Field Trip: A Day at the Cedars with Roger Raiche

A Day at the Cedars with Roger Raiche

We’ll need 2 or 3 high clearance/4WD vehicles. We will transfer to the hardier vehicles about 3 miles from our final destination, at Raymond’s Bakery 1 mile before Cazadero. We can not leave vehicles at the bakery, but it is a good gathering spot since there is a bathroom and food and tables/benches.

There is still another 45 minutes to 1 hour before getting into the canyon to start hiking. This usually involves stopping at a neighboring ranch (closer into The Cedars than Raymond’s) and transferring into capable vehicles to make the 7 creek crossings. Roger will have his truck, which usually can handle 4-6 more people (6 if folks ride in the back bed), but all other participants must be able to fit into enough high clearance, 4WD vehicles to get into the canyon.

The terrain is rugged, rocky, and involves creek crossings (without bridges), so participants should be in good hiking shape and capable of dealing with irregular, rocky terrain. There are single file trails, but these are still demanding in spots. Folks can not leave the group during the hike, and all must arrive and leave at the same time. (If someone, once in the canyon, feels that they can not go on, they can return to the base camp and hang out until the rest of the group returns, but I, as group leader, can not leave the group to escort them back to camp.) Usually we have the group organizer, act as a rear-end “sweep”, unless there is someone else who wants to take on this function – to make sure no one gets hurt or falls behind at the end of the group while on the hike. Typically we do a loop hike before lunch, have lunch back at the camp, and then do a shorter hike after lunch – though anyone too tired can hang out at the camp for this second hike.  A lot depends on when you show up and when you want to leave.

Typically we meet around 9:30 or 10 at Raymond’s and try to be out of the canyon by 3;30 or 4 – but we can vary that as you need, though I don’t want to meet before 8:30am. As with all hikes, participants are responsible for their own food, equipment etc.

While this may sound like a lot of work, it is a magnificent place to visit with many endemic and rarely seen species. The procedures outlined above are what we found works best to effectively get folks in and out in an efficient manner, as it is a difficult place to get to regardless of whether one is alone or with a group. Weather can be a factor – if it is going to be a heavy rain, I have to cancel as it may be dangerous to drive through the creeks to get there, as well as being miserable once there as there is no shelter. Light rain is OK, but not ideal. If the road gets washed out during the winter, we may have to reconsider alternatives, depending where the damage occurs.

We will send plant lists to all who sign up.

There was a nice article in the Santa Rosa Press Democrat last month on some of the microbial research going on in the canyon.

A 2009 article in Fremontia has a lot of background info.

For most groups, a fee of $20/person is assessed. While CNPS is not charged, contributions are appreciated. These monies go to maintenance of the road, liability insurance, and so on.