Embarking on a Journey Through California’s Rivers and Creeks

This adventure commenced at Indian Creek Lodge, nestled deep in the canyon of the Trinity River. Behind my room, a vintage gold miner’s shack clung to a steep slope. The office radiated warmth and light in the crisp October air, as an ideal spot for the copy of California: Walking Through Change that I left there.
As I set out, the enchanting allure of California's rivers and creeks beckoned, promising a journey through rugged and serene landscapes.

Wandering Through Waterways

Journeying from one river to the next, I traversed past a desolate mining village at the entrance of a treacherous canyon near a second Indian Creek, then onwards to the majestic Klamath River and yet another Indian Creek, this one in the heart of Indigenous territory.

Nature's Timeless Gifts

As I wandered, a ponderosa pine casually dropped fresh cones onto a bed of brown needles, some of which I gathered into my pack for Christmas. Below, billions of fir and pine trees flanked the rapid river, a testament to the unspoiled beauty of the area.

Discovering Hidden Treasures and Traditions

Unforgettable souvenirs—gemstones—were mine for the taking along the Klamath, leading to the Kurak Tribe's stronghold at Happy Camp, stationed near yet another Indian Creek (a nod to the prototypical native named Kurak portrayed by William Shatner in The Paradise Syndrome, Star Trek Original Series). In exchange for this journey full of natural wonders, a second copy of my book found a new home at the Kurak People's Center. Farther along the Pacific, south of SFO, the Trinity Canyon's resonant sounds merged with the surf's roar, encapsulated in the scent of morning chaparral.