Oct 7, 2010 Salmon Falls - Cronan Ranch

Hello everyone, our blog is back after a few weeks absence due to medical reasons. Yesterday, October 7, 2010, due to predicted rain and snow in the area of Thunder Mountain, the hike was shifted to the new South Fork of the American River Trail- Salmon Falls Road to Cronan Ranch. Since no body had hiked the trail (opened to the public last Friday) it was estimated that the lunch location and turn around spot (an abandoned mining site we hiked to previously from the Cronan Ranch end of the trail) would be 3.5 miles on the trail from Salmon Falls Rd. Well it actually was 5.2 miles. At lunch it was determined that 3 heroic Geezers (Rod, Dominic and John) would make the trek back to the cars while the others would keep going on to Cronan Ranch and meet the car valets at the Pedro Hill trailhead. Thus some Geezers hiked 10.4 miles and others hiked 8.6 miles. The hike was great and thankfully the day was overcast most of the time. The first two miles of the hike was up hill and in the open. We met several mountain bikers and equestrians on the trail - and a few other hikers. This is really a spring or fall hike due to the exposure on the western and eastern ends of the hike. The trail is well planned and wildlife was spotted- 2 deer, squirrels, lizards, 2 rattlesnakes (both dead), horses and mt. bikers. The trail was pretty dusty due to equestrians and mountain bikers. There was not much access to the American River until you get to the Cronan Ranch. The Dairy Queen was selected as the spot to discuss the hike and select the next hike. Next spring we will hike this trail with two groups- one starting at Salmon Falls and the other at the Pedro Hills Trailhead and exchange car keys when the two groups meet on the trail. The final meeting place will be the Dairy Queen on Greenback to give the cars keys back to the rightful owners.