November 9, 2013 - San Joaquin River Trail

Title: November 9, 2013 - San Joaquin River Trail

Trail head:  Wellbarn Rd, Clovis, CA

Hike Info:

Trail:  San Joaquin River Trail

Destination:Sky Harbor Road, Clovis, CA

Distance:  12.93

Travel Time: 6:03 (2.14 mph)

Moving Time: 4:44 (2.73 mph)

Elevation Rise:  2,180

Maximum Elevation: 1,376

Description:

It was a pretty cool morning and I am a bit apprehensive. Why you might ask, it is just a hike? Well yes, but I am not sure if I will be able to keep up. This is a faster group than I usually hike with and the trail is advertized as being 14 miles. I am pretty sure about the mileage, but not sure about the speed.

Upper end of Millerton Reservoir

We meet at Starbucks and then head out. We need to leave one set of cars at Sky Harbor Road. We drive mine and Lori's cars over to Wellbarn Road for the start of the hike.  We are close to 1000' up and the trail will sort of wander between here and Millerton Reservoir. So the elevation will nto be an issue. There are eleven of us on this trip. Many of the people I know-Bill, Gary F, Lori. But there are many others who are new to me: Carter, Rose, Monica, Harold, Mark, Theng Theng and Darrell.

Looking to the west down Millerton Reservoir

We set out at a good clip, of course it is downhill on a dirt road, going towards the river. But we are in good spirits as the walking is fine. After about a mile, we then start on a long journey through rolling terrain. We also change from a descending dirt road to a trail, walking more single file. I walk with Lori for the first three miles. We talk and I get to know her a bit better.

The TRIAL Sign

There is an outhouse conveniently located at the three mile mark. Then in a short distance from there, we see a sign saying this is the San Joaquin River TRIAL and it is seven miles to the parking lot where we left our shuttle cars. Somehow that sign is a bit suspect.

All in a line

At this point I drop back a ways and hike with Bill, Gary F, Mark and Harold. The morning has changed from being cool to starting to warm up-good hiking weather. We go in and out of views of Millerton Reservoir, well the upper end that is. It really reminds me of a the Horseshoe Bend/Dead Horse area of the Colorado River, albeit on a smaller and less grander scale. The somewhat twistiness of the gorge with the 700' high bluffs above the river and reservoir.

At the six mile mark, we stop for a lunch break in sparse, but sufficient shade. We enjoy the break with both Gary's laying down and resting our eyes. Others decide to investigate some of the black cows around us. I get up feel a bit refreshed.

Fall Colors

As we travel along, we go into some ravines where there is a good 15 degree difference in temperature-feels good. Also it is here where you see some diversity  of growth. Some of the leaves have started changing colors. Others, such as the oaks, have fully grown leaves to fan us with. There are numerous gates to go through and close behind us.

The Reservoir

The last two miles now brings us on the big uphill for the day. It is a seven hundred foot climb out of the reservoir area to close to the top of the Pincushion Ridge. While the climb itself is not bad, particularly with one foot in front another attitude. But it does come at the end of the hike and the mind starts rebelling against the thought of the cruelty of this happening so late in the walk. But the trail is the trail so up we go. You get a nice closing view of the eastern park of the reservoir. We finally get some wildlife in the form of some tarantulas.  Cameras come out, but no animals are harmed--one of the tarantulas was alreadyed flattened when we first saw it. Now it is a descent down to the Sky harbor lot and to the cars to shuttle us back to the Wellbarn Road to pick up the rest of the cars.

A good day of hiking. Enjoyed the day. Even my earlier fears was allieved as I kept a respectable pace.