Title: January 25, 2015 - Lewis Creek
Trail head: Cedar Valley Road
Hike Info:
Type: Hiking
Trail:Lewis Creek
Destination: Red Rock Falls
Distance: 6:41 miles 1
Start Time: 9:52 1
End Time: 2:40
Travel Time: 4:47 (1.34 mph) 1
Moving Time: 3:16 (1.96 mph) 1
Elevation Rise: 1,325' 1
Maximum Elevation: 4,284'
1The GPS was off for the first 40 minutes. Times and speeds are extrapolations. Distance and elevation gain is measured based upon return trip information.
1The GPS was off for the first 40 minutes. Times and speeds are extrapolations. Distance and elevation gain is measured based upon return trip information.
Description:
Today's hike is along a trail Sherri and I are very familiar with. We first discovered it from a Fresno Bee article some 15 years ago. Since then we have hiked it in the Fall, Winter, Spring and Summer and have thrilled with it each time. But that brings about, can you get to familiar with a trail?
Today we meet at Kohl's at the unhiking hour of 8:00am-shouldn't hikes start at the break of day? Rose and Shawn give us a ride to the trail head via a stop at the Oakhurst Starbucks.There is 12 others on this hike, some having met us at Kohl's, others at the trail head. But all look forward to walking this trail. We start at Cedar Valley Road, the bottom of the trail, just before the tract limits.
It already is getting warm at the start, so I wear my Smart Wool shirt over a T-shirt. I start of with Elizabeth, Pam, and Navi in the lead and we walk the first part pretty well. The others are only a few minutes behind. Even with the dryness, Lewis Creek is flowing, maybe not at full flow, but still a lot more than one would expect. The oaks still have greenery and present a nice canopy. We get to Corlieu Falls and enjoy the water descending. I take the opportunity to get down to the T-shirt and shorts level of clothing. It is that kind of day, even in January.
There we stop on the platform, rest and enjoy. Then off up the short, but a bit steep part of the trail-climbing the side of the falls. But quickly we get to the top. Mike and I think the warm springs may be up farther-but I am wrong, it is across from the rock platform at the fall's top. (In another blog entry, I have a picture of the springs, for those who are curious.)
There is a short cut if one wants it or lacks the time just above Corlieu Falls. You can park your car there and see Corlieu and Red Rock Falls without much effort. But we do not stop here, at least not for long. We cross Lewis Creek. The old log bridge has been torn down and been replaced, maybe temporarily, b rocks, tree rounds, and limbs. Wonder how this will pan out once the Spring run-off hits, assuming we have any.
On the other side, our trail takes a left. But a few of us go with Mike up a trail on the right. There is an old mine about 20-30 minutes walk up that trail. I turn around with Aggie, but Rose, Becky and Mike go to the mine and look around. At least I now know where the mine is.
Sherri is now with Aggie and I. Shawn has run off, and I mean run, to catch up with the faster group to make sure they do not go too far wrong. We enjoy the walk up to Red Rocks-it is less steep than the lower part of the trail. Before long we get to the cut off for Red Rock Falls and walk down to it.
Here, we have the rest of our group. Also Karol, Juliann-her grand daughter, and Bella-her dog, also are savoring this spot. We enjoy the talking and eating of lunch for a pretty long time before packing up and coming back. And yes, the mine group does catch up to us. Everybody is in front, except for Shawn, Rose, Sherri, Karol, Juliann, Bella and I. But we enjoy our pleasant saunter down the trail. I play with Juliann along the way down, acting like a kid-that is good for the soul.
At the cut off to 41, Karol, Juliann and Bella leave us and the four of us return down to the car at Cedar Valley. We do not rush, but enjoy the creek and nature around us, as well as the conversations about backpacking, photography and life. Isn't that sort of what hiking is about?
When we get back to the car, Make, Barney and Judy are waiting for us. Shawn wants to show off Pete's Place-a breakfast and sandwich place in Oakhurst. So we meet Karol and her party there and enjoy a good, filling and satisfying meal there before heading home. We arrive at Kohl's at 4:30. Even though I did not drive, I feel tired. A good way to end a hike with friends.
Trail Lesson:
Today we meet at Kohl's at the unhiking hour of 8:00am-shouldn't hikes start at the break of day? Rose and Shawn give us a ride to the trail head via a stop at the Oakhurst Starbucks.There is 12 others on this hike, some having met us at Kohl's, others at the trail head. But all look forward to walking this trail. We start at Cedar Valley Road, the bottom of the trail, just before the tract limits.
 |
| Corlieu Falls |
There we stop on the platform, rest and enjoy. Then off up the short, but a bit steep part of the trail-climbing the side of the falls. But quickly we get to the top. Mike and I think the warm springs may be up farther-but I am wrong, it is across from the rock platform at the fall's top. (In another blog entry, I have a picture of the springs, for those who are curious.)
There is a short cut if one wants it or lacks the time just above Corlieu Falls. You can park your car there and see Corlieu and Red Rock Falls without much effort. But we do not stop here, at least not for long. We cross Lewis Creek. The old log bridge has been torn down and been replaced, maybe temporarily, b rocks, tree rounds, and limbs. Wonder how this will pan out once the Spring run-off hits, assuming we have any.
On the other side, our trail takes a left. But a few of us go with Mike up a trail on the right. There is an old mine about 20-30 minutes walk up that trail. I turn around with Aggie, but Rose, Becky and Mike go to the mine and look around. At least I now know where the mine is.
 |
| Trees and Sky |
Here, we have the rest of our group. Also Karol, Juliann-her grand daughter, and Bella-her dog, also are savoring this spot. We enjoy the talking and eating of lunch for a pretty long time before packing up and coming back. And yes, the mine group does catch up to us. Everybody is in front, except for Shawn, Rose, Sherri, Karol, Juliann, Bella and I. But we enjoy our pleasant saunter down the trail. I play with Juliann along the way down, acting like a kid-that is good for the soul.
At the cut off to 41, Karol, Juliann and Bella leave us and the four of us return down to the car at Cedar Valley. We do not rush, but enjoy the creek and nature around us, as well as the conversations about backpacking, photography and life. Isn't that sort of what hiking is about?
When we get back to the car, Make, Barney and Judy are waiting for us. Shawn wants to show off Pete's Place-a breakfast and sandwich place in Oakhurst. So we meet Karol and her party there and enjoy a good, filling and satisfying meal there before heading home. We arrive at Kohl's at 4:30. Even though I did not drive, I feel tired. A good way to end a hike with friends.
Trail Lesson:
When something is familiar it tends to be ignored. Do I ignore what is around me or do I let the familiarity enable me to look closer and see wonder?
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