Stella's Social Club

[Happy Chooks]

The badges are a manual process, it takes some time for them to be added.

 

[ChickensAreSweet]

Quote: TY Ron

 

[The Sheriff]

Oh lordy, I spoke too soon.




That's Lukka's "baby."

 

[chiqita]

The chickens that brood together...

 

[Happy Chooks]

They truly are twins, except Lukka has a darker tail.

Neener neener, you were laughing at my year with broodies!

 

[The Sheriff]

They truly are twins, except Lukka has a darker tail.

Neener neener, you were laughing at my year with broodies!

I blame you for this!

 

[The Sheriff]

On the "up" side I am giving Lukka the cream Legbar eggs and her daughter the Isbars. Then I don't have to put them in a brooder. If Kelly's girl hatches a chick the young Lukka will get it and Lukka will get all my eggs. I know she can handle the job!

 

[drumstick diva]

Mary, it looks like Dueling Lukkas at your house - all we need is video and a sound track

 

[mlm Mike]

Here are some of the pictures from my hike. The first day, we hiked cross country to meet up with the Pacific Crest Trail at Tinkers Knob. We hiked this, and also hiked through the field you see in the middle right part of the picture. This part was pretty scary as the mountainside's were steep and you were grabbing onto tree branches to keep you from sliding down the mountain. At some points we were on hands and feet to climb parts of it.


The view from the field we hiked through.



Looking behind us from this point, you saw this neat mountain formation.


We made it to the top (8,400 feet) and joined up with the Pacific Crest Trail. It's very windy up here.





As you can see, not much in the way of water up here. Thankfully, around the bend, we came across a snow bank and filled our containers with snow.


We thought we'd never make camp that night, but we finally did and collapsed into our tents. We saw markers for the Donner Party Wagon trail.

The 2nd day, we started out by the Soda Springs ski resort training center. This is Donner Lake, the old Hwy 40, and a whole lot of granite.


We were all exhausted, so not too many pictures on this day. We camped near this mountain hut, next to a creek. For those of you familiar with the area, it is just down from Castle Peak. We very much enjoyed soaking our sore feet in the creek, doing laundry, and using the "facilities". The ramp is so you can use the pit toilet in winter.

This is the hut that you can rent. It was closed for repairs, but it has a makeshift kitchen, table and wood stove. You sleep on the floor. It's used a lot in winter.


This was the view in the morning of the area we camped. LOTS of mosquitoes! Notice the PCT hiker sitting on the rock having breakfast.


The same valley, as we hiked away from it:


Lots of wildflowers:


The trail was constantly changing in terrain.



In this area, we came across a spring. No need to filter, and it was the coldest, best tasting water ever!


The view from the top of one of the mountains. If you look closely, you can see the trail on the next ridge, about halfway down the ridge.


Looking back at where the above picture was taken:


We dry camped that night. The next morning, we set out for Jackson Meadows. This is Lake Spaulding:


My son on the trail.


Our end goal of the hike came into view - The Sierra Buttes.


And Jackson Meadows Reservoir, where we were headed to that night.


And then we made it. After a rest period and using the campgrounds flush toilets, we went down to the lake to soak our feet.



Our last day heading out and getting back to the trail.


One of the creeks along the trail.


Coming to the end of our hike, The Sierra Buttes above us. We hiked into town on this utility road.


We ended with 56 miles completed in 5 days. A very short distance of the entire trail. It was fascinating talking to the hikers that are doing the entire trail. Most of them left the Mexico border in April and are hoping to make the Canadian border by October 1st.

What wonderful photos. I was hoping you would be posting some.

(yes, I'm a little behind on the thread)

 

[speckledhen]

Kel, loved your photos, too. Reminds me, though, that I cannot hike like that anymore, not since breaking my ankle and having a plate and all those screws in there. It's my favorite exercise and I use to hike just on my own little mountain on trails that Tom cut with our poor abused mower years ago. We used to live in Colorado and Utah, so know that scenery so well. Georgia's mountains are so much older so they are worn down and more huge tree covered hills, but I love those craggy mountains and high altitude.