May 11, 2013 - To Tarwater Camp

Title: May 11, 2013 - To Tarwater Camp

Trail head: Sam McDonald County Park Ranger Station

Hike Info:

Trail: Heritage Grove Trail, Brooke's Loop Trail,Townes Fire Road,  Bravo FireRoad, Canyon Trail, Tarwater Loop Trail

Destination: Tarwater Primitive Camp

Distance:  7.88 miles

Travel Time: 6:10 (1.28 mph)

Moving Time: 3:59 (1.98 mph)

Elevation Rise: 1,302

Maximum Elevation: 1,294

Andrea and Steven

Description:
Got up at 6:30. Andrea and I went to Walgreens and Smart/Final to get a few items, including breakfast for this morning. Then it is off. The first point of contention was will the GPS get us to where we want to be? Resolved by being more specific with the coordinates. Got to San Mateo's Memorial/Pescadero/Sam McDonald County Park around 8:45. Talked with the ranger about where to camp-Shaw Flat or Tarwater. He recommended Tarwater if we do not mind walking a bit farther so to Tarwater we will go, a bit more round about way.

Gary on Townes Road

After eating a light breakfast of an onion bagel and cream cheese with cherries and bananas we start on the trail. The car is left at the Sam McDonald Park Trailhead and we head down the Heritage Trail. Pictures are taken and the feet hit the dirt around 10. The first part of the trail is through some coastal redwoods. We climb, but not badly. After a mile and three-quarters we reach a short trail down to Heritage Grove. Andrea and Steven visit it and reports that it sort of looks like every thing else. Lots of redwoods. 

We climb out of the basin and hit the Sierra Club's Hikers Hut, well the trail for it. The climb is .8 miles and rises up four hundred feet. At the top of the ridge is a large grassy field. The looks of the field is one of refreshment and life. 

It is getting close to lunch time and we are looking for some shade from the sun directly overhead. We accept some shade on the side of the road for a quick snack. But just a little ways away, Andrea and Steven see a picnic table in the shade with a view lunch is the usual. After watching a butterfly dry himself, we take off, refreshed.

Our Friend

The trail quickly turns into the Townes Fire Road, then leaves us, as it hands us off to the Bravo Fire Road. But not before a gopher snake gives us a bit of excitement. Earlier, if we had been more alert we would have headed a little off the roads onto the Brooke's Loop Trail, but it joins us as it crosses the road. We take the Canyon trail. It descends several hundred feet down into the Tarwater Creek. We have left behind the redwoods for the time being and see more oaks with a lot of brush low down.

Tar Water

When we hit Tarwater Creek, we find out why it is called that. We see tar flowing down the creek. When we get to cross the creek, there is naturally bubbling oil right next to the creek. It is obvious that is the source of the creek tar.

Even though we are only a mile and a third from camp, we stop to rest by Tarwater Creek. We stop a lot longer than we thought we would. Each of us take a nap and are feeling pretty lethargic. But after 45 minutes we struggle to get up and move own the Tarwater Trail.

The Bumblebee Women

It does not take us long to travel the rest of the way to camp. We come across three people who are trying to find Tarwater also. We direct them and tell them where it is. They are content to follow us. We decide site 5 will suit our purposes with two hammocks and a tent.

Water is a problem. Pescaderio Creek is down a deep bank, maybe 70' below us. So I walk around to see where else to get water. Eventually I walk down to the bridge on the trail, crossing Pescaderio Creek, about 3/8ths of a mile down. But access is easy there.

Sherri fixes dinner-freeze dried stuff-beef stroganoff and chicken teriyaki. Not bad. We had brought wine a long, so we celebrated Mother's Day a day earlier. Girl scout cookies and chocolate made there appearance, only to be devoured.

We finally hit the bed at 9.