China Wall Staging Area – Foresthill, CA

by Sherri on February 9, 2008

Sherri & Cocoa checking out the Sierra view at China Wall, near Foresthill, California.

We just had one of our best cross country ski days ever, this past Thursday. Jeff, Cocoa and I headed for one of our favorite cross country skiing and snowshoe spots in the Sierras, China Wall. The conditions couldn't have been better! There was a 4-5 foot base to ski on and only a dozen or so people were there besides us. The weather was about 45 degrees and just perfect for skiing. And the best part was, the parking area at China Wall had just been plowed the day before. We were actually some of the first people to use the area, since the series of snowfalls we just had. More photos of the China Wall area and Sugar Pine Reservoir to come. Please check back soon! Directions to China Wall China Wall is about 45 minutes from Auburn, on the Foresthill Divide, in the Tahoe National Forest. Take the Auburn-Foresthill Road towards Foresthill. After a mile or so, you will cross the famous Foresthill Bridge, which is quite a site to see and an adventure to drive. Keep going on Auburn-Foreshill Road until you can't go any further. Park at the China Wall Staging Area parking lot. Tip If you are going and you don't own skis or snowshoes, you can rent them in Auburn at the Sierra Outdoor Center. If you have any questions about recreation at China Wall, or nearby Sugar Pine Reservoir, please feel free to leave a comment, or email me at sherri@sherrimeyer.com.

New Stock Images Coming Soon!

by Sherri on February 4, 2008

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Steve Hadley kayaking Sugar Pine Reservoir, Foresthill, California.

Sugar Pine Reservoir is one of our favorite spots to visit in the summer. It's only about 45 minutes from Auburn and it's a great spot to kayak, canoe, fish, picnic, hike, bike, run, swim and camp. My husband and I usually bring our kayaks or our canoe and our hiking shoes and make a day trip out of it, although we have camped there a couple of times. We like to hike the 3.5-mile loop trail around the lake, then put our boats on the water for some great paddling. Our dog, Cocoa, is always with us when we visit Sugar Pine, as it is one of her favorite "dog friendly" spots too!  After awhile of paddling, she is ready (and so are we) to hang out at our favorite spot along the shore. During the winter months, nearby China Wall Staging Area is a popular spot for Cross Country Skiing, Snowshoeing, Sled-Dogging and Snowmobiling. There are also other great spots near China Wall and Sugar Pine to play in the snow. Foresthill is booming right now. That is one reason why we are going to be adding new Foresthill photos to our galleries soon, along with other popular subjects. During the next few weeks, we will be processing lots of new images to add to our galleries. And many of the images we will be adding have been featured on this blog during the past few months. Here is a partial list of subjects we will be working on. Eastern Sierras Bodie State Historic Park, Buckeye Hot Springs/Buckeye Campground, Grover Hot Springs State Park, Mono Lake Tufa State Reserve, Yosemite National Park Gold Country/Northern Sierras Nevada City - Downtown Auburn - Auburn Courthouse, mountain biking, hiking, canoeing Lake Clementine Foresthill - Kayaking and hiking Sugar Pine Reservoir, scenics of Sugar Pine Reservoir and China Wall Columbia - Columbia State Historic Park Oregon (Central) Sunriver - Flyfishing, scenics, biking Lava Lake - Kayak fishing La Pine State Park - Camping, hiking, running, scenics Nevada (Northern) Black Rock Desert (home of the Burning Man Festival), Sand Mountain, Winemucca Dunes Thank you for visiting and be sure to check back often to see what's new!
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Group of teens hanging out on the dock at Sugar Pine Reservoir, Foresthill, California.

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Sherri and Cocoa sitting on the end of the dock, Sugar Pine Reservoir, Foresthill, California.

We returned to Sugar Pine Reservoir this past Sunday with friends, for some more paddling, hiking and photographing. One of the images I wanted to get when Jeff and I were there the previous Sunday, I was unable to get because I forgot to charge my backup battery! Oh, well, s**t happens! The shot that's been on my assignment list for sometime, is of someone on the dock in the late afternoon. While we were waiting for our friends to unload their gear, I noticed several teens hanging out at the end of the dock. It was 1:00. That's not the time I generally like to shoot, but I added a polarizer to my lens and shot away anyway. I managed to get several great shots in spite of the less than perfect lighting. But, when we returned to the dock later, about 6:00, I had my husband photograph our dog Cocoa and I in the same spot with beautiful sidelighting. It was definitely worth the wait! Visit our Website for links to photo galleries.
This past Sunday, Jeff & I headed for Sugar Pine Reservoir to do a little kayaking, hiking and photographing. During our lunch break, I looked to the sky and the scene in the photo below is what I saw. I've seen a lot of vapor trails in my life, but none that have caught my attention like this one! I was able to quickly get my camera and capture several photos of it before it dissipated. I guess you could say that I was at the "right place at the right time!" vapor-trail.jpg