Fire on the Mountain

[Ed Wahl]

Went up to the North Fork of the American for a little recon yesterday. Looks like most of the burn was stopped at the Foresthill Rd. on top of the ridge. Only saw one area on the other side that got burned. Hope all this doesn't wash into the river this winter.
http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a288/edfish333/North%20Fork/NorthForkAmerican005.jpg

http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a288/edfish333/North%20Fork/NorthForkAmerican008.jpg

http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a288/edfish333/North%20Fork/NorthForkAmerican009.jpg

http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a288/edfish333/North%20Fork/NorthForkAmerican010.jpg

Here's the Sailor Flat access.
http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a288/edfish333/North%20Fork/NorthForkAmerican006.jpg
With this sign across the road.
http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a288/edfish333/North%20Fork/NorthForkAmerican007.jpg

Recon done it was time to hit the trail. Italian Bar was below the burn and the only access on this side of the canyon. The road in was under about 4 to 8 inches of very fine dust. Tricky driving because you can't see the rocks underneath. Hit the trailhead at 1:25.
I was impressed with this trail almost immediately, very steep. Very, very steep. :shock: At least it's still green here though.
http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a288/edfish333/North%20Fork/NorthForkAmerican011.jpg
After 50 minutes of just trying to stay kind of slow me and my burning knees made the bottom. First thing I came to was some old mining relics.
http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a288/edfish333/North%20Fork/NorthForkAmerican014.jpg

http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a288/edfish333/North%20Fork/NorthForkAmerican013.jpg

http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a288/edfish333/North%20Fork/NorthForkAmerican015.jpg

Then the goal was reached. Water's a bit low, but that's usual for this time of year.
http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a288/edfish333/North%20Fork/NorthForkAmerican016.jpg

http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a288/edfish333/North%20Fork/NorthForkAmerican017.jpg

http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a288/edfish333/North%20Fork/NorthForkAmerican018.jpg

http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a288/edfish333/North%20Fork/NorthForkAmerican023.jpg

I could see that the fire had made it's way down to here but it looks like just a healthy little burn. It took out the undergrowth just as it should, leaving the larger trees intact.
http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a288/edfish333/North%20Fork/NorthForkAmerican019.jpg

I caught a nice little bunch of 'bows, lost quite a few others. I was using some Fall Caddis imitations, a #8 and #10 Orange Stimulators and Bill Carnazzo's Fall Phase Stick Caddis.
http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a288/edfish333/North%20Fork/NorthForkAmerican020.jpg

http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a288/edfish333/North%20Fork/NorthForkAmerican021.jpg

It looks like early to mid June is the time to be here. Stonefly husks stuck to the rocks all over the place.
http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a288/edfish333/North%20Fork/NorthForkAmerican024.jpg

After that it took me 107 minutes of gasping, sweating, and swatting to make it back up to the truck. This is one impressive trail. I've done the others, and I think this one is as tough as any of them. All in all an excellent afternoon in the canyon. Ed

[Jeff C.]

Hey Ed!

Are you part mountain goat? The last hike id did out of a river canyon this summer took me over 2 hours. There were a lot of switchbacks so it was a mellow climb (1500 ft in 2 miles). You must have gone straight up.

Jeff

[erhetta]

Beauiful pics...looks like a tremendous area.

Seeing all of your adventures really helps me get my mind on trying to get in better shape. I really feel that I am missing out big time seeing as if I tried that hike, I might make it down, but would probably have to be airlifted out....or start back up the trail before the prime fishing time would start....

[Scott V]

Nice fish Ed and once again the hike looks like alot of fun on the internet but I would probably have been cursing you all the way in and out. And just so you know Jeff, he is part mountain goat, one of the toughest ugliest dirty old goats I have fished with. But one of my favorite goats.

[fishngy]

This (young)old goat would never make it! I am not in shape to make the hike out of the canyon, but I sure want to go! Thanks for the great picts. Got me thinking about working out (never will happen) , so I could join you sometime. Got something easier??? Bill

[Hairstacker]

Great stuff Ed! I think you've got us all thinking about getting in shape. :lol:

[Phil Synhorst]

I've been fishing the Sierras with the "Old Goat" for quite a long time, more years than he'd probably like to remember. :lol: Been up and down the trails on the Rube, in Summit City Canyon, Noble Lake, and more that I dare not mention. If Ed uses words like "very steep, impressive, and tough", you can bet that most of the rest of us need about 2-3months of cardio and leg work to survive it. :shock:

Nice pics Ed. I need to get my sorry a## in shape so I can get in there next year. More to the point, get out of there. :oops:

[Ed Wahl]

That's the beauty of these canyon trails. Once down you have to make it back up. I've yet to master the ability to force the ridgeline to lower using mind power. Believe me, I've tried.
There was one point where I could see the trail a ways higher up and thought, the trail must switchback to the left to get there. No such luck, the trail just went straight up the hill. It seemed to do that a lot. It was a good walk though, made it to the truck right at dark, which is perfect but accidental timing. I'd intended to make it out in an hour. DOH! Sure was glad I allowed the extra time at the start.
Also almost got to see a bear. Bear sign was all over the place down at the river. About 3/4 of the way up I could hear one bumbling along just below and crosshill from me. He/she was crossing towards me but the wind was wrong, blowing downhill. I could have moved down another 30 yards into the open to see it but you'd never have come up with enough money to make me take a step back down the hill. Anyway, when the bruin noises crossed my scent trail they stopped then retreated the other way. Some Canyon Wrens, Dippers, Robins, and Jays were my only company on this little trip. Always love seeing the Dippers though, they're an integral part of the canyon fishing experience, at least for me.

Where'd this Old Goat thing come from? I've been striving for Old Fart status for a long time. Is this a step in the right direction?

Oh Shoot, I forgot! Scott, you'd have loved it. There were Pacific Treefrogs and Foothill Yellowlegged Frogs all over the streambed. They'd do a panic hop straight up in the air to start the ball rolling. Then the speed hop for the water. There they'd hide in some hilariously funny spots. Ed

[Bill Kiene semi-retired]

That looks like an old stamping machine for crushing rocks?

[Scott V]

You let me know when you are wanting to go back, I'd love to see those frogs. the chance of seeing a bear is not real inviting, especially because you can out run me. Whats the old saying, "you don't have to be faster than the bear, just faster than the person you are with." :lol:

[Hairstacker]

Where'd this Old Goat thing come from? I've been striving for Old Fart status for a long time. Is this a step in the right direction?
An Old Goat is just a fit Old Fart -- definitely a step in the right direction. :lol:

[Tracy Chimenti]

we're you down by Sailor Flat (judging by the hardware)? Beacroft? Mumford?

Thanks, Tracy

[Ed Wahl]

Tracy, I was at Italian Bar. It's the lowest of the four trails. A few miles down the hill from Mumford. Ed