May 30, 2013 - Alder Creek

 Title: May 30, 2013 - Alder Creek

Trail head: Mosquito Creek

Hike Info:

Trail: Alder Creek

Destination:Above Alder Falls

Actual Destination: Alder Creek/Deer Camp Trail Junction

Distance: 8.19 miles

Travel Time: 5:20 (1.53 mph)

Moving Time: 4:09 (1.97 mph)

Elevation Rise: 2,163'

Maximum Elevation: 6,428

Description:

What a day! Seeing Alder Falls, always a pleasure and hiking today was good. First 2+ miles got us huffing and puffing. But we knew that was coming. It was the late start is what set the tone.

Why the late start? First last night we were tired. So there was not any push to get up and go. I still got up a quarter after six. Wrote some and had breakfast. Then took care of some family business. That kept me going until ten. We got in the car and headed to Wawona. Got our permit, good conversation with a volunteer ranger, Nick. Ate lunch at the car and got to the Mosquito Creek trail head by about. 1:30.

Burnt Forest at the start

The first three-quarters of a mile is a trudge through a burnt out forest from a fire about  six years ago. But even here, you can see the brush asking over and a few spots of green on trees. When we reach the junction, the trail starts to level out. You still go up pretty good, but not as steeply. You are now getting into areas which the fire has not touched.  It is not as wet as last May when we went through.

The last eighth of a mile before we get to the railroad bed is steep, but we pop out onto it and take a Clif bar break. The day has warmed up, but it is still cool for the end of May. The railroad bed is level and we make pretty good time, about 2.75mph.

Alder Falls and Sherri

The first view of Alder Falls is always picturesque. This is not an exception. The water is still flowing well, but a bit more restrained than we have seen it before. The results of lack of winter snows. We still stop and gawk, and admire. The decision is to continue on rather than stopping at the top of the falls.

So up we go along the creek. We are still traveling pretty good. We cross one creek which gave Sherri fits last time. Then we come to crossing Alder Creek itself. We had stopped here and camped before. But this time Sherri crosses on a couple of thing logs which were not here last year. No problems.

We quickly reach the Deer Camp junction.  Rather than camp here, we decide to continue up the trail we have not been on before. Evidently not too many people take this trail either. Even in sandy soil, it takes me awhile to find someone elses footprint. We start looking for a campsite and cannot find any Class A or B sites-ones which have been used before. After a mile or so, we stop and I continue on ahead without a pack. Walking another two-thirds of a mile and I find a nice creek, but on a slope, with no campsites in view. Hardly any flat places. So we turn back and go back to the junction.

Trail and Meadow

There we go and cross Alder Creek again and find a spot we camped at six or seven years ago. Still pretty nice. Camp is set up quickly. Tent is pitched and the water is drawn. Sherri fixes dinner of Free Tamale. It is filling. And tastes good. We clean up the site and are ready for bed around 8:30.