Here’s Uncle Claude’s photo of Bill Albin walking the route toward the camping area; you can pitch a tent here if you don’t mind sharing your space with the bears — they’re friendly and most anxious to meet anyone with anything resembling food. There are campgrounds aplenty all around, and lots of rentals. Living right there on the claim is not recommended, and it’s less than three minutes from the established and sleeping areas.
This would be a lovely place to camp and/or set up a chuck-wagon, remembering that under California Drought Laws you cannot make even a small fire anywhere in this area, except at designated campsites. It’s also a great spot for a meditation walk.
Under the trees is nice in high sunlight, but the pine needles are everywhere — you’ll want to clear an area for relaxing, so be sure to bring a rake. Pine needles make great pillow stuffing in the wild, but you’d be wiser to just bring a pillow or zafu cushion with you, unless you’re hiking up from Nevada City, a foot-journey of about 4 days if you’re in the kind of shape I was in as a trainfire cadre sergeant at Fort Ord — Sgt. Felix and I used to run around the platoon while they stumbled forward… If you’re in pretty good shape but you’re civilian, but you’re used to a heavy pack-load, you can make it up there on foot in five days. If you’re like most folks, you’ll make it as far as the ridge, then call a taxi.
Be sure to take a look at the Prospecting Photos in my next bloggie.
See You At The Top!!!
gorby