January 7, 2015 - San Joaquin River Trail: Italian Bar to Hooker Creek

Title: January 7, 2015 - San Joaquin River Trail: Italian Bar to Hookers Creek

Trail head: Italian bar

 Hike Info:

Type:  Hiking

Trail: San Joaquin River Trail

Destination: Hookers Creek

Actual Destination:  About two miles short of Hooker Creek

Distance: 7.10 miles ¹

Start Time:  9:00

End Time:   2:19

Travel Time: 5:18 (1.34 mph)

Moving Time: 3:06 (2.29 mph)

Elevation Rise: 1,883'

Maximum Elevation: 2,976'

 ¹This is the mileage I traveled. The group traveled different distances. Some went farther and others went shorter.

Description:
This hike really knocked me. Definitely harder than expected. Somewhat because of the steepness, somewhat because of the heat and somewhat because of being exposed to the sun so much without shade. But more of that as I go along.

We start the day at Kohl's with me driving and Audrey coming with Sherri and I. There is a little bit of a downer because of the no-shows on this limited travel hike-15 allowed. So when four do not show and there was many people chomping at the bit to go, well, you get the idea.

We stop a little outside of North Fork. What's to stop at there? The exact geographic Center of California (37°09′58″N 119°26′58″W ).  Now I would say on a scale of 1 to 10, how exciting can a benchmark and a plaque be? Well, John W can make Drano exciting. First, we are drawn into the vortex of being the center of all of California. Then John and Cathey have us celebrate our accomplishment with a bit of bubbly-sparkling cider for the record.

But onward to the main trail of the day. We continue our way down the Italian Bar Road until not quite