WITM: Pinecrest National Recreation Trail

This weekend was my first hike since my birthday that was not done by the book.  Instead of staying near the Sacramento area, we headed somewhat southeast on Highway 108 to Pinecrest, near Dodge Ridge Ski Resort.  

Our hike was part of a day trip we took to get away for a few hours.  Pinecrest is a popular man-made lake, with a campground, cabins, and even motel accommodations for the less wilderness-loving folks.  On the lake is a marina that offers rentals for the day to those who want to enjoy the lake by being in it.    

After a short spin around the lake on a rented pontoon boat (where we enjoyed beers and snacks), we set out on the trail.  Beginning at the beach area near the marina, we followed a short sidewalk which soon turned into a dirt path.  There were quite a few people walking along the trail along with us, though the farther we went the thinner the crowds became.  

We crossed the dam and ascended a stone staircase.  We then followed the trail as it wound around above the lake's shoreline.  Looking down we saw swimmers in small coves and their lonely kayaks sitting on the rocks nearby.  Farther out we saw fishing boats, and the occasional pontoon boats full of people.  We even saw a handful of sailboats drifting along.  

As we came around a turn in the trail, we saw something I'd never seen on any hike: a lemonade stand.  Two or three boys had set it up and we all lamented not bringing any cash with us.  When we asked how much they had earned so far, they replied with "about fifteen dollars."  Their profits were undoubtedly lower than they ought to have been simply because most people were surely like us, and didn't think to carry cash.  I hope that with their next stand, they think to put up a sign at the beginning of the trail.  In fact, we saw a few interesting sights on the way.



Some of the things...



...we saw along the way.



Hey, anybody got a quarter?

We made our way toward the far side of the lake, alternately in the sunshine or under the shade of pine trees.  Once there, we climbed up and over the hills of granite and a wooden bridge spanning the creek that feeds into the lake.  The creek was moving at a pretty good pace, sending water splashing down the rocks at breakneck speeds only to end up in a calm cove full of more swimmers and boaters. 

The last leg of our hike was an easy walk with little up or down.  The only real difficult part was that much of the trail was soggy with small trickles flowing across here and there.  More than once I found myself struggling for balance after the ground shifted under my feet.  Shockingly I never did fall down completely - maybe I'm becoming more graceful, who knows?  

Soon we returned to the beach where we had started and settled in to enjoy some barbecue before heading back home.  



That, folks, is how you finish a hike.



To see a map of this hike, click here.