June - Livermore Area Recreation and Park District

Valley Wilds
June 2015
A publication of the LARPD Open Space Unit
Volume 24 | Issue 6
Tales from Camp Shelly:
By Ranger Eric Whiteside
A Scratching in the Night
In the weeks prior to each summer’s official opening weekend
at Camp Shelly, a few rangers journey up to the mountains to
wake the slumbering camp from its hibernation. Some years
we work through the snow still on the ground, some years the
wallflowers and goldenrod have already carpeted the tent
pads. No matter what the
conditions are, it is always exciting
to see Camp Shelly come to life.
The winter always takes a toll on
the campground. We often find
fallen trees across the road, tent
pads completely eroded away,
and spiders and rodents living in
the bathrooms. It’s amazing how
little time it takes for the hustle
and bustle of the summer to
revert back to nature. It can look
truly desolate before that opening
weekend, before all the tents are
pitched and the bathrooms are
swept out, but it is a very unique
IN THIS
Issue
• Tales From Camp Shelly
• This Month’s Ranger-led
Programs and Activities
• Insider’s Tahoe Guide
Livermore Area Recreation
and Park District
4444 East Ave. Livermore, CA 94550
www.larpd.org
Ranger Office: 925.960.2400
experience to witness the Camp
Shelly before we humans get a
foothold for the summer.
a moment, I decided it must be
Once during our set-up I woke in
coming from the campground
the middle of the night to a loud
office. Careful with my footing in
scratching sound. Well, maybe not the dark, I approached the small
so much a loud sound so much as building ,following my ears. The
it was simply the only sound, like
door was shut tight. No signs of
how a ticking clock can seem so
life.
loud in a quiet room. Being a fairly
light sleeper, I knew it would be
I reoriented myself to the
pointless to try to fall back asleep scratching sound and found
without investigating, so I crawled myself aimed at the restrooms.
out of my sleeping bag and got
Perhaps a bear was trying to
my bearings.
sneak a roll of toilet paper? The
men’s room door was still locked. I
We hadn’t yet turned on the big
held my breath as I peered around
floodlights outside the restroom
the corner to the women’s room
to guide sleepy campers, but a
and listened intently. No, the
nearly full moon hung over the
sound was beyond the restroom,
trees bathing the forest in a dim
scratching off in the distance. I
light. I pulled a sweater over my
felt the hair on the back of my
head and grabbed a flashlight.
neck stand up as I left the manThe campground had been
made walls of the bathroom, my
completely vacant of humans for
last bastion of defense before the
the past nine months, so in fact,
shadows of the volleyball court.
I was the intruder here. I opted
to keep my flashlight off to try to
I clenched the flashlight in my
figure out who was making the
hand, but refrained from turning
sound without scaring them off.
it on. My eyes had fully adjusted
The scratching sound continued
to the night, and trees had begun
to echo through the woods. After to cast clear and defined shadows
Continued on Page 3
Ranger-led
Programs
Experience nature and history in a special way. Programs are
generally 1 - 2 hours in length. A $3 donation is requested. A $5
parking fee is charged at Sycamore Grove Park.
Quick Look:
June
Programs
Butterflies
Sunday, June 7
2:00 pm
Art in the Park
Sunday, June 14
2:00 pm
Night Hike: Adults Only
Saturday, June 20
8:00 pm
Nature Stories
Sunday, June 21
10:00 am
Creek Walk
Saturday, June 27
8:00 am
Leaping Lizards
Sunday, June 28
10:00 am
Butterflies
Sunday, June 7 2:00 pm
Join us for a brief talk about the butterflies that call the Livermore area home.
You’ll learn about local species, their relationships to host plants and some amazing
butterfly facts! After the talk we will take a short walk (about one mile round trip)
while we look for our fluttering friends.
Ranger Doug Sousa Sycamore Grove Park, Arroyo Road Entrance
Art in the Park
Sunday, June 14 2:00 pm
Join Rangers Claire and Doug for an afternoon of art in the park. We will provide you with art supplies
and some natural items to inspire you! Appropriate for all ages and skill levels. Rangers can give you
some ideas and tips to get started or you can just let your creative juices flow. Call (925) 960 2400 for
reservations. Please plan on donating $3 per person to help cover the cost of materials.
Rangers Claire Girlling and Doug Sousa
Sycamore Grove Park, Reservable Picnic Area (Call for directions)
Night Hike: Adults Only
Saturday, June 20
8:00 pm
Tonight is the “big” kids’ turn to participate in a no-lights hike. We’ll explore some
differences between nocturnal, diurnal and crepuscular animals while keeping our
eyes, ears and noses alert to critters of the night. Do not bring a flashlight but do
bring a childlike curiosity. Advance reservations are required by e-mailing pcole@
larpd.org, including your name, number of people, and phone number.
