These Boots are Made for Hiking...

Start time is 7:30 am and we are typically done around 9:30 am. Please note that the walk is at a decent pace, about 4.8 miles in about 1hr and 30 minutes (A mile in 18 minutes or less) and make sure you can do that.

Starting at the end of the parking lot, we go on the paved trails eastward to coyote pond, around the pond and back the same trail. We usually take a small (10-15 minute) break by the pond. Elevation gain is about 141 feet (on the way to the pond).

Have you tried or heard of Rucking?
What is Rucking?
In simplest form, Rucking is just walking/hiking with a weighted backpack. No special equipment and super easy to do! How much weight depends on your fitness/strength, generally it's good to start with around 10% of your body weight or just some extra water in your backpack. If you are into backpacking then bring out your full load equivalent and get some weekday training in!
Here are links to fancier descriptions of Rucking:
https://www.goruck.com/pages/what-is-rucking
https://health.clevelandclinic.org/what-is-rucking
https://www.verywellfit.com/what-is-rucking-8619172

Benefits of Rucking:
Full body workout to develop muscle, especially at shoulders, core and legs
Burn 3x calories as just walking with less impact than running
Improve bone density with load through out skeletal structure
Improve fitness/endurance with less time
Improve balance
The list of benefits is very long!

What to bring:
Any good/sturdy/comfortable backpack with some weight in it
Good walking/hiking shoes
Hydration
......and that's really it!

Length/duration:
Goal is to keep it to 1.5 hours because I need to get back to work, you can go longer if you have the time. We will cross the pedestrian bridge and go up the bike trail to almost Folsom dam then turn around. Total distant should be a little over 3 miles with about 400ft of elevation gain. Also optional is taking the dirt trail parallel to the bike path on the way up.

Parking/meeting location:
We will meet in the parking lot behind/below Sutter street steakhouse on Reily st, park close to Reily st.
Parking address is: 609 Leidesdorff St Folsom CA 95630

Notes: If you have not tried Rucking before PLEASE start light and add as you progresses. Please make sure your back can handle the weight, last thing anyone needs is to get injured.

Feel free to message me with any questions.

We'll meet at Rossmoor and Ambassador Drives at the Rossmoor Bar park entrance sign by the yellow gate, parking is free. We'll be walking on a mix of asphalt and dirt trails for 1.5 hours (3.25-4 mi). Meet for summer hours at 7am (June thru September), the rest of the year 8am. We depart promptly at 7:05 or 8:05 am all year round, rain or shine. It's mainly flat, we go the pace of the group. We alternate the route each time between heading toward El Manto or River Bend Park just to spice it up a bit. We see wildlife, go along the river (and sometimes in it) and enjoy conversation. Many don't sign up so expect 3-7 attendees most days. Dogs are welcomed, we have 2 regular fuzz faces. It is recommended you wear long sleeves and pants as we sometimes go thru stickers, shoe gaiters are helpful. There is always a bathroom stop if needed. Bring water, a hat, rain gear, sunscreen, hand sanitizer and a snack if needed.

Wandering Thursday Wannabe is dodging rain forecast by going a day later on Thursday.

Just because we can, lets go backwards. You still have the option of 4 or 7 miles.

This week come hike with us on the beautiful bluffs above Lake Natoma. We'll do about a 4 to 7 mile loop hike with the first few miles gradually going up Middle Ridge Trail to the rolling bluffs above the lake. We will follow the trail until it returns to lake level then back up to the bluffs above the dam where we make our loop back on the Shady Trail for those wanting to keep it short at 4 miles, or continue thru Mississippi Bar to Robin Pond totaling about 7 miles or what ever the group is feeling. We can always go farther if the group wants.

We will park at Sunset and Main. If that is full you can park in the Snowberry Creek Assembly Area aka Shadow Glen Riding Stables parking lot. From Sunset, turn left on Main then right into the first driveway marked Shadow Glen Riding Stables. Once you turn in make another right into the gated lot. Exit your car and walk the trail to the corner of Sunset and Main where some of us will also be parked. We will meet at the closed gate at the end of Main.

More info below.

Please RSVP if you are interested. PLEASE DO NOT BE A NO SHOW! We will meet at the end of Sunset Ave at Main Ave in Orangevale at 8:30 am. We will start the hike at 8:35 am.

Well behaved Dogs are welcome. Please clean up after them on the trail.

This hike is rain or shine although rain may cause an alternate route.

Things to bring; comfortable shoes, plenty of water, appropriate clothes for the weather and a positive attitude ready for variations if needed! This hike will be about two to three hours for the 4 to 7 mile. We leave no one behind as all are welcome but Note we will be walking a 20 to 25 minute mile.

We follow the "Leave no trace only footprints" policy.

Lets keep the trail warm until Jeff's return