September 3, 2014 - McLeod Flat/Chilkoot Creek

Title: September 3, 2014 - McLeod Flat/Chilkoot Creek

Trail head:

Hike Info:

Type:  Hiking

Trail: McLeod Flat 4WD Road

Destination: Willow Creek

Distance: 2.13 miles

Start Time:  8:17

End Time:  10:36

Travel Time: 2:15 (0.92 mph)

Moving Time: 1:15 (1.70 mph)

Elevation Rise:  434'

Maximum Elevation: 4,503'

Description:
Sherri, Jerry J, John, Cathey and I walked this trail in August, sort of a pre-hike. Today is much cooler, we also get an earlier start. We meet at Kohl's at 6am, then pick up a couple people in Oakhurst before making our way to Chilkoot Campground and Jerry J. After dropping off the food for our pot luck, we go to McLeod Flat 4WD road. Well sort of. Our car fell behind as we waited for one of the passengers. So we found the road and went down it, but no other cars were there. We turned around and the rest of the hikers came down the road-they were concerned about the roughness of the road and their vehicles.

DD and the Old Car

So we  all walk down the 4WD road, as it descends steeply.  I am thinking that my opinion of the trail is highly conditioned on the trails I have been on the last couple days; dropping into Yosemite Valley and climbing out of Kings Canyon. The dustiness and exposures a bit overbearing. But it is broken up by an abandoned car-it is the most noted thing in the area and our group plays around on it.

Log Crossing

Then we further descend to Willow Creek. We all walk the log bridge across-none fall in. There is not much water to fall into. Then we follow another, near level, dirt road about a half mile until it ends. It is nice to be under a canopy of leaves. But we come to the end of the road and find a little foot path to a large granite sheet. Here Willow Creek drops through a series of holes, eventually down to Bass Lake, but we stop here and enjoy the sight. I wonder what this would look like with water.

Willow Creek

 Our return trip takes us across the creek and up the other side. We navigate a combination of tracks and shelves. Not hard as all we have to do is gently rise up while curving around a ridge. We come out at the old car, then head up the dirt road until we reach our car. Others have to go a bit farther to Beasore Road to pick up their cars.

Willow Creek Valley

Crossing Willow Creek

Trail head: Chilkoot Campground

Hike Info:

Type:  Hiking

Trail: Chilkoot Creek

Destination: Chilkoot Creek

Distance:  .60 miles

Start Time:   12:35

End Time:      2:07

Travel Time:   1:31 (0.41 mph)

Moving Time: 0:32 (1.13 mph)

Elevation Rise:  177'

Maximum Elevation: 4,730'

Description:

Chilkoot Creek

After our potluck, and we did have a lot of luck with that pot, Jerry J leads us on a short walk to Chilkoot Creek. While not short, the trek down is steep. Once we get down, there are some slippery rocks to navigate then a dirt and rock embankment to going sharply down and avoid a degringolade. But all make it down, even though some do go around.

A couple of pools await us. Several frolic in them, but I being sort of stuffy, just lay on the rock, enjoying the sounds of splashing and the sun soaking my skin. After half an hour, we return back to camp. Another place which would be interesting in late Spring.

Jerry K by Willow Creek

Enjoying the shade