May 9, 2012 – Deer Camp and Return Trip, Alder Ck to Wawona

Starting Place: Alder Creek Crossing

Destination: Deer Camp

Actual Destination: Alder Creek Crossing

Miles Traveled: 3.0 miles

Elevation Rise: 770'

Travel Time: 2:30

Moving Time: 1:40

Starting Place: Alder Creek Crossing

Destination: Wawona

Miles Traveled: 7.2 miles

Elevation Rise: 233'

Travel Time: 3:20

Moving Time: 2:50

 

Slept under the stars last night. I was warm and comfy. The ground was at a slant, so you seemed to scoot down. Sherri was scooting around more than I. There was a nice moon out this morning—2am or so—almost full. Before then, the stars were bright until the moon showed up. Enjoyed watching both.

When I got up a dew had fallen, wetting our bags and everything else out in the open. I think Steven was dry in his hammock, between two trees. After walking around, I noticed the packs had a light frosting on them—must have been in the low thirty's.

Breakfast—oatmeal and granola, plus toppings. We sort of moseyed around camp for awhile, trying to make a decision on going on a day trip to Deer Camp or just to return back to the car. After much discussion, we will go on to Deer Camp, about a mile and half, one way.

We take off going up the side of Alder Creek—while the water was down a little, it still looked cold. None of us wanted in. So up the east side of the creek and cross-country for about a third of a mile, till we hit the trail. Lots of brush, lots of downed trees. But after awhile we meet up with the trail to Deer Camp.

It is a lot easier on the trail than the cross-country route we were taking. Even though there was a place where the trail fooled us. It did a switch back, but looked like it was going to go straight. So we took 10 minutes figuring this out and back-tracking to find the trail.

It is onward and upward. The trail goes long the side of the ridges, following the creek. We get to a small creek crossing. This is where Sherri and I could not cross several years ago—then there was lots of snow. But now, it is obvious how to cross it. We wonder what stopped us before—except for the snow.

We go another quarter of a mile and come to a little bigger crossing-still very crossable. But we have reached our check point time. So it is time to turn back. Wonder when we will be able to see this place, after all it is our fourth attempt. This time we are pretty near. None of the reasons to turn back was technical nor endurance, just we have to contend with other priorities.

The trip back to our camp is not very exciting. We did stop to build a snow man—a small one. Still it is a legit snow man. Sherri also gets a lesson in GPS usage.

When we get back to camp, we have lunch and then set out back to the car. We leave at 12:30—Sherri and Steven about 10 minutes before me. But it took me about an hour to catch up with them and I was going close to 3mph. So they were moving pretty strong.

Once we leave the evergreens with their overhead, the air gets hot. We drink water and lots of it. Sherri's Camel Back bladder goes dry. Steven's is close to empty. My canteen is down to half a cup when we finally reach the car.

On ward to Todd's. Great BBQ—had their special: Cajun Chicken Melt with Garlic Fries. Oh yeah—and lots and lots of ice tea. We get back to Fresno around 6, just very happy.