August 6, 2014 - Nellie Lake

Nellie Lake

Title: August 6, 2014 - Nellie Lake

Trail head: Upper Billie Campground

Hike Info:

Type:  Hiking

Trail: Parts of the Kaiser Loop Trail

Destination:Nellie Lake

Distance: 8.44 miles

Start Time:  8:20

End Time:   2:15

Travel Time: 5:55 (1.43 mph)

Moving Time: 4:44 (1.78 mph)

Elevation Rise: 2,383'

Maximum Elevation: 9,059'

Description:
Another mid-week meetup hike with John and Cathey-always a pleasure. We gather at Kohl's at 6:00am. I drove with Jerry J and Dennis-good conversation on the way up upon a variety of subjects. We stop in Shaver for a brief re-fresh break. Daniel joins us there, making it a total of eleven people-almost all men except for Cathey. Then it is off to Upper Billie Campground and our trail head.

Meetup Group

The French Fire continues to burn a few miles on the other side of the San Joaquin, but it does not seem to be of bother to us. I think Kaiser Ridge blocks most of the smoke, so it is only a little hazy. The start of the trail is a pretty good up and so it is, rising just under 1,000' in a little over a mile and a half. That leaves us only 800' more to go up.  This is through some forested areas, so we get some nice shade. There is a meadow we cross over which John is now calling Cathey's Meadow.  Not much in the way of flowers though. Guess that season is past for this area.

Dennis at Cathey's Meadow

We do pass a junction for another meadow--this time it is Mary's Meadow. I am thinking of a friend of ours when we pass by here. But our brief level spot ends and we go up again. We come across a little creek, still having enough water to gurgle for us-this does surprise us since we sort of figured it would all be dried up. From what I can tell, this is Home Camp Creek. Nellie Lake drains into it, but we are on another off-shoot, so the water is not Nellie's water. But now we start our the final 800'. It is steeper, but not so draining. After that first uphill, this is shorter and less tiring, at least for me.

 

Daniel and Diamond contemplating Nellie Lake

We get to a saddle in a ridge above Nellie and drop in. We start to catch glimpses and a quarter of a mile later we are there. Time for a stop and enjoy the lake. Also to eat a lunch. Jeffery shares some chips and I share some Nutella Brownies. Just a pleasant place to be. Not even mosquitoes here, even though I did kill one in the parking lot at the start of the trip. I take a short walk to the far end of the lake. It is a typical Sierra lake, not the ones surrounded with granite like Precipice, but those where water has gathered in some bowls. A place you can enjoy an hour, a day or week at. Yes there is a campsite here and I think I will be adding it to my list of places to spend a night at.

Nellie Lake

Our return trip is back down the same trail. That drop into the lake's bowl is now a climb, but a short one. One of our members is feeling sick, but fortunately he is able to walk, but a bit slow. So we have a chance to discuss books and operations-what a combination!  Not too much excitement on the way down. Just a good day of hiking.

The Trail

Since it is a bit early in the day, we all decide just to head back to Fresno, instead of stopping and grabbing a bite to eat. Our car, and it looks like John and Cathey's, went down the Big Creek Road. Definitely is slower, but shorter than going all the way around the lake. Plus we got some excitement when a monstrous SCE truck pulls up behind us with lights flashing. I do not think he had his lights flashing at us, but it was a bit disconcerting. I let him pass. Then about a minute later I pull for to let five, yes count them five CHP car pass by. Why they were up there, I do not know. But I am now following them. We get back to Kohl's at 4:10. I am tired, but feeling good about the hike.