Trout Fest at Moccasin Creek

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Posted by Annie in Family Fun, Field Trip Idea on March 1, 2014

kids fishing day

The California Department of Fish and Wildlife is hosting Trout Fest at Moccasin Creek Hatchery on Saturday, April 12th, from 9am to 1pm.

Trout Fest provides a hands-on opportunity, for all ages, to hone their fishing skills, learn about trout and the local hatchery.

Activities include knot tying, rigging, casting, cleaning fish, trout tasting, fish prints, trout touch pool, fly tying, dissection, aquatic insects, games, science activities and displays.

All activities are free and all equipment is provided. Actual fishing is limited to kids 15 years and under.

Moccasin Creek Hatchery is located at 15300 Hwy 49, at the junction of Hwy 49 and 120.

For more information call (559) 765-4824 or email troutfest@wildlife.ca.gov.

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Winter is wonderful

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Posted by Shawn & Annette in Outdoors on March 2, 2012

English: Child making a (North Dallas, Texas).

Snow Angels

I just love winter! There is nothing like waking up to the crisp, frozen snow. The ice is just starting to melt, the sun is shining, and there are a couple inches of snow on the ground with patches of earth showing through. The snow won’t last long, but it is beautiful while it’s here.

I like to take our little dogs out in the morning at just about day break. It’s a little nippy, but worth braving the cold to take in the sounds of all the birds waking. There is one bird that makes a sort of trill noise. I don’t know what it is but I hear it every morning. I imagine it’s a brilliant green in color with luscious plumes. The reality is probably quite different.

Waking up to the snow has a way of lifting my spirits and helps me put things into perspective. I especially love it when I wake to fresh-fallen snow. I always try to get up really early so I can be the first one to mess it up. With the fresh mountain air it feels like the very first morning – every morning.

The road will be icy in spots, at least until the sun melts it. Those who travel the “seven curves” will want to be especially careful. The road does get sun in a few spots, but there’s always some driver who doesn’t get it and takes those curves at normal speeds. Disaster. So, please slow down.

Take a moment and enjoy the day. Dodge Ridge will be the place to be this weekend.

Powder & Sunny Skies Today!

Dodge Ridge3/2/12 – 5:45am Yesterday we received an additional 7 in. bringing our 4 day snowfall total to 30 in!!! For Today, we’ll have 27 groomed runs, 60 of 67 trails open, base depths of 18″-22″ & all lifts operating w/ the exception of Chairs 4 & T643.

With Bluebird skies, forecasted temps in the 40’s & 37 groomed runs for the weekend, along with 95% of terrain accessible, all lifts scheduled to operate & a brand new park on Upper Six Shooter, this is without a doubt the best weekend of the season so far!

Don’t you just love our new weather widget? You can see at a glance what the weather will be five days in advance.

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Wilderness

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Posted by Shawn & Annette in Family Fun, Outdoors on July 6, 2011

Sign in Stanislaus National Forest, California...

Stanislaus National Forest

It’s been a very busy week in Twain Harte, someone turned the heat on and left it on. I’m glad I’m not paying the propane bill for all this heat. The heat has brought people to the mountains in droves. Traffic hasn’t been this bad since – well since ever as far as I can recall.

While you are up here enjoying yourself with family and friends, I’d like you to please keep an eye out for Sandy, she’s been gone a week now.

We are seeing a lot more humidity than we normally see in the month of July, so be prepared to be hot and sticky. Speaking of hot and sticky, I know most of your vehicles are equipped with air conditioning because you are escaping the valley heat but you don’t have to cool yourselves driving 100 miles an hour.

Where is the fire? You come to the mountains to relax and unwind. Highway 108 is not The Indy 500. Slow down for pity sake. Because of our funky winter, we had a bumper crop of deer this season — I say had because far too many have been slaughtered this summer by motorists driving too fast. Just this week alone I’ve seen…

  • deer
  • raccoons
  • squirrels
  • birds
  • opossum
  • and other DEAD animals laying on the road.

It would be like a stranger driving through your home at 65 miles an hour. I normally have deer and turkeys visit my home daily as well as raccoons and many many squirrels. I’ve seen only one deer and a couple of squirrels all week. How can you enjoy nature if you drive it away or worse, kill it. Please slow down. Hell, stop and smell the flowers while you are here.

It’s great to get away and let your hair down but please take your trash with you. I wonder if you would be ashamed to know that we have 80 year old women who pick up the trash you leave behind? Crews of volunteers take to the streets to pick up the beer bottles, paper cups, and even entire bags of garbage that get tossed out beside the road. I love these mountains and the wildlife that call this area home. Your mother doesn’t live here. Pick up after yourself! If you bring it with you, or buy it here, take it home or dispose of it properly.

Lastly, if you enjoy the wildlife, please don’t feed it, don’t hold it and don’t treat it like a pet. Animals can be trained and tamed but then it will be doomed to death. Deer who are hand fed, petted and become too familiar with people, become tame, then are killed by hunters during hunting season or by motorists throughout the year — because they have come to trust man. I don’t have a problem with hunting but the deer should at least have a sporting chance at survival.

Want to have a good time in Twain Harte?

  • Take all the pictures you want.
  • Take some time for a nature walk.
  • Go fishing, boating, swimming, skydiving, caving, spelunking or zip-lining.
  • Partake of the local night life.
  • Buy a pizza, shop at The Market.

Always remember to:

  • Slow down
  • Pick up your trash
  • Don’t feed the wildlife
  • One last thing: Don’t dump your pet here.

Apparently, many valley people think that turning their unwanted dog or cat out into the wild is a good idea and that they can fend for themselves or will be happier in the great outdoors. Every year dozens of cat and dogs are lost and never found or left behind in the mountains only to end up road kill or lion bait. If you bring your pet with you, keep your dog or cat on a leash. Don’t let them wander off alone.

Have a terrific summer and enjoy the majestic Stanislaus National Forest, we certainly do. Be sure to stop up to Pinecrest for their Ranger programs and movies at the amphitheater.

 

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