Trail head: Nelder Grove Campground
Hike Info:
Trail: Bull Buck Loop Trail, Nelder Grove Trail, Trail of the Sequoias
Distance: 7.91 miles
Travel Time: 5:30 (1.44 mph)
Moving Time: 4:36 (1.72 mph)
Elevation Rise: 1,430'
Maximum Elevation: 6,138'
It is Wednesday morning and it must be time for a meetup hike! But Sherri and I are running a bit late. We are dehydrating corn and bell peppers for our JMT hike in less than three weeks. So we wrap up those preparations and get to Kohl's just as John is lining up all the cars. We sneak into line, unbeknownst to John, who then gets surprised when we pop up. Jerry J rides with us to Oakhurst, where we pick up another passenger, Judy.
This section of the hikes, Sherri, Steven and I have hiked before. It is when we said, this is an area which demands our attention. For some reason today seems a bit easier than it was last month. It may have something to do with the threatening skies cooling things off, or just being in better shape. Whatever the reason, I am enjoying myself. I get to talk with Judy and Stephanie on this trip. We take our time going up. While not an extensive climb like the Mist Trail in Yosemite, it does get the heart going a bit. But so does the tops of the Sequoias when you gaze across Nelder Creek at the ridge beyond. There is a view of the Fresno Flats (Oakhurst) area which the Fresno River runs through. But because of the skies, we have an unusual amount of clarity. So we can see all the way into the Valley and the already dried grasses.
We continue along, passing the Clothespin Tree. It does not fool me--the pin part is up about 90' above us, so at first gawk, you do not see it. It is only by straining your neck do you see it. Then we get a view to the north-west. Across the way is Tenaya Lodge's roof. This is where the meetup group takes a travel break a lot of times. We come to the Hawksworth Tree-named after a care taker of the forest, who served the area faithfully, both professional and as a concerned person. After a short climb, we come to the Grandad and Grandchildern Tree. The rest of our meetup group is waiting for us. After a short break, we continue on this trail, back down to the road--a little bit steeper, but shorter than returning the trail we came on.
The return trip is easy and quick. It is interesting that as you return along the same trail as you come up, things look different. Such as, I had promised Stephanie something special around Nelder Creek on the way up. But I could not find it. But coming down, there was a special, quiet little waterfall. But both Judy and Stephanie thought it was special. We make it back down to the cars and take a short drive to the historical visitor center, where we spend about 10-15 minutes looking at the outdoor exhibits.
Then it is on to the last hike, the Trail of the Sequoias. Only about a mile and a quarter, it packs a lot of punch into that distance. As part of the Hawksworth's family contributions, they have set up an interpretive trail, in conjunction with a Boy Scout troop from Oakhurst. This trail tells about the role the Sequoias play in this area and how the area helps keep the sequoias strong. So over the mile and a quarter, of moderate graded trail, we were informed, exercised and entertained. Not bad for a place which may see a few thousand visitors each year, many of them school aged children. Actually, on the last part, a group from Baird in Fresno, about an hours drive away, were up here at the same time, learning about the sequoias.So all in all, a good day and one which we would do over again.
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