Ranger Patti Cole
Sycamore Grove Park, Nature Area Entrance
(Directions provided upon RSVP)
Nature Stories at May Nissen Park
Sunday, June 21 10:00 am
Come to May Nissen Park for a special storytime featuring stories about nature and wild animals.
Rangers and special guests from the Livermore Public Library will entertain families with fun readings of
children’s books. After the stories we’ll have cool nature stuff for kids to examine and maybe go on a “bug
hunt” to search for nature right nearby.
Ranger Amy Wolitzer and the Livermore Public Library
May Nissen Park, 685 Rincon Avenue
Continued on Page 6
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A Scratching in the Night (continued)
from the light of the moon. The sound had gotten
louder, but there was no movement around me. I
knew the source of the mysterious noise was close,
I could feel the resonation in my chest… but where
was it?
I crept ever closer and closer until it dawned on me
I had been following my ears in circles - around a
giant Jeffrey pine tree and… bingo. I looked up.
Now you have to realize it’s probably 2 AM, my
mind is still hazy from sleep, and a bit giddy with
excitement at being back at one of my favorite
places on earth – in short, I was a little loopy. But
anyway, I looked up and saw a monkey.
Yes, there was a monkey scratching a pine tree, in
the middle of the night in South Lake Tahoe. My
mind was racing: where did this animal escape
from? Was there some bizarre circus troupe
performing at the casinos at Stateline? Is there a zoo
nearby? Maybe the owner liked us on Facebook! In
the excitement I found myself squeezing something
harder and tighter in my hand… The flashlight!
It’s quite amazing how simply light can dispel the
confusion of darkness. As soon as the beam of light
hit the back of this otherworldly creature, it began
to change shape. Not only in my mind as I realized
it was not actually a monkey, but also physically . It
changed shape. The scratching ceased, it brought
its arms closer to its body, it sat further down on its
haunches, and its back seemed to get bigger.
Sitting there on the branch of this massive pine
was a porcupine! It had faced me, hunkered down,
and spread its quills out in all directions. What I
Photo by Gary Eslinger USFWS
thought was a monkey was actually the rare sight of
a porcupine acting without fear, with its quills laid
down on its back. I admired the majestic creature
for a while, stumbled back to my tent. I fell asleep to
the gentle scratch of a porcupine, with my curiosity
satisfied.
The next morning I did a little research and
discovered that porcupines are one of the world’s
largest rodents. Along with foraging for other
types of food, they are known to scrape the outer
layer of bark from a tree to expose the inner layers
for consumption during the less plentiful winter
months. The quills on their back are actually
specially coated hairs that are released on contact,
so unless they sense a threat, they keep them laid
down on their back to preserve their defenses. And
sure enough, when I walked over to the fateful
tree of the night before, I found a few quills on the
ground that must have fallen off as it adjusted to
posture towards me. Of course, these nocturnal
animals are nothing to fear, they cannot launch or
shoot quills at you, they are simply to protect them
from any would be attackers… or a dazed and
confused, sleepwalking ranger.
As the 2015 season of Camp Shelly begins, I
encourage to journey there yoursellf this summer,
and see what adventure awaits you!
Photo by D. Gordon. E. Robertson
Reservations for Camp Shelly can be made by
calling (925) 373 5700. Find more info and view site
availability online at:
http://www.larpd.org/camp_shelly/info.html
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Camp Shelly
Insider’s Guide to Lake Tahoe
If you’ve never been to LARPD’s Camp Shelly
perhaps it’s time for a trip! If you have camped
there before, this mini-guide may give you some
ideas of new adventures, hikes and restaurants to
try in the South Lake Tahoe Area.
Relax
By Ranger Amy Wolitzer
back towards town. Turn right where you see the
“Sno-Park” signs and drive up Cathedral Road.
There are lots of places to pull over and park. If
you wander through the meadows on the left
hand side of the road you’ll find your way to
Fallen Leaf Lake.
With amenities like ping-pong, horseshoes and
volleyball ,just hanging around camp can be a lot
of fun but when you’re up for a mellow, low-key
adventure, here are two great places to check out
that are walking distance from camp.
Baldwin Beach
Baldwin Beach is only a one mile walk or bike
ride from camp. Here’s a ranger shortcut for you:
save some distance by following the old fire road
that begins between sites 10 and 11 down to
the highway. Cross the highway (carefully!) and
turn right on the bike path. Turn left on the road
to Baldwin beach. You’ve saved yourself a $8
parking fee and had a nice walk!
Fallen Leaf Lake
Also walking distance from camp are the
beautiful flower-filled meadows and blue waters
of Fallen Leaf Lake. There is a secret short cut
there from the Tallac Trail Head (see map on next
page). If you want to minimize the distance you
need to walk, drive down highway 89 half a mile
Hike
Camp Shelly sits on the edge of the Desolation
Wilderness. This 63,690 acre area of natural
splendor has more than 100 lakes to explore!
