MLK Boondoggle

Downed tree on Ferretti

The area around the cabin has received some severe weather the last 10 days or so.  So when we came up for the MLK weekend, one of our goals was to go out on a boondoggle and "see what we could see"!   It didn't take long.  As we headed out Ferretti Road, we came upon a tree that had just come down.  We had to turn around and go the other way.

Overflow

Turning around allowed us to check out the overflow from the lake. This is the river made from the water coming over the spillway.

Next up was a hike up to Smith Peak so we could get a lay of the land and see the snow peaked hills.

Grace brought her camera and took some great shots - including some maternity shots. Stay tuned for those.

Rainbow Pool

Next up was Rainbow Pool.  The water fall above is normally a 25 foot drop.  Here it is about 8 feet!  That shows how much water is shooting down the river!  The whole area is pretty trashed - mudslides and lots of debris.

Lots of water pouring across the walkway

Mudslide

Top of the fall

Next stop on the boondoggle was lunch/snack at Rush Creek Lodge.  We had some snackies and watched some skiing and football. We thought this was the last stop...but a true boondoggle has the unexpected and that is what happened this day!
 

When we left Rush Creek, we decided to take Hardin Flat Road -- just to check it out.  That was lucky for the folks we came upon stuck in a ditch!  One more adventure left in the day!  The husband had started walking out for help, so first up was going to get him.  So we drove and got him and took him back to the stuck car.  Then we used a shovel and the mats for the car for traction.  Jim and the wife were able to push the car out as the husband floored it.  My job was to video tape!  Grace helped until it was time to push and then stepped back...we didn't need another concussion from a rescue!

After they were safely out, we drove home thru Hardin Flat road and saw a lot of downed trees and all the devastation from the Rim Fire.

All in all, a rewarding boondoggle!