September 11, 2012 – Grant Grove Area

Title: September 11, 2012 – Grant Grove Area

Trail head: Grant Grove Parking Lot

Hike Info:

Trail: Sunset Trail, Dead Giant Loop, North Grove Loop, General Grant Loop

Destination: Grant Grove Parking Lot

Distance: 6.9 miles

Travel Time:

Moving Time:

Elevation Rise:

Maximum Elevation:

Description:
We got to our camp spot in Grant Grove's Azela Campground--#19 to be specific—around 3:15. Got our tent pitched and everything ready by 3:45pm. Certainly is a slow process in getting packed when you have not gone camping in 3 months or more. But we are up here for the night.



We went on four trails today, one which was incidental. The trails sort of lead into each other. There was the North Grove Trail, The Sunset Trail, The Dead Giant Loop and the General Grant Loop. These are trails which we are used to and do enjoy. Just a short drive from our home, yet strenuous enough to satisfy our need for exertion.

• North Grove Trail. We start from the Grant Grove parking lot and go westward, descending. Lots of sequoia trees which forms an overhead canopy. But we are not on this trail very long before we turn off onto the Sunset Trail. We will rejoin the North Grove Trail in a ways.
  
• Sunset Trail. This is more of a jeep road, or actually an old tourist road, which feels like it will lead us down to Lake Sequoia. But along the way, we branch off to follow the Dead Giant Loop.
 

 
• Dead Giant Loop. This loop starts from the Sunset Trail. We take the northern side first. It skirts along a very nice meadow. We shortly pass by a very large sequoia, laying in the meadow. But this is not the Dead Giant. Further along, we come to the Dead Giant. The girth is monstrous, but through the years, fire and lightening took its toll on the top. Compared to other sequoias, the Dead Giant looks a bit stubby. But you can tell that in its day, this was the king of the forest. The loop continues around this short ridge till we can get a good look at Lake Sequoia. Lake Sequoia is a YMCA camp. Our three kids spent a lot of time here, along with Gary while they were all in YMCA Indian Guides. The sight always brings back fond memories. A couple was also at the overlook and was interested in Ella Falls—where we would like to go. But they are concerned with the descent and coming back up. The Sunset Trail is a short distance from this point and we reach it pretty quickly.

• Sunset Trail. Back to the Sunset trail. We continue down it and it starts to descend rather steeply. We are looking for the trail off of here to Ella Falls. We have visited these Falls, but always from the Lake Sequoia side. We see one path, but it does not look like it has been used in years. So we continue on. We get to a dirt road, with a sign pointing down to Lake Sequoia. We pass by a corral like area, which may be used by the YMCA for campfires away from the Lake. When we continue on, it looks like we are heading to the wrong end of Lake Sequoia to find Ella Falls. After checking our GPS, it confirms our suspicions. We turn back and go to the Sunset Trail and continue down it for a ways. But we are starting to see that this is a bit farther than we anticipated. Coming from the closed Sunset campground would have been better. After trailing down the Sunset trail for another 15 minutes, we decide, it is time to return and do the North Grove trail. On the way back, we scare up a doe and a couple fawns. After climbing up a ways further, we meet the same three deer. They run, we are always amazed to see such createes gracefully take a hill which we are huffing and puffing. In a little while farther, we reach the junction with the North Grove trail. So off we go down that one. After traveling two and a half or three miles on this trail, I do not see too much to recommend about it, except for being able to go to the Dead Giant Loop.

• North Grove Trail. We are back on this trail and down we go again. When I say down, I do mean down. For as much as I have travelled this, both on foot and on ski's, it always seems steep down and steep up again. About half way around, we meet another couple who must have had the same thoughts. They were wondering if they were on the right trail. Strangers from New York, but they were enjoying themselves and felt assured they were doing good. The north side of this trail is the best. As you climb up, you start meeting up with a creek and the life which goes with water. The ferns start appearing and the sequoias look like they have a multitude of subjects around their feet. Even with it being steep, the climb is relieved by such views, until we go over a ridge and meet up with the incoming trail about 50 yards from the Grant Grove parking lot.

• General Grant Loop Trail. But is Sherri and Gary done yet? No! A trip to this area would feel incomplete without paying homage to General Grant. So up we go on the paved path, up to the Nation's Christmas Tree. But first we pass the Oregon Tree, then the California Tree. The Centennial Stump has always held my amusement that the people back east would think a tree like the sequoia would not exist—but of course, if I had only seen trees the size of our good sized pines, I probably would be the same way. Then we reach the high point of the walk—the Gamlin Cabin. It is the high point, because it is the highest point of our walk. Now comes the General Grant Tree. One of the largest living things in existence. Where the first Sunday of December there is a ceremony marking it as the Nation's Christmas Tree-our church's Brass Choir has played here several times. Then it is back down to the car as it is almost dark and we must still get dinner ready.