Chasing Wild Mustangs!

Having a family full of outdoor enthusiasts, you never know what kind of adventure you will find yourself on. Someway or another we found ourselves chasing wild mustangs. There's a great spot we know of that we have good results of finding the horses. We checked the weather forecast and figured it would be a good day to go explore. We would have 2 UTV's going on the trip, a Polaris Ranger Crew and a Yamaha Rhino. These vehicles are slightly better suited for the trip because of some of the narrow and overgrown roads. After a beautiful drive through the high desert, we arrived at the staging area. There were some dove that fluttered around the crystal clear spring as we loaded up the ice chests and gathered our gear.

There is a cool old cabin where we stage (below)

It looks like someone has redone the corral (below)

Gettin' ready (below)

Off in the distance we saw a trail of dust. A truck you ask? No, a herd of running horses! Imagine that, we didn't even have to drive anywhere, they were right there at the staging area.(below)

We hopped in the UTV's and drove up the road and intersected the horses on their jaunt. Check out the video below:

We continued on, down the road that goes on forever! (below)

We came up onto Pizona Spring. Quite the green wonderland out in the dry desert! (below)

We came up on Upper Pizona Spring, pretty overgrown at times, but pretty (below)

Next we came into McNamara Lake which is usually dry (below)

Shortly after we came into McBride flat. What a nice area! (below)

There's an old windmill out there, doesn't look like it's been used for awhile (below)

A house of some sort out at McBride Spring (below)

Looking back across McBride Flat towards the Sierra Nevada mountain range. We hung out a for a few minutes and chased some Chuckar (below)

After a quick break, we continued onto Sagehen Springs and had lunch (below)

A few remnants of days past left out there (below)

We left and headed down towards Truman Meadows. This is descending looking south towards Upper Truman Meadows (below)

Down in the Truman Spring (below)

Taking a quick break (below)

Beautiful day out there! (below)

Montgomery and Boundary Peak in the back (below)

Here a pack station stages their horses (below)

Check out this natural rock wall! (below)

We headed up through the rest of Truman Meadows and back towards Sagehen. While we were driving safe, it looks like someone had a minor 'oopsies' at some point prior (below)

I really liked this tree (below)

A teepee ring from people long ago (below)

Awesome clouds! (below)

We started looping back as it was getting late. Here we are looking down on McBride Flat (below)

The lead Rhino was moving across McBride Flat when we noticed a trail of dust coming from the left. 6 wild mustangs at full sprint crossing the flat, directly on a collision course with the Rhino. The Rhino stopped 15 yards short and watched in awe as wild horses raced by directly in front of them. (below, horses on left, Rhino dust trail on right)

We drove back through Pizona and tried to imagine who lived in this old structure (below)

We finally reached the trucks after 50 miles of exploration. Some horses were still out in the valley. (below)

We loaded up and bid farewell to the horses until next time. We had another great trip down in the books!

Bullards Bar Camping Trip Aug 6 & 7 2011

Since I have moved to Northern California, I'm always looking for someplace new to explore. I came across Bullards Bar Reservoir north of Sacramento. I searched the internet and found nothing but good things about it. So we decided to give it a try!

On Saturday we awoke around 6:30am to try and get an early start. We were able to get on the road by 8am. The drive up was pretty easy.

We came in through Marysville. I'm pretty sure the route through the 49 is lots of up and down and winding road.

We launched at Dark Day launch ramp. The launch was free (amazing, right?) and there was no mussel inspection, but the girl at the kiosk said to expect inspections next year. Bummer!

It was around 11am and the ramp was pretty busy. Lots of people going shoreline camping, etc. We got on the water and started motoring around.

Map of the lake (above)

Quite a bit of houseboats out here! (above)

Skipper and first mate (above)

Lots of pine trees and emerald green 80 degree water, my kind of lake! (above)

Love the red dirt too!(above)

Always a place to rock jump!(above)

Cruisin...(above)

It was tough to get a shot of this guy, but I don't see bald eagles very often!(above)

We stopped at this popular cove with the waterfall and climbed up(above)

It's a party!(above)

Pretty big waterfall!(above)

Got out on the wakeboard for a few minutes(above)

We met up with Bruce and Katherine, they got this boat about a year ago, pretty sweet!(above)

Awesome...(above)

Off they go!(above)

We got off the lake and headed over to Schoolhouse campground and setup camp(above)

We cooked dinner and had some smores and hit the sack by 10pm(above)

We were up by 6am and went on a little hike trying to find the lake and saw this guy on the tree!(above)