There are hikes in and around the Desolation
Wilderness to interest everybody.
The Rainbow Trail - Short and Easy
A great place to start is the Taylor Creek Visitor
Center operated by the Forest Service. You can
get all kinds of information there and do a quick
hike on the Rainbow Trail. This 1/2 mile paved
loop is wheelchair and stroller accessible. It
goes through beautiful meadow and creekside
areas AND features the “Stream Profile Chamber”
where an underground room with a glass wall
allows you to get face-to-face with the fish in the
stream. This is a fantastic place to take kids but is
also an incredible experience for adults.
Eagle Lake - Short and Moderate
One of the most beautiful lakes in the Desolation
Wilderness is Eagle Lake. I have visited about
Continued on page 5
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Camp Shelly
Tahoe Guide (continued)
35 of the 100+ lakes in the Desolation and can
truly say Eagle Lake ranks in the top 5 in terms
of beauty. And you only have to hike one mile to
reach it! Although the trail is steep, I have known
kids as young as four to manage it. The catch is
this is an extremely popular hike so don’t expect
to get a parking spot on a weekend day unless
you go really early. I recommend taking the
Emerald Bay Trolley (also known as the “Nifty 50”
trolly.) There is a stop across the road from Camp
Shelly at Baldwin Beach or you can drive to the
visitor center and catch it there. $5 gets adults a
pass for the day. Children’s tickets are half price.
The trolleys have sections that are open to the
air and the views are breathtaking. Have your
camera ready.
Mount Tallac - Long, Strenuous (and Gorgeous)
And then there’s the big one: Mount Tallac. To
summit the 9,735 foot peak you must gain 3,500
feet elevation in less than 5 miles. If you aren’t
sure you have it in you there are two nice lakes
that can be good turnaround spots. The boggy
but beautiful Floating Island lake is 1.7 miles
from the trailhead and another 0.8 miles from
that you’ll find the stunning Cathedral Lake.
If you intend to make it all the way to the top
you should be in good physical condition and
carry 3 liters of water per person (or a water
purification system). Also, bring lots of snacks
and a waterproof windbreaker. It is often windy
above the treeline and thunderstorms are not
uncommon.
View from top of Mt. Tallac
Eat
Here are my favorite places to eat in South Lake
Tahoe:
Breakfast
Ernie’s Coffee Shop, 1207 Emerald Bay Rd
Great classic diner. Locals order the off-menu
“Orange Delite” - a breakfast milkshake made
with vanilla ice cream and orange juice!
Lunch
Sprouts Cafe, 3123 Harrison Ave
This fantastic mostly vegetarian cafe is well worth
the 15 - 20 minute drive towards the stateline
casinos. Fantastic smoothies, salads, sandwiches
and more. My favorite is the “Mexican Volcano”.
Lines are often long but portions are gigantic and
delicious. Cash only. (ATM on-site)
Dinner (and dessert)
The Cantina, 765 Emerald Bay Road
Classic sit-down
Apple Burrito
(casual) Mexican
fare with a nice
outdoor patio. I
love their nachos
and potato tacos,
my friends love
their pitchers of
margaritas but
the all around
winner is on the
dessert menu... Let me tell you about the apple
burrito. Fill a tortilla with apple pie filling, deep
fry it, serve topped with whipped cream and
cinnamon ice cream. Mind-blowing.
I hope this gives you ideas of new adventures for
your next trip to LARPD’s Camp Shelly!
Reservations for Camp Shelly can be made by
calling (925) 373 5700. Find more info and view site
availability online at:
http://www.larpd.org/camp_shelly/info.html
5
Tahoe Insider’s Guide Extra
Ranger Amy’s Top Secret Map to Fallen Leaf Lake
Leave camp and walk, bike or drive 1/4 mile
towards hwy 89. At the junction and turn
right on the road to the Tallac Trailhead.
Follow signs to the trailhead.
Camp
Shelly
Follow directions below:
Detail
Mt. Tallac
Trailhead
Mt. Tallac
Trailhead
See detail below
Fallen Leaf Lake
June Programs (continued)
Creek Walk
Saturday, June 27
8:00 am
The Arroyo Del Valle was a little dry last year.
Hopefully, it will still be flowing in late June. Let’s
walk the creek and see how the plants and critters
are adapting to the drought. This will be about a
2 mile walk on a flat, dirt trail. Wear comfortable
shoes and bring water and a camera if you like.
Ranger Darren Segur
Sycamore Grove Park
Wetmore Road Entrance
Leaping Lizards
Sunday, June 28
10:00 am
Summer time is reptile time! Some of our most
easily seen reptiles are the lizards. Come learn
about lizards found in our area as well as around
the world. There will be live specimens to see. We’ll
be staying in the picnic area so this is a great choice
for those who would rather not walk far.
Ranger Dawn Soles
Sycamore Grove Park
Arroyo Road Entrance
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