Effie Yeaw Day Hike

“As many of you know, my wife and I recently bought a house and moved from Sacramento to neighboring Carmichael. We've been here for about two months now, so I felt it was definitely time to start shirking my household duties and put aside the thousand projects to go on at least a day hike. I didn't really have time to drive anywhere this week to get away from the city completely, so I started looking at places near the American River, which is only a couple of miles from the new place.

Lo and behold, there is a nature center within walking distance of our new abode!

The preserve has trails that take you down to and alongside the river for several miles, as well as the 3 square miles or so of nature preserve itself. The signs tell me that there are deer, turkey, quail, mountain lions, raccoons and assorted other animals that call the nature center home, so dogs and horses are not allowed. The place was pretty much deserted, being a Monday afternoon and all. The weather was rainy and dreary, but looked like it might clear up, so I put on my wool felt hat, and off I go!

The first thing I saw that was out of the ordinary was evidence of a deer's violent end. While I never saw a mountain lion on this trip, the puncture marks in the top of this skull could have been from a big cat. Of course, for all I know, it was a dog that strayed in after dark.

I was pretty impressed with the isolation of this park from the rest of the city. It's really only about two miles back to Fair Oaks (a fairly busy traffic artery) from the park entrance, but the only other person I saw while I was there was a fisherman on the other side of the river from me. When I has started out today, I figured this would just be a city-type walk for a few hours, but it actually felt like a day-escape.

Anyway, I Found some wildflowers in bloom and a lot of undisturbed mushrooms and the like before I saw deer tracks. I decided that today would be no good unless I got close enough to some deer to take a nice picture. I followed the tracks down to the river and alongside the river for about a mile to where the preserve supposedly ends. No one told the deer, apparently, so I kept following. In trying to be quiet and listen for any large animals in the grass, I ended up a lot closer to a pair of turkeys than they were comfortable with. I got the picture just before they went flew back into the woods. I guess I just haven't been arond them enough to know, but I had no idea turkeys could fly like that.

The deer trail led onto a golf course, and I lost it across the fairway. Stupid deer.

On the way back, along the river I got this picture of a tree growing up into the side of a sand bluff. The roots really look like they were grown AFTER the soil was eroded from the bluff. Interesting.

By the time I made it back to the nature preserve, the sun had started to come out. I'm pretty sure I walked right past these two deer on the way out, when I was tracking the other one that went to the golf course. Oh well, I got my picture :)

I'm just stoked to know that there's a place this close to my house that I can go and actually get away from the city!

Here's the rest of the pictures.

-Phaedrus”

“Nice hike, and lots of colors and wildlife. I'm sure you'll find more trails out there! Thanks!”

“Nice trip report. Daffodils in January? Y'alls climate must be way different than here.”

“I am so envious...DAFFODILS!!! Sounds like you had a wonderful day. I'm getting out this afternoon myself.”

“Pretty kewl Phaed!”

“Effie Rocks! You should go down there when the salmon are running. you see Turkey Voltures filling the trees. I am surprised you say so few deer. Usually the place is crawling with them. (BTW peoples, Iris start blooming in febuary here, after the january daffodil bloom ;)) As the weather warms up they start making you pay to go there (its free only during the winter) and it gets very crowded with school kids taking feild trips there.

Pheadus you should try the auburn recreation area too- half an hour away from you and its pretty sweet up there.”

“Cool stuff, hikingirl, I'll do that, and post some pics when I do. Thanks!”

“Phaedrus, nice pix! you ARE the trip...”

“Thanks, oh capn my capn.”

“Dude you take great photos what kind of camrea do you use?

8)”

“Hikingirl and Phaedrus, I'd like to tap yo brains about great dayhikes near your area. I'm in Fairfield and the wee little one is old enough for doing medium dayhikes now. What do you say?”

“Naked ape, I'll tel you anything I know. CMB it's a canon PowerShot a40. And thanks!”

“How much is one of them?

Man I can't beleave how good those pics look!!!!!!

8)”

“You can find one online for around 225.00 They are not lightweight, though. Mine weighs a little over a pound with batteries. :(”

“Thats not bad it takes great pics thought.

I am look into one!

8)”

“Cool pictures Phaedrus.Makes me want to rush spring here in TN.I enjoyed them much.”