March 28, 2014 - Alder Falls

Title: March 28, 2014 - Alder Falls

Trail head: Mosquito Creek

Hike Info:

Type:  Hiking

Trail: Alder Creek

Destination: Alder Falls

Distance: 7.88

Start Time:  8:48

End Time:   2:15

Travel Time: 5:27 (1.45 mph)

Moving Time: 4:14 (1.86 mph)

Elevation Rise: 1,514'

Maximum Elevation: 5,813'

Description:
Just a small group of people whom we have hiked with before-Dana, Jerry J, and Matt G.  Sherri, Steven and I had breakfast at the Train Depot. Very filling. The group, sans our son, met at Kohl's at 7 and made our way to Mosquito Creek. Matt drove us. Saw snow on the way in, but none at the trail head.

Alder Creek is a hike which Sherri and I fell in love with several years ago upon a recommendation by an elderly volunteer at the Wawona Ranger station. It sounded interesting so we went. We got more than we expected. We are just glad to share it with others.

Alder Creek area

We take off from Mosquito Creek and climb up through the shrubbery left from a fire several years back(Ann Marie Brown in her Cailfornia Waterfalls books says it was a control burn in 2008). At the start, many trees are down, forcing us to climb over logs. But nothing too difficult for us, at least for me, even with my 35 pound training pack on. For awhile on the climb, I am breathing a bit hard. But once I get a rhythm going, the breathing comes around and I can start enjoying the hike. 

Burnt Forest

Each year when we go through the burnt section, we see change, a bit more brush, startings of new trees, and old burnt ones falling. The cycle of the forest taking place in front of our eyes. While I do enjoy the pine and cedar forests I walk through, I am starting to understand and see with new eyes the beauty there can be in this cycle of change.  I sometimes wonder if I will be able to walk this trail when the cycle has come full circle and what will it be like to say to the trees I knew you when you were young?

Manzanita Flower

Snow Plant

But onwards we go. I can see I am not the only one breathing a bit hard. In front, Jerry says that he saw a deer scampering through the forest.  We get to the junction with the trail from Wawona. Now the trail does a gentler, rolling climb. And we start hitting patches of snow. nothing very deep. But still the frozen water crunches under our feet. The covering of snow is one of the things I like about the Alder Creek trail. Each time I travel it, the scenery changes. Sometimes it is the Fall, other times the Spring. We have hiked it in deep snow and now in a light covering. This trail continues to amaze my senses.

The snow is nothing which inhibits our walk. But the covering produces another world of brightened light, creating vivid greens and earthly browns. These are good views as we climb up to the old railroad bed-we understand that this railroad bed may have been from an old logging rail, maybe the Sugar Pine railroad?

On top of Alder Falls

We take a little break before hiking the rest of the mile before the falls. I think the group was a little surprised when I said something about time to progress on to the main event. So along the railroad bed we walked-a lot easier walking on this, even though it is completely snow covered. Nothing exciting, just a general sense of this is good. Then comes the surprise when we round a ridge. Alder Falls is there, showing herself off, maybe not in full splendor, but with enough beauty to dazzle both those who are seeing it for its first time and those who have come to re-acquaint themselves with her. 

Alder Falls

 





After being properly awed, we go to the top of the falls and have lunch. (To clarify, the base of the falls i about 300' below us and would be a very difficult climb down to it. The top of the falls is a ways off the trail and about 50' below us as well, but it can be easier to do, but we do not do so.) The sun beaming down, nice rock to sit on and so much eye-candy to gaze upon. Did I mention pleasant people to share this with? What a place for lunch.

Lunch

While the others sit for awhile, I go up a little ways further along Alder Creek. There were many sights and sounds which gave a sense of serenity and peace. Snow and being alone will do that too you. We have not seen any other people today and that is enjoyable not having the crowds of Yosemite and still enjoying a fall which has such beauty. But I can either stay here and abandon the others or come back. Getting lost in beauty is a wonderful thing. But eventually, you really should be found. This is not the only thing in the world.

Trail above the Falls

Branches of Alder Creek

Alder Creek

 We start back and make good time. The real notable thing for us on the return trip is that much of the snow we walked over on the way up has disappeared. In places it is only our foot path which now is a streak of mud and dirt. In other places whole patches has evaporated. We get down to Matt's vehicle and start our way down. We stop in Oakhurst for our obligatory homage to Todd's. Then it is back to Kohl's and home. a good day.