As we were cruising past Roseville Gavin checked the weather report on his phone: the area was socked in with rain and thunderstorms. Now I don't mind hiking in the rain, in fact sometimes I prefer to hike in the rain than better weather, but the thunderstorms combined with the rocky terrain of the area made this a possible deathtrap.
So we continued up Interstate 80 to Donner Lake to do a hike of Mt. Judah. I had always wanted to do this hike but for various reasons had not made it to the trailhead. This seemed to be the perfect excuse. Just before Donner Summit we took the Donner Pass Road exit, drove slowly past Sugar Bowl to the connection with Old Donner Pass Road and found the trailhead nearly deserted, with only a smattering of cars in the parking area. With the blue sky and light breeze this was going to be a beautiful day. I popped the trunk and Gavin and I started getting our gear ready.
Five minutes later five cars pulled into the lot and 20 people climbed out. Great, a hiking group. I groaned inwardly at the noise they would make on the trail and the chance for spotting any wildlife disappeared into smoke. My original intent was to hang back and let them take to the trail first, with the hope that they would make the rookie mistake of turning onto the Loop Trail at the first junction. However, they took so long getting ready, and the leader insisted on doing a pack check (a good move on his part) that we decided to hit the trail and see if we could stay ahead of them. Since my focus on this trip was photos I decided that if they managed to catch up we would just let them pass.
As it was we had a great hike, meet some new people and really enjoyed our time on the mountain.
The trailhead.
A display map of the area.
This is a section of the Pacific Crest Trail.
The first part of this hike is a dozen or so switchbacks that climb to the ridge within the first mile.
The first half mile is nothing but rock.
All that rock to the left is the trail...
A look back and down to the trailhead. The trailhead is out of the photo, to the left.
Switchback! The hiking group we left at the trailhead caught up to us quickly and passed us at this point.
Some switchbacks were long, and some rather short. Gavin is at the top of this switchback where it starts to curve inward onto the ridge. We would play leapfrog with the three hikers coming up below until we hit the first junction with the Loop Trail.
Finally on the ridge. We still had half a dozen switchbacks to climb until the summit but for the most part the trail evens out and is fairly easy.
Lake Mary. Sugar Bowl is off in the distance. To the right is the Union Pacific Railroad and Interstate 80.
Every time I stopped for a photo Gav took advantage for a break.
Making our way around to the southern side of the mountain.
The view to the southwest.
Water break! We come to one of the last switchbacks before hitting the junction with the Loop Trail.
Almost there. The junction is right around the bend. It is about 2.5 miles from the trailhead.
The first junction with the Loop Trail to the summit.
The junction. The trail to the left is the start of the Loop Trail that goes up and over the summit and continues further up to connect with the PCT. Most hikers that come to this area continue up this trail to the summit and come back on the trail that goes off to the right. I consider this a rookie mistake made by people that don't research the area they are hiking in. The trail to the left is much steeper with less tree cover than the trail to the right. Plus, by continuing on the PCT until we reach the next junction we have already hiked as far in as we are going to go, and the rest is just the way back out...
My son Gavin at the junction.
Me at the junction.
About a quarter of a mile from the junction we hit a crossing with a fire road. The trail continues dead center where the shade is.
Continuing on. The trail takes off to the right.
A nice shady stretch of trail among the pine trees.
A field of mule ear. This is nature's toilet paper. Best used in late spring or early summer the soft, almost velvet like texture of the plant is a perfect substitute for even the most soft of store-bought toilet paper.
We reach the second junction with the Loop Trail, about 3 miles in. The trail to the left is the PCT we just completed. The trail to the right is heading up to the summit.
A view of Castle Peak to the northwest. Interstate 80 and Boreal are directly below it.
Water break!
Heading up for the last half-mile to the summit.
The trail switchbacks up and continues just above this rock formation.
A view of the Sierras to the southeast, towards Lake Tahoe.
Mule ear.
