Backcountry Travels

The Carson-Iceberg Wilderness is named for two striking geological features; the Carson River and a distinctive iceberg-shaped granite monolith. But the wilderness is likely best known for encompassing the native range of the Paiute cutthroat trout, one of California’s heritage trout. Silver King Creek and its tiny tributaries are headwaters of the East Fork Carson River, home to the Paiute...
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Hang around California long enough, you'll hear Gold Rush tales of unaccomplished miners trying to strike it rich by peddling California Gold Grease. The claim was to rub your body with the grease, then roll down a Mother Lode hill. The gold -- and only gold -- will stick to you. The price was ten dollars per box! Ridiculous as...
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Two months prior to his assassination, John F. Kennedy traveled to Clear Creek to dedicate the Whiskeytown dam. He spoke high praise for the Central Valley Project, the purpose to benefit agriculture, provide flood protection, power generation, and bookoo recreation. It's the recreation that draws me, like a bug to a porch light -- kokanee fishing to be precise. My cohort,...
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If you like camping and fishing in extremely remote locales, Hell Hole Reservoir is for you. It's located in the Eldorado National Forest, reached by very long, sinuous roads, and there's rainbows, browns, mackinaw, and kokanee to fish for. Like many other Sierra lakes, Hell Hole also contains a healthy population of crawdads. My cohort, Kevin Ogg, and I visited Hell...
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Red Hot can be used to describe the action at Stampede Reservoir right now. If you wear an orange shirt, hot-tempered kokanee might actually jump into your boat. Seriously, orange is a hot color right now, especially when coupled with shoe-peg corn marinated in tuna juice.  This past weekend we had no problems pulling limits out of Stampede. You too can...
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Thousand Lakes Volcano Wilderness is located in the southern Cascade Mountain range, between the town of Burney and Lassen Volcanic National Park, and offers something for nearly every user group. Stunning panoramic views from lofty volcanic summits, thick forest, verdant alpine meadows, and excellent fishing are just a few highlights that beckon empirical backpackers and equestrians.  So is the story of...
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