Ishi Wilderness Ride

[BanhXeo]

I've heard, "The hills have eyes"... and I got to see all the beauty they are looking at after this last Sunday's ride.
Redog1 and I took advantage of a Crisp, Clear morning to head out of Chico, CA and up Cohasset Rd. for a ~170 mile loop through the foothills. I decided to try a time-lapse on this trip...



proper RR to follow...

[BanhXeo]

Redog1 had told me about this loop and that it was right up my alley. 80% dirt 20% pavement, lots of sights to see and nothing to do with work..It was exactly what I was looking for. We met up at Scambles for some breakfast then hit the road. Our trip was poised to take us up Cohasset Rd. on to Ponderosa way to the Lassen Trail and into Ishi Wilderness area. For those of you who are from around here, you more than likely know the story of Ishi, "The Last Wild Indian", for those who don't, we stopped along the way to take in some history of the foothills of northern California and will share them with you here.


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Our First stop on our trip was the Helipad above Cohasset, great open lookout area with Mount Lassen rising up behind the foothills. Lassen is the southern most Volcano in the Cascade range and last erupted less than 100 years ago with that eruption being the largest in the lower 48 states until Mt. St. Helens in 1980.

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Our Mechanical Ungulates for the day:

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This was a signboard further up the trail, but it gives you an idea of the creeks we will be coming across on our way. We are moving up one ridge and down the other side with a creek being in the bottom of each.
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First sign of running water for the day:

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As we pulled away from this peaceful tributary, I hear Brien say, "Next stop, the Pinnacles!"..Immediately my mind starts to race as to what part of the trail I had overlooked..Pinnacles? as in the Apex? This ride is just starting though.. Google puts the definition of a pinnacle as "A high pointed piece of rock."..Google... is right..

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These things were bitchin'...

When everything else around them had been eroded away or moved by glaciers, these stood strong.

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[aldntn]

An area I very much want to visit for the beauty and because of Ishi.

[Mtrain]

This will be great. Ive read the book about Ishi and now seeing photos of the area will give it another side. Thankyou

[redog1]

Totally enjoyed the ride and was happy to share some of the local history/area as well as my own history with you. I will upload the few pics that I have tommorrow and insert them as needed. Funny thing about the pinnacles, I never knew they were there as a child and going up and down that road many times in my youth until Lucasleader showed them to me a couple of years ago. Seems there's something always "around the corner" to discover and explore if you just take the time to slow down and take it all in.
The time lapse video was a trip. Even got your tip over in it if you watch it close enough and know where it is.

[BanhXeo]

Originally Posted by redog1

Totally enjoyed the ride and was happy to share some of the local history/area as well as my own history with you. I will upload the few pics that I have tommorrow and insert them as needed. Funny thing about the pinnacles, I never knew they were there as a child and going up and down that road many times in my youth until Lucasleader showed them to me a couple of years ago. Seems there's something always "around the corner" to discover and explore if you just take the time to slow down and take it all in.
The time lapse video was a trip. Even got your tip over in it if you watch it close enough and know where it is.

Can't wait to go back! I caught the tip over on that too had to back it up frame by frame.

I'm still pulling 16 hour days guys so I will do my best to get back on the RR tomorrow evening, I'm beat tonight.

[redog1]

Pretty much duplicates of what Jeramie has.


Small stream going through this rock, never had seen this before, thought is was cool. Stream going in,


Then exiting the other side.


Take your time Jeramie.

[BanhXeo]

As a kid my dad would tell me stories of Deer Creek. My grandparents would talk about making day trips..camping, fishing, hunting and swimming. I grew up in Chico, and spent countless hours listening to the sound of Deer Creek and its surroundings. This was a new stretch of the creek to me.

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From here on in we are in wildlife refuge and Ishi Wilderness..


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Few miles up the road I believe is where it turned from Ponderosa Way to part of the Lassen Trail. Beautiful spot for a break and some history in the form of signboards


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A shot from the signs showing the great surroundings

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There are trail markers along the Lassen Trail. I believe Brien said he's come across 4. We saw 2 this day. I am really looking forward to finding out how many are placed on the Lassen Trail, and making a trip to stop at all..

