October on the North Fork of the American River

For those not in the area, this is the Sierra Foothills near Sacramento and the Central Valley, which is much awesomer than is commonly appreciated.






It was a fantastic day on the trails around Auburn, near the Western States Trail. We've had only one sprinkle so far and there isn't another due for over a week, but there's actually a fair bit of bright green gross poking up through the straw. The smell of the dust and vegetation is unmistakable on a warm Northern California fall day like this. I met a California king snake enjoying the days well, whose flicking black tongue was tasting the same smells.