August 16-18, 2013 - Cedar Grove House Church Campout

Doug D is going off to college in a week, so his father and him planned a father-son trip to Ceder Grove in Kings Canyon. So they invited the men from our house church to go up with them. Doug and Greg went up Thursday, followed by Steven J, Stephen G, Steven D, and Peter J on Friday. Mike W came up Saturday morning. He took back Peter J and Stephen G that night.

Enjoyable time. When not hiking, we were playing games, reading, or just all around chatting. But we also got a fair amount of hike time in as well.

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Title: August 16, 2013 - Kanawyer's Loop

Hike Info:

Trail:  Kanawyer's Loop

Starting location:  Roads End

Destination:  Roads End

Distance:   4.54 miles

Start Time:  4:26

End Time:    6:38

Travel Time: 2:12 (2.06 mph)

Moving Time: 1:53(2.41 mph)

Elevation Rise: 509'

Maximum Elevation: 5,145'

Description:

In the late afternoon, after we had arrived from Fresno, Greg suggested we go on a hike. Originally we were thinking about doing the Lewis Trail. But then as we talked about the various trails in the area, we decided to do a loop out of Roads End, called the Kanawyer's Loop.

We did the loop counter-clockwise. The we in our group is Greg, Peter, and myself, Gary.  I am somewhat surprised that Peter is doing this walk as  this is not something he or really enjoys. But I am glad he is along.

Kings River around Roads End

The walk along the south side of the Kings is cooler, plus with the tree cover, we seem refreshed. We have crossed the Kings with the bridge. This is the same trail Sherri and I discovered last June, returning from Paradise Valley.  Only thing then, it was from east to west and because it was Spring time, every thing was  more lush. But even now, it is a good walk amongst the greenery and boulders.

Peter does well as we stop about every half mile. I think he is enjoying the effort, but probably not the actual walking. Even more so, there is a companionship amongst those which hike together. You discuss things both trivial and large. I think this is where Peter's head is really at in this hike-enjoying the talking.

As we get close to Bubbs Creek we can hear more of the water flowing. This is encouraging as I have a fear that a lot of the creeks are drying up. While the flow is down, it still is respectable and should not completely dry up this year. We cross the Bailey Bridge and come back along the north side of the Kings.

While this section can be hot and dusty, today it is a bit cooler, even though the temperatures are in the 90's. our walk seems faster than we do this. Must be the good conversations.

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Title: August 17, 2013 -  Zumwalt Meadows

Hike Info:

Trail: Zumwalt Meadows Loop

Starting location: Zumwalt Meadow Parking Lot

Distance:  2.08 Miles

Start Time:  11:29

End Time:     1:30

Travel Time: 1:37 (1.29 mph)

Moving Time: 1:08 (1.83 mph)

Elevation Rise:  210'

Maximum Elevation:  5,072'

Description:

Canyon View

Mike W has come up to join us for the day. He will be taking back Stephen G and Peter J. But before this evening, we have a lot of time together.  We decide to do a hike around Zumwalt Meadows, near the upper end of Kins Canyon.

Flowers in Zumwalt

One of many deer

It is already warm when we pile out of the cars. A group photo  is almost taken-in making room for me, Greg moved out of the picture. The hike is started. Because this is an interpretive hike, we will learn about the area. There are 20 stops in the 1.5-2 mile walk. One of the first ones talks about the native Americans who inhabited the area, the Monache tribe. But a little ways above the sign post was a plaque with Abram Agnew and Jesse Agnew on it, with what looked like a pile of stones underneath it.

Grave of the Agnews

Zumwalt and Canyon

Interpretive Trail

Shortly afterwards, we cross the Kings on a bridge, then head back east on the south side of the Kings. Pleasant walking. We go clockwise around the meadow-the wrong way for the interpretive trail. We get the the meadow view first, instead of last. This view is wonderful. It has the tall grasses and marsh plants up close, while the south rim of the canyon stands behind, including the Grand Sentinel.

Balancing Rocks

Zumwalt

Ready to Pounce

As we circle around and come to the returning trail, we hit the granite talus field. These boulders have fallen off the tall granite slopes of the canyon walls over the centuries. While they are stable in our terms, you do realize it is only a matter of time before more boulders come down. We get back to the cars around 1:15.

By Roaring River Falls

Time to head off back to camp for lunch. But first we stop at Roaring River Falls- only a quarter mile walk. The falls are only a shadow of their usual selves. But still fuller than the trickle we expect. I guess I will have to stop calling them the Roaring Trickle. We do get a group shot here. Then off to Knapp's Cabin to see a bit of history. Then a brief stop at Canyon View for another photo-op, and back to camp.

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Title: August 17, 2013 - Roads End to Sheep Creek Camp

Hike Info:

Trail: Along the Kings River

Starting location:  Roads End

Destination: Sheep Creek Campground

Distance:  7.08 miles

Start Time:  3:35

End Time:    6:13

Travel Time:   2:38 (2.69 mph)

Moving Time:  2:26 (2.91 mph)

Elevation Rise:  500'

Maximum Elevation:  5,121'

Description:

After lunch, Greg asks, who wants to go for a hike. This is the third time he floated the idea of going up the Lewis Trail.  But upon further consideration, we decide on a trail from Roads End to our camp. Mike will hike about half of it, with Greg, Steven J and myself doing it all. Part of this trail, about half of a mile we did this morning. But most of it will be along a couple of trails most people did not walk.

