El Dorado County Supervisors held firm to a 2011 decision to support the Shingle Plan Compromise at a County Board meeting on January 24, 2012. The plan divides use of the Sacramento Placerville Transportation Corridor (SPTC) into two distinct segments. The area from Shingle Springs up to Diamond Springs has been allotted for the development of a heritage railroad. From Shingle Springs down to the Western El Dorado County line, development will focus on establishing a community trail that will serve local residents and connect to Folsom, thereby expanding our regional trail system. Trail and train supporters have been at odds for years over use of the SPTC, but the Supervisor's recent de

A Watercolors and Hiking event will be held in Locke, Calif. on Thursday, September 15, 2011 starting at 10:00 a.m. The hike will be led by Martha Esch. Bring the kids and the grandparents; everyone is welcome!  Well-behaved dogs on leashes, okay. This is a mostly level 1.5 mile hike apart from one 20 foot long, somewhat steep, narrow path up a levee hill and some optional off-path routes along the way that are prickly and narrow. Locke artist and art teacher, Martha Esch, will demonstrate easy techniques to painting a quick, lovely, loose watercolor postcard of scenic spots along the hike. Next, participants will begin using watercolor kits, blank postcards and brushes that will be pas

If you listen real close, you can hear the "ohm" resonate from Wanderlust Festival 2011 in Tahoe into the valley.  Mind, body, and spirit comes alive in this annual pilgrimage for outdoor enthusiast, music lovers, and yoga aficionados. Located in the natural setting of Squaw Valley in Lake Tahoe, few festivals in the world compares to majestic mountains, eclectic music, and meditations to match the mood. On its third year, the festival offers all who attend relaxation, revelation, and rejuvenation with organic foods, wines, scenery, music, and community. In true sun salutation, here are simple ways to waken your wanderlust. 1) Hoof it to Heaven, Schulyer Grant’s hike in the picturesque s

There are numerous trails and parks found in the greater Sacramento area. With a large variation in terrain and difficulty, there’s no need to go to the coast or all the way up to the Sierra Nevadas. Area trails and parks are somewhat unknown and this lack of experiences makes it seem like some of these places are not worth going to. This is where Recreational Equipment Inc., better known as REI, comes in. REI provides an opportunity to develop skills with a knowledgeable instructor. In the Sacramento area, REI’s Outdoor School has been steadily developing for the past few years. REI offers numerous classes every month and is still adding new classes. There is a wide variety of classes o

A group of six gathered at Old Sacramento’s Trail Mix store Sunday morning to hear author and avid outdoorsman Jordan Summers teach the workshop, “Leave no trace.” “Leave no trace” consists of seven principles to promote responsible outdoor recreation. “It allows you to preserve the resources of which no more is being made,” Summers said. The back country was the focus of the workshop. Summers said the first six-mile stretch of a wilderness area is considered front country. Past that is considered back country. He said five times more people visit front country than the back country. Summers has been a hiker and active in the outdoors since his childhood in Virginia. He has lived in Ca

 The Effie Yeaw Nature Center, a 77-acre natural habitat preserve and learning center in Carmichael, faces possible closure. The preserve is making the transition from being run by Sacramento County to being run by nonprofit organization, the American River Natural History Association (ARNHA), which currently is the center's second largest contributor, behind the county. However, the state budget may not cover expenses for the transition period, which could take years, park employees say. If the center does not get the funding it needs while the ARNHA prepares to take total responsibility, it may have to close its doors indefinitely. Effie Yeaw was a kindergarten teacher who led explorat

Here in Sacramento, we are fortunate enough to have access to many, many parks, lakes and rivers. We are minutes from the Sierras and a couple of hours from the Pacific Ocean. Living and playing in this area affords us the unique opportunity to discover and play locally in our aquatic environment. To date, there are more than 17 Parks and Recreation centers that have a pool for our neighborhoods. Activities that are often overlooked in these environments are snorkeling and scuba diving. For me, scuba diving and snorkeling uniquely offers the ability to transform a person in four ways: immersion, active participation, environmental relationships and emotional well-being. Immersion is a th

It is spring in Sacramento. Flowers are blooming and the trees have grown back their thick canopy of leaves. Our bodies are feeling the natural urge to be outside in the sunshine to enjoy what nature has to offer, and the greater Sacramento area definitely has a lot of it.   Sacramento and its surrounding areas contain some of the most beautiful landscapes in California. There are hikes and nature walks aplenty in this region that can give a good dose of springtime joy, all of which can be reached with a short drive or bicycle ride.   Following are some classic favorites:   Capitol Park: Downtown, 15th and L Streets — 1.5 mile loop   Not so much a hike as a walk, but beautiful nonethel

Sacramento, CA. – A local outdoor enthusiast decides to send some foster children to summer camp. Despite the negative effects of the economic downturn on charitable causes, contributions currently exceed expectations by 500% for The Power of Motion, a local man’s campaign to give back to the community. Local outdoorsman Jef Spencer decides to give back to the community by creating a charitable campaign called The Power of Motion. This charity celebrates a commitment to giving through the support of keeping in a hiker in motion. Be it on foot or by bike, sponsors contribute for every mile hiked or biked by the creator of the charity throughout 2009. 100% of the proceeds go to sending fost

A few pictures from hike I took on Sunday near the town of Cool.  Directions to the trailhead and GPS tracks can be had here.  Apparently, this area is popular among geocachers.  More photos here.