Cache Creek - Red Bud trail

Join me as I return to a favorite creekside location.
The first time I was here, the trip was led by a BLM ranger, and we looked for bald eagles. We didn't see any. I went back. I've seen the bald eagle soaring high above the ridge dividing the trailhead from the cache creek destination. I also saw a golden eagle one hike.
Join me as we climb this ridge, almost 3 miles with a five hundred foot gain in the first 2 miles. and returning with the same climb and distance. this is an "in" and an "out", hiking the same trail both ways.
We will take time to stop and look for mushrooms, identify plants, look for wildlife tracks.
This will not be a super fast hike because we want to make sure we catch all the correct trails and see the beauty of the wilderness. Uphill, I go about 1.5-2 mph, Downhill, I go about 2.5 mph.
Bring your basic ten essentials. Bring your two-way radios. Last time I was there, there was no cellphone service. Locals, can you comment on this?

We will carpool from Ukiah at 8am from Starbucks on Perkins at the freeway. Plan on being on the trail between 10am and 4pm. There will be time at our destination for sitting by the creek or exploring the nature in the area. Bring your sketch pad, camera, meditation book, comfee backpack chair, bird book, and enjoy Cache creek in the deep winter. Who remembers the name of the local that brought a tea kettle and picked wild herbs years ago when we came here?

Check your batteries for cell phone, gps. Do bring 2 quarts of water, lunch, hiking poles, layers of clothing, something to sit on at Cache Creek Baton flat.
Please study the map... know your way back to the car, on your own. Things happen in the great outdoors that need each of us to be aware.
The following description is accurate: https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/california/redbud-trail-cache-creek-wilderness?u=i&sh=vsc7zz. The free version of AllTrails will take you to this link. If you need, just google Redbud Trail to Baton Flat in Cache Creek Wilderness to find more information.

Don't trust the trailhead, Remember Hwy 20 is the major route from 101 to I5 between Santa Rosa & Eureka. Don't leave anything of value in your car. This is also a holiday 3 day weekend with the potential for more traffic than usual.

Time Details:
8am Meet to carpool Starbucks in Ukiah.
9:30 Arrive at the trailhead, no later By signing your name here, we know to wait for you, usually we wait about 10 minutes.
10:00 Be on the trail in the steep hill climbing area.
11:30: Arriving at the top of the ridge, we'll stop and look around at the distance mountains. Bring a backpack chair, if you like, and enjoy the view for a good 20". Have a drink of water.
12:30 Lunch at Creekside - explore the creekside and further trails. Draw, paint, read a book, play your harmonica, uke, enjoy being in a popular backpacking camping spot, take a nap. There's not that many trees at Baton Flat, so I hesitate about bringing a hammock.
2pm Head back to the cars before dark.
3:30 Drive home to Ukiah.
5:15 Sunset

Those of you from Lake County+, we'll see you at the trailhead about 9:30. For all of us, this plan is assuming we have a beautifully clear winter day. RAIN CANCELS.
Thank you for reading this far! Feel free to comment or send me a private message through meetup.
Elizabeth