Hike #3, Feather Falls, Oroville

Snack time!!!!

Holly and her butterfly buddy

Sydney and Holly at the Feather Falls overlook

Today we did our longest hike yet!  We hiked to Feather Falls, in Oroville.  It's a moderate 9 mile round trip hike, with a big big payoff!!!!  Feather Falls is the 8th highest waterfall in the US and it was a gusher!  The weather was a nice cool 65 degrees and a little breezy.  It made for nice mist at the end of the trail.  Janise is the only one who'd done this hike previously so it was a treat for the rest of the family to see it.  Waterfalls are a big plus for motivating tired hikers.

Jason taught the girls to play Jeopardy on this trail to keep them interested for the many miles.  They loved it!  "Harry Potter for 100!"  That was the most popular category, by far.  

Sydney had stamina problems at the end of this hike.  She ended up falling asleep soon after we got in the car.  She did just have a birthday sleepover....

Critters:  1 baby skunk (in the road), 1 yellow & black snake, lizards, friendly butterflies
Wildflowers:  lots and lots and lots

Hike #2, Stebbins Cold Canyon Trail, Lake Berryessa

Sydney's big girl updo

She's the Queen of the World!!!!!

It's gonna be a hot one.  Put the hair up!

Jason clowning around

Don't splash me, daddy!!!!

Today we hiked a 4 mile loop trail overlooking Lake Berryessa.  The day was quite a bit warmer than last week and the first mile was quite a strenuous (and exposed) climb to the ridge.   Bits of it really reminded us of the Olomana hike in Oahu.  Along the ridge, portions of the trail were 100% boulder.  I've never hiked anything quite like it.  The last 2 miles were all downhill and shady.  Lovely!  The trail ended at a stream, where Sydney and Holly waded.  I was really glad for that because poison oak was  EVERYWHERE.

Unfortunately, Syd did not enjoy this hike one bit until the stream at the end.  Her stamina has us a little worried.

Critters:  1 cute bunny, lizards (lots), hawks (lots), 2 salamanders

Hike #1

This is one that started it all!  Today we hiked the Stevens Trail in Auburn.  It's a gentle 4 miles downhill to the American River and a not so gentle hike back up.  We had perfect weather (nice and cool) and we were all appropriately tired at the end.

The highlight of the day was when Jason caught a lizard and put it on Holly's chest.  The lizard promptly crawled around to hide under her backpack.  Holly LOVED it.  Sydney and I both let Jason know we would NOT like lizards on us, ever.

Critters: lizards, frogs, 1 snake (black and yellow)
Wildflowers: lots and lots!!!!

Unfortunately we forgot to put the battery in the camera so no photos for this hike.