October 1, 2014 - Chain Lakes

Title: October 1, 2014 - Chain Lakes

Trail head: Quartz Mountain

Hike Info:

Type:  Hiking

Trail: Chain Lakes

Destination: Chain Lakes

Distance: 10.33 miles

Start Time:  9:25

End Time:   4:59

Travel Time: 7:33 (1.37 mph)

Moving Time: 5:04 (2.04 mph)

Elevation Rise:  2,174'

Maximum Elevation: 9,152'

Description:
Today's theme is a combination of the Beetles and a bit of serendipity. We start the day  at  6am, in the dark in the Kohl's parking lot.  I have the lively, and if I may say perky, group of Jean, Ellen and Kate in my car. We stop briefly at Starbucks in Oakhurst then we are on our way to the Quartz Mountain trail head. Wayne successfully leads us through the maze of Forest Service roads. But there are other discomforts to along the road which has me thinking of the Long and Windy Road-note the gratuitous Beetles reference. Beside the long and winding way, I add bumpy and dirty to the list of discomforts. Even with the jostling my passengers had to endure, all arrived in good spirits. It takes about an hour and a half to traverse this 20 or so miles. But we get in about 9, ready to hike.

It is cool. My car temperature says 44. Which means it is warm enough for shorts and T-shirt. I am the only one in that attire. I have hiked to Chain Lakes twice before, both over nighters, the last time on a Labor Day weekend about eight years ago. Pleasant memories of friendship, beauty and lostness.

Seventeen of us set off with Jerry J leading us-in this case sheparding us from the rear. Actually Jerry K is even back further, enjoying moments of solitude. I take my accustomed place at the back. Walking is at a swift pace at the beginning, but the initial mile is mostly downhill until we get to the Chiquito Pass, the boundary of Yosemite. It is here which the memories of lostness takes hold. There are four trails which come together at the border. On one of our times where a group went down the wrong trail and each time I have had to figure out which one to take-confusing. Later on the name Chiquito will be noted on another sign in the feminine form Chiquita. Some discussion about this ensued, but apparently these have been used interchangeably over the years.

Lonely Tree

But we choose the right way and go on towards Chain Lakes. The forest is grand to walk through with some rise. Conversations abound. I talk with Kay and her husband Richard B. While I worked at Freano Unified, Kay was engaged as to figure out ways to improve transfers and enrollments-she was enjoyable to work with then and it was fun seeing her now. Another set of conversations was with Kevin. It turns out he is from El Cerrito where my daughter lives. And of course there were talking with others whom I have hiked with before-Richard M about Gene from Copper Creek or Jerry J about things in general. Of course Dennis and I talked about mutual friends.

Lower Chain Lake

 While the conversation is good, the miles and the elevation fly by. We come to the last junction and start the final 300' climb and mile and a half to the lakes. There is some tiredness in the group after going 4.5 miles, but others encourage them. No great sights and it is too late in the season for flowers, so I am content with the the interplay of the morning light with the Forest greenness. But this does not last long as we climb over a low ring of rock and dirt; the lower lake pops into view with a ring of mountains in the background. There is the appropriate oohs and aahs. But like the last of the Narnia books might say, further up and farther in.

Gale Peak

We walk up another half mile to the middle of the Chain Lakes. A large island captures the view front and center. This is a good place for lunch. We drink in the sight of Gale Peak as well as munch on the food.

Islands in Middle Chain Lake

 Some of the group decide going up to the Upper Chain Lake sounds good. I stay behind to enjoy the area. Jean, Wayne, Art and Jerry K also stay back. Jean, for some reason, thinks I know how to take pictures. So she poses in several place for new ones of her. I will admit that they do come out, but I sort of think that between the human and natural subjects, it is hard to take a bad picture.

South Fork of Merced Drainage

Jean and I go out on a ridge in front of the lake. There we find a good view of the South Merced River drainage. We can see Merced and Red Peaks. And follow the river until is disappears on the south-west of us. Jerry K camels back from walking around the lake while Art turned back where there was a place which required a bit more advanced mountaineering skills. So Wayne, Jean and I decide to make  our way around the lake. We get to a place and Wayne decides to climb the ridge towering about us. He says that once on top the view is good and the top is flat, as in not rounded. But Jean and I continue around. We then understand why Art turned back and the skill which Jerry K possesses to go around a granite cliff. But the walk has been good, the sun is nice when we spot that the rest of our group has come back from the upper lake.

Tree starting Daniel Talk

Now it is time to come back to the car. Why does the trip back always seem longer than the one coming out? I hike down with Daniel and Max where we talk about a variety of stuff-car buying, house financing, how we consume food and drink from the waste of others, ... Then Jerry J and walk together and Jean joins us until we get to the dreaded boundary of Yosemite.

At this point Jerry J surges ahead, but we are joined by Kevin. We start on the wrong trail for five steps but then go to the trail leading to our cars. We stop often to rest now. On one of these breaks, Kevin sees three of our group. But how could that be? We are the last of the group. Well these three decided to take a scenic, unintentional  tour of Chiquito Lake and now working their way up the hill. We around at the cars around 5, happy. 

Now for the long, bone jarring trip to a Highway 41. The hour and a half which it takes us to do this trip  gives us plenty of time to laugh and be amazed with our conversation. At times it is sort of hard keeping the car on the road from the laughter. We stop at South Gate Brewery for dinner and get back to Kohls after 8. Another good day of hiking.

Trail Lesson:

Middle Chain lake

Lower Chain Lake