If you are charging up from lower altitudes, as most do, for the grandeur of the Sierran Crest, you’ll miss a gem of a hike near Yuba Gap. Far from strenuous, this hike is for those who want to poke along and look down at plants and rocks instead of up at sky and ridgelines, making frequent stops to soak your feet in the South Yuba river. For the especially observant, this walk might key you into important themes in plant evolution as well as the origin of the Sierra itself.  This spot blends all major vegetation types that have evolved in California over the last 20 million years.

22 miles west of Truckee, take the highway 20 exit. Set your trip counter to zero and head north downhill toward Nevada City.  Go 3.9 miles down the hill and go right at Bowman Lake Road. Go 1.3 miles. Cross the bridge over the river and park on the right.

You will park your car next to several bay trees.  The same type you cook with, these are remnants of a tropical flora present when California had a warmer and wetter climate. Crush a leaf and the smell will give them away.

Cross the bridge and look down at the water polishing the light granite (more specifically, grano-diorite) that forms the spine of our state. In a sharp line above, called a discontinuity, the rocks switch to dark metamorphics pasted on top of the granite.  These dark cap rocks are remnants of seafloor mudstones that predated the Sierran granites and were laid down when a shallow ocean covered what was to become California.

Nevada City Cohousing proves that cooperative living has its advantages.
 

“Cohousing” a term coined by Charles Durrett, the Cohousing Nevada City architect and developer, is now in the Oxford dictionary having taken on a life of its own. Mr. Durrett has achieved national prominence for green design, specializing in eco-village and custom neighborhood designs, winning several major awards including both the United Nations and the National Association of Homebuilders for his groundbreaking work. When trying to give Mr. Durrett credit for being the architect and developer of the Nevada City Cohousing project he corrected me and said that his wife, Kathryn McCamant and the Nevada City Cohousing residents are to be credited also, which is indicative of the involvement the residents have in planning their own community.

From the onset, all of the 50 cohousing projects Chuck (which he prefers) Durrett has been involved in have had the environment in mind. He encompasses energy efficiency in the design, incorporating photovoltaic solar systems, passive solar orientation, solar water heating, energy efficient building techniques, and unique cultural, and climatic influences into the design. Swimming pools, playgrounds, community garden space are all elements of the community design as well as environmental features such as gravel parking lots to slow water run off, no auto garages attached to a house to cut down on indoor air pollution, minimum grading and tree removal, responsible landscaping and water use. He argues that the friendlier and more fun a neighborhood is, the greener the lifestyle and the smaller the footprint.

Locals’ Favorites: 4 Great Truckee-area Hikes + 1 Cool Mountain Bike Ride

Truckee, Calif. (Summer 2008) – At first glance, a visitor may be overwhelmed by the myriad of hiking and mountain biking possibilities in the Truckee area. However, savvy travelers can hone down their list of possible Sierra sojourns by following the locals to four choice hiking haunts and one great mountain biking spot.

Sagehen Creek trail, located approximately 7.4 miles north of Truckee on Hwy. 89 – where the road visibly dips to the creek bed -- is one of the most memorable trails in the area for its wide assortment of Sierra wildflowers. Hikers here will be rewarded with glimpses of lovely Sierra Rein Orchids, Seep-Spring, Showy Daisies, elegant Camas Lilies, Jacob’s Ladder, Mountain Roses and many more. The five-mile trail winds in and out of the forest along a gentle creek leading to Stampede Reservoir and is an easy stroll. May and June are the best months to see the flowers at their peak, but the area is beautiful all summer. Local trail runners favor this spot, as do folks with four-legged friends. Unfortunately there are no roadside or trailhead signs, but if you pass the 8-mile marker you have gone too far.