June 15, 2012, Park Ridge Trail

Title: June 15, 2012, Park Ridge Trail

Trail head: Panoramic Point Parking Lot

Hike Info:

Trail: Park Ridge Trail

Destination: Park Ridge Lookout

Distance: 5.5 miles

Travel Time: 4:23 ( 1.25mph)

Moving Time: 2:38 (2.08mph)

Elevation Rise: 1,210'

Maximum Elevation: 7,743

Description:
We get a late start, leaving the house around 10:15 and getting up to the Panoramic Point parking area around 11:30. We then dawdle around for another half an hour before hitting the trail. The first 300 yards or so is a paved path up to Panoramic Point. From here we can see that there is a lot of haze and smog restricting the view. Also there are some thunderheads in the distance, but they will not be bothering us today.

From here we take the Park Ridge Trail. This trail follows Park Ridge—a bit redundant isn't this? From parts of the path, you look down into the Grant Grove, Lake Sequoia basin and the Central Valley. On a clear day, you can see the tops of the Coastal Range. Today is not one of those. On the other side, you look down onto Hume Lake, the South Fork of the Kings River and across to the tops of the Sierra's. This view can be breathtaking—but once again, not today. Too much restriction on visibility.

As we walk up and down the ridge, we do get to enjoy the birds swooping from tree to tree. But they are over-shadowed by the dancing butterflies. The tiger swallow tails are everywhere, along with blues, checkers and others which I do not know. The site of them brings a sense of awe and serenity to the place. This scene replays itself throughout the trail, making for a visually satisfying day.



We eat lunch when we cross an access road. We have just descended down a long a hill on the ridge and come to the Azalea Trail junction. It is a pleasant overview of the Grant Grove area. We have new fare for lunch-Pita bread, cheese sticks and peperoni sticks. Rather plain—seems like it needs something more.

We take off and read the end of the Park Ridge Trail—when we come to the Park Ridge Lookout. When Steven and I have hiked this trail before, the lookout had been unmanned. But now, there are two volunteers up there. We find out that it is their first day there. This lookout and the Delilah lookout are staffed with volunteers from the Buck Rock Foundation. We spend an enjoyable time talking with the ladies. We then return to the car via the same route we came on, arriving back at the car at 4:10pm. An alternative route would have been to return via the access road.