This dead tree is called a snag and provides nourishment and shelter for thousands of small animals and insects.
A close up of the rock formation seen earlier. The trail continues right through it.
The summit is finally in view.
A look back. Nature's rock garden.
The top of Mt, Judah.
The final push up.
The last switchback.
A view of the Sierras looking southeast towards Lake Tahoe. The PCT continues along the ridgeline.
The last few steps.
Gav at the summit.
Donner Lake.
Donner Peak.
Me at the summit.
The way down. Though this part of the trail descends gradually it becomes much steeper once you get into the treeline and becomes a very difficult climb, which is why those in the know choose to come up the way we did rather than face this brutal climb in the sun.
Just beyond where Gav is hiking the trail drops almost straight down.
You can tell how steep this section is. The hikers just below Gav are climbing upwards.
A closer view of Donner Peak.
A switchback on the way down. This section is brutal in the sun. There is nearly no shade at all. Just before I took this photo we came across the large group we had met in the parking lot. The climb upwards had been so steep they had had stopped for lunch in the shade of the trail junction with the use trail going up to Donner Peak. The head guide said next time he would take my advice and come up the other side...
The use trail to Donner Peak. I was all for a excursion to the peak but Gav was already thinking of the lunch I promised him on the way down the hill.
The Loop Trail back to the junction with the PCT.
The trail up to the summit.
Gav is standing by the trail we just came down, the trail back to the junction goes off to the right.
Still heading down. This section was mostly dried creekbed and would not be fun hiking upwards.
More mule ear.
Back at the junction.
Gavin at the junction. He almost didn't recognize it. While we were taking a quick break a mom with her teenage son came down the trail behind us. We had seen them at the summit and they had hiked down the way we had come up. Then as we were hiking down to reach the junction we passed them as they were headed back up to the summit. At first we just thought they were out for a long hike, but when they came back down Gav asked if they were lost and the mom admitted they were. I pointed out the PCT trailhead behind her and they both thanked us as they headed back down to the parking lot.
The trailhead way below. The trail comes out just in front of the block house in the center of the photo.
Making our way back down the switchbacks.
Almost to the end.
Gav reaches the finish line.
Gavin at the trailhead.
Me at the trailhead. On the way down I had given my son a conundrum. On the way home we could stop at either Colfax Max, known for their burgers and their milkshakes, or Sonic, which we both liked for their hot dogs and mixed drinks (my personal favorite is the Dr. Pepper Orgasm -- a blend of Dr. Pepper, Lemonade and Powerade). When we reached the parking lot he told me it was definitely going to be Colfax Max.
The best burger joint west of the Mississippi, Colfax Max is in the town of Colfax and we stop in for lunch every time we go up the Interstate 80 corridor. (http://www.colfaxmax.com/) Of course on this particular day, Gavin chose Colfax Max so he could sip on of their famous milkshakes, and what do we see on the door as we pull up? A sign that their milkshake machine is down for repair. Oh well, we stopped anyway.
The place may be small, but it sure has great food! I always joke that Colfax Max is the town's best kept secret. As you get off the interstate and go through town the first place that jumps out is a boring looking McDonald's. If you continue on to the very next right turn your taste buds will thank you as you pull into the smaller but much more rewarding parking lot for Colfax Max.
One of my favorites: the Wild West Burger with onion rings. (http://www.colfaxmax.com/ColfaxMaxMenu.pdf) I have tried every burger on the menu, including the infamous Biker Burger (on a dare) and I can say they are all extremely delicious...
Here we are at the best burger joint in the west and my son orders the Fish and Chips...still very tasty!!
How to use mule ear for toilet paper:
http://www.sodahead.com/living/how-to-poop-in-the-woods/blog-141443/?link=ibaf&q=mule+ear+as+nature+toilet+paper
http://www.miguelvieira.org/rememberedearth/2009/08/09/tinker-knob-from-sugar-bowl/
http://www.calguns.net/calgunforum/archive/index.php/t-536263.html
