Overnight backpack trip to the N. Fork of the American River was my first opportunity to test out my new Canon G10. We traversed alpine granite slabs with abundant flowers with Jeffrey Pine, Firs and Juniper, then down into lower elevations of black oak and cedars, finally down to Live Oak and chaparral. Thankfully Palisade Creek accompanies the lower stretch with wonderful swimming holes. The piece de la resistance is the N. Fork of the American River with Palisade Falls. The white polished granite riverbed with emerald waters are beautiful.