light rail, and restart my routine of cleaner hikes about Folsom, CA.

Due to lack of webspace, I had to remove my accounts and photos of my 12 Lake Natoma loops from 2006. That all did give me something to do for a fairly inactive winter, and I'd guess I will be posting even more of my 2007 walks about this nice local lake hike. I'll be deleting them, too, as I fill up with content, and then need to clear up some room for text and photos of my main objectives, peak climbing, of course.

I had a nice breakfast, to remind me of the greasy gobs of tasty diner food on the morning of a High Sierra climb. I checked my e-mail, and watched TV. Then, it was time to catch the train, and luckily for me, the line ran out there at the time I chose to ride, it being a Sunday.

The traveling was pleasant enough, and up to $2 fare each way, now. That has discouraged me from doing more Parkway walks, as I have been doing daily, lengthy enough, cost-free walks about my neighborhood, usually to partake of dining and information ops.

Beginning my loop at about 10 a.m., I found the usual, nearby, public restroom was closed. Taking the old truss bridge to the bike trail, I was able to use a facility at Negro Bar State Park. Other facilities had also been locked shut.

Feeling better, I headed down past the bluffs, where I wondered about the agglomerate strata (photo above) in the cliff, here. Displays give the natural history, and fish and wildlife sighting details, but there is little or nothing on the local geology. There is fascinating geologic history on the way to Yosemite, say, but maybe people don't want too much known about the local area. Ancient flood history might detract people from moving in!

I saw a new sign indicating a trail I had not recalled. This nice footpath heads for the Snowberry Creek area, so I checked it out. It goes through a forest of sorts, and the grass was nice and green. Coming to paved streets, I passed a horse corral and sauntered further on old road beds. There was an old, no trespassing sign, but people were using the area.

Coming back to the paved bike trail just before Nimbus Dam, I saw several anglers casting their lines. Some geese grazed in the grasses, too.

Rounding the loop over the Hazel Avenue Bridge, I had my own water and 25 cent cans of cold soda to refresh myself. No need for the fast food beverage bars, today. I took the side trails, and brushed off an apparent enviro hate group stalker, myself needing no harassment on my day enjoying.

Kayakers paddled about on the lake, and the weather was nice. I had seen a rabbit, and then more geese by another bridge. This is a nice walk! I had completed this loop 12 times last year, and now remembered why I like to do it.

The trails were all dry, aside from one damp area, and these side trails avoided the cyclists, but not all users. Plenty more red sumac lined the footpaths. I was looking forward to getting home in time to view the kickoff, and not to boycott the sporting events that some "enviros" hate so much. Plenty of diet soda, then, by some of the main sponsors, for me!

The side trail to the Historic Folsom light rail station came right up, and I had time to use the nearby, now open restroom. At the station, I deposited my eight quarters into the fare machine. Hopping aboard the train for the 2:30 p.m. departure, I was shortly home.

Walking some 11 miles, I count this with zero gain. It is probably maybe a hundred feet or so, total, but that is insignificant, compared to the peaks. I didn't hike that little cone shaped bump, either, occupied with the newly signed trail.

I shot 179 images and movie clips, getting nice zooms of the geese feeding. Last year, I shot such cute movies of some goslings and a Mother Goose. They allowed me to get really close, and it is complimentary of the area that the wildlife are so tame.

Rain is to come to the area, and I think this might be the last, dry trail, hiking op for awhile. I have a few plans for desert hiking, and also hiking up north if the weather allows, again. But it has been pretty cold, and many hikers stay indoors till the weather gets warmer. I know it'll probably reach 100 degrees in parts of the desert, fairly soon, so that will be out, then, for a travel plan. And when the late spring heat hits, here, I would regret that I didn't get out hiking more, locally, while it was still winter.

I wore three layers under my parka to start, and put all but two light layers into my small daypack. I had to switch to my light cap, and my LW bottoms under my pants began to get uncomfortable. Another nice day, with only my $4 spent.

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