But us intrepid few do walk it and walk it well. We left Mike's car at Roaring River Falls parking lot and made our way to Roads End, where we left my car. Crossing the same bridge we did last night, we take off west along the Kings, instead of east like we did last night on the Kanawyers Trail. The walking is pleasant: ferns and boulders, burnt out pines and the Kings all along the way. But as we go west, the cover gets a bit sparser, but still pleasant enough. We come to part of the Zumwalt Meadow Loop and follow it for half of a mile. 

Zumwalt Meadows

Mike is setting our pace--and it is quick, even though the surface is uneven. As we get close to Roaring River, we are over taken by a solitary running, who then returns about 15 minutes later. Then we hear the thundering of hoofs a few minutes later. The a flock of gallimimus--you know that scene in Jurasic Park where a herd changes direction on cue and runs around--the doctor is in awe and the kids are concerned. Well this herd of trail runners do the same. They leave us alone, but we are expecting a T-Rex around the next tree. Fortunately, we make it to the Roaring River Falls parking lot before the T-Rex appears.

Mike then drives us back across the Kings River and drops us off at a dirt road. We walk a little ways down the road and find the trail. This one is definitely not used on a daily basis. Greg is in the lead and there are times it disappears on him. But even on the sunny side of the canyon, it is not too bad, as far as the heat. 

North Canyon Spires

You get a bit different perspective on the canyon as well. The sides of the canyon seems more vertical, rising to spires above us. Instead of the taller pines and ferns on the south side, there is more scrub brush, showing us the lack of moisture.  We reach the NPS wilderness stables. The trail sort of disappears and we decide to walk the road for a ways.

The road is not very dusty and pretty hard. So we make pretty good time. Conversation turns to ethics in our lives--how it plays out in how we work and live. After awhile a ranger comes driving by and asks how we are doing. Pretty friendly, but each of us has seen the rifle he has and that does make us a bit nervous-nobody comments on it until we are back at camp.

Afternoon Clouds

A short time later, we hit paved road and find the store. From  their, we cross the bridge back to the south side and go through the Sentinel campground. There is a paved trail over to our campground-Sheep Creek. When we get into our campground, we see Mike and Steven D driving the cars--they had fetched the Rav4 from Roads End. They give us a ride back to camp--a tenth of mile. But I am thankful, keeping a bit tired. All in all, a hike I enjoyed, mostly because of the companionship.

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Sunday, August 18, 2013

While not a hike, on Sunday morning we did have a service to refresh ourselves with our Lord. From my notes:

• Open with Prayer:
• Read Psalm 97, intersperse with Let the earth rejoice
• Service Theme: Endure till the end
• Entries from a John Muir Trail Hiker's(Larry ) journal:
• The beginning of trail was almost a breeze.  I felt my workout rhythm returning.  Mosquitoes swarmed.  I had a net for my head and ears, my pants were impenetrable, but there was nothing to defend the rest of me.  Dozens landed on my unprotected shoulders to suck my blood.  I imagined and then believed that the mosquitoes are "the sword flaming and turning" whose duty it is to keep us out of the Garden of Eden (Genesis 3:24).
• We met a friendly Australian couple at a rest stop overlooking a gorgeous distant view of pointy, blue-gray, snow-frosted Bunnell Point.  He was white-bearded; she was older as well, mixing grapefruit juice and water in a cup.  Their vigor and cheer put me to shame.
• Then the horrors started again: staggering 1000 feet up Sunrise Mountain.  I felt no pain.  I just couldn't get enough air.  After every rest it took a minute or so before my legs stopped feeling numb and dead, as if it took a while for the oxygen in my blood to get to them to give them power. 
• Thoughts on the journal-very much like our Christian walk. We turn to Christ and it is Jesus and me. We walk together and life is wonderful. That is until the pests arrive in our life to distract us and make us wonder. We meet those on our way which refresh us and encourage us. Then the hard slodge happens and we need to endure to the top.
• Paul speaks to Timothy, to encourage him. 
•  Speaks to young men and Timothy in particular.
• College be the marketplace of our day
• Need to remember: You are chosen
• 1 Tim 4:4 -  everything is good. Receive with thanksgiving.
• 1Sam13:13-14. You have done a foolish thing. Not followed the Lords commands (Samuel says to Saul when he does not wait for Samuel to offer sacrifice). Follow God's commands, rather than the good which is out there.
• 1Tim1:18-19
• How to endure?
• Pray
•  Read the word
•  Fellowship with those who love God
•  Seek counsel from the wise and godly
•  Follow his commands
•  Gratitude
  
• 1 Tim 4:16 - Watch your life closely
• 1Tim 6;11-16
• As much as you will try, you cannot outrun Gods love.
• As Psalm 136 says, not once, not twice, but after each verse, his love endures forever
• Pray for Doug