Adele cooked up a great breakfast!(above)

We launched at 9am and I was testing the ski out. It wasn't running quite right, but I rode for a few minutes. I was warmer in the water than out!(above)

Willow Creek Arm(above)

They are dropping the water level fast, look at the ladder pattern in the shore?!(above)

Someone has been stacking some rocks!(above)

Garden Point camping area(above)

Quite the dam, couldn't imagine if this thing burst!(above)

Relaxin(above)

Dogs wanna have fun too!(above)

Anchored up in a cove(above)

Nice panorama(above)

Headed back to the launch ramp, man I don't wanna leave!(above)

We left around 3 and hit some bad traffic in Sacramento but made it home by 7. I think the drive is normally more like 3 hours. All in all, it was a great trip and I will definitely be back!

Touring the Motherlode - Hogan, Pardee, Mokelumne River, Angels Camp

Went on a drive today to check out some areas.

580 to the 26 to Valley Springs, New Hogan Lake. Pretty decent lake. Took quick drive over to Pardee to check out, heard a lot about this lake for fishing. Nice lake, and nice overview spot.

Tried to check out back side of Hogan off the 12, but was a bit unimpressed, so left early.

Took 49 past Mokelumne Hill to Electra Rd that parallels the Mokelumne River. It was nice, but smaller and more brushy than I was expecting.

Took 49 to Angels Camp, caught 1 trout in Angels Creek off the 4 around Tyron Park.

Drove home via the 4.

All in all, good tour of the Motherlode!

Ranch Trip - Memorial Day Weekend 2011

Headed to the Ranch with Matt and Jamie, our good friends...

Saturday:

Drove over, arrived maybe around 7pm?

Went for a quick Ranger ride to the Culdesac, up the ridge, the cabin, then down to the corral.

At the corral it started raining, but the sun was shining through, it was quite a sight. Of course I didn't have my camera, so I just had to enjoy it while it lasted.

Went back and had some Trader Joes pizza and just relaxed.

Sunday:

Woke up, drove to the ridge on the other side.

Circled around, past the meadow, etc, then crossed to the other side and headed back to the house near the cul-de-sac.

Went for a quick ride down to the pond with the girls on the quad, and guys on the motorcycle. We rode the bottom loop and then headed back to the front gate.

The girls went back to make lunch and we headed out on a quick guys ride.

We basically circled the whole ranch with the go pro video mounted to my helmet.

We got back, had lunch.

We then shot guns down at the shooting 'range' below the bridge behind the house. Fun to shoot the 22, 9mm pistol, and a .270.

We then went up to the cabin and shot trap (clay pigeons) with the shotguns.

We came in and had dinner, some chicken, risotto, sausages, etc.

Monday:

Me and Matt checked the game camera across the road down at the watering trough. No pictures.

Matt and Jamie had to depart, they left fairly early.

Adele and I packed up and we drove the truck down to Redinger Lake. It was fun to explore around.

We then drove to Angel Falls at Bass Lake and hiked up the falls.

We walked around downtown Bass Lake at the shops a little bit and checked out the lake.

We got back and had some lunch.

We went for a ranger ride towards the bottom on the normal loop.

We got back, I tried to fish below the bridge, not a single nibble, not sure if there are fish still in there?

We started to clean up and put things away, had some lasagna for dinner, went to bed.

Tuesday:

Awoke, loaded the truck

Left the ranch for Yosemite

Got to Yosemite, stopped at Tunnel View for a few pictures.

Parked near Bridaveil Falls, rode our bikes up there, super misty and wet

Drove over to near Happy Isles, parked, unloaded bikes.

Rode bikes to trailhead at Happy Isles.

Hiked up to the bridge at Vernal Fall, then back to truck.

Made some lunch, sat by river at bridge at Curry Village.

Hopped back on the bikes, rode up to Mirror Lake.

Rode down to Yosemite Falls

Found webcam in meadow looking at Half Dome

Rode back to truck, drove home

Pretty brief details, but just wanted to capture what we did!

Find the gopro videos at www.youtube.com/ryanerb

Heading up to Pyramid

I'm packing up and heading up to Pyramid Lake near Reno, NV tomorrow.  Hopefully I'll be on the road by 6am.  There is some weather forecasted, we'll see how it goes.  I think we will be camping at the South Nets.  Billy and Al will be there for sure.  

Took Delivery of new guns

Gotta get these things outfitted and take them out for a test fire. I still have to mount my 6-24x scope on the savage.