Dec 13, 2012 - Olmstead Loop Trail

The Olmstead Loop Trail was our destination this week as it's only a short drive from our meeting spot in Granite Bay. There were nine of us today, Sherm, Beuford, Wes, Roland, Loren, Velo, Glenn with his friend, Don and Merrill. This trail started at the fire station in the town of Cool and after a couple of hours hiking on easy to moderate trails, we stopped for lunch. During lunch, Roland finally completed some basic merit badge requirements for map reading and although we had many shorter loop options, Roland agreed with Sherm that the big loop would only be about eight miles round trip so that's what we decided on. Either Roland can't read maps or Sherm is a fibber as it turned out a little short of ten miles round trip.
Along the trail we found some old truck parts, acorns stuffed into a tree limb and Sherm had to try his hand at bridge building over an enlarged creek. It was a great day out with many sore limbs the next day.

Dec 6, 2012 - Rails to Trails

Following the big storms we experienced in California last week and by popular demand, this weeks hike was on the Rails to Trails pathway from Placerville to Camino Heights. Ten Geezers enjoyed the easy 10.2 mile round trip hike (walk) on the paved bike/walking trail with some pretty views along the way. We stopped for lunch at the end of the paved trail, then the majority decided against a further 2 miles round trip to the far end of the trail because apple pie and ice cream were calling. The day was misty, both cool and warm at times. Enjoy photos from Rod, Glenn and Loren.

Nov 15, 2012 - Hidden Falls Regional Park in Auburn

This weeks hike was the last one for November, 2012, since Nov. 22 is Thanksgiving, and Nov. 29 is a set up day for Bethlehem Village at church, which will occupy the Geezers time for most of the week. We welcomed Mark Rickabaugh to our group as his home is quite close to Hidden Falls Regional Park in Auburn. This is an area we have hiked in several times, the most recent being on January 5th this year. There wasn't a prior blog as Roland was laid up following foot surgery, so here's a little information and photos on this lovely hiking area.
The Park consists of trails with moderate hills that descend to the two creeks running through it. A new section of the park has been under construction this year, and is scheduled for official opening in 2013. The new trails are not accessible yet (they are building two new bridges across the creeks), so we hiked  about six miles around the perimeter of the park as we have in the past. It was a fun, easy day followed with ice cream at Safeway's on Bell Road.