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Next Stop.. "The Narrows"!

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[DockingPilot]

Very cool. Wasn't Ishi the last free and independent Indian. I hate to use the condescending term "wild Indian", but I think he was the very last aboriginal person in North America. Taught Saxton Pope how to make a bow and how to shoot it.

[redog1]

But I could be wrong. Haven't heard of any others.

[Bob]

Nice!

[BanhXeo]

Apologies for the break in this RR, life in general has been busy and getting through the end of the year with work was a handful to say the least. I hope everyone had a happy and safe Holiday and New Years.
Lets get back to this!

I left you at the Narrows. This little stretch of trail was just past the turnoff to Black Rock and Mill Creek. It is a beautiful spot and is home to a monument to Ishi.

Looking West..
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Looking East..
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Great spot for some reflection..
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We paused here for some water and good conversation. This is really a great spot. We pack up, say good by to Ishi and the Narrows and head back towards Black Rock.

[BanhXeo]

We drop down towards Mill Creek and the home of Black Rock. This is one big ass rock right in the middle of the canyon. Mill Creek actually flows up to it and gets out of its way on its decent towards the valley. It is in reality a Basalt Plug, an ancient volcano rising some 250 feet above its surroundings.

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Heading up the other side of the canyon, we get a nice look back at Black Rock and the Mill Creek Canyon..

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A shot of the other side of the canyon in the distance we just came over.
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Coming out of the Mill Creek Canyon, we run along the ridge of the foothills parallel with the north valley. Red Bluff off in the distance somewhere as well as what people around here call the Trinity Alps I believe across the valley.

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We met some nice people in a 2wd vehicle up here coming the other direction. Not sure what road they took to get to this spot but definately wasn't the way we were going.. They were Geocaching and apparently we were close to the cache. They asked about making it to Chico from here..Not in that rig guys, Happy Hunting and off we went.

Antelope Creek I believe. It goes from really dry, arid surroundings to very lush in a short distance. I loved this part of the trip, the trail was nice the air was very clean and there was vibrant moss all over.
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Redog1 showing me how its done on this creek crossing
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We ducked into a campsite Garmin had listed around here. Needed to see what kind of facilities were on the premises for future trips. There was a creek, a clearing for 1 tent, and a toilet (not a porta-potty, or a brick building, or a wooden box with a moon on it) nope, just a can with a lid in the forest. We had a quick laugh and headed out. It was a nice spot, and a can with a view is always a plus!

We had been on dirt for about 100 miles or so at this point. There is not much in the way between Chico and here so I was pretty surprised when we came around a bend and T-bone a paved road. I'm not talking I-5 here but its black and its man made and it seemed out of place at that time. It wasn't a desolate stretch of road at this time of year. It was fairly populated with families out, saws in hand, plucking trees to put in there house for a month. They were smiling so they are all right in my book. 1/2 mile or so on the asphalt and we take our turn onto Hogsback Road. One of our first sights is this lake that dries up in the summer.
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[BanhXeo]

This area up here was like another world. At one point past the lake we are motoring along and cross a high-tech cow crossing on the trail and I feel like i'm in Jurrasic Park. Mt. Shasta at the far end of the valley towering above the foothills. The yellow sign on the right says to stay in your vehicle and not to feed the T-Rex..
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This picture probably sums up Hogsback road for me. It seems to go on way longer than it is and its filled with baby-head sized rocks. I had a quick little get off somewhere along the road. Nothing was broke and it reminded me to pay more attention to what I'm doing at all times.

At first I thought to myself, "What a dumb place to put a road." Upon closer consideration, the road was never actually put here. It was left behind by people out searching for the past. Searching for the people and the creeks and the animals that can call this area their home. A crossroads of sorts. I am truly blessed to have been shown this area. To be a part of its evolution. It was an eye opening experience and glad to have had great company along the way. Thanks Brien

[jbcaddy]

so close, yet so far. I would love to have been out there with you folks. maybe next year. thanks for the photos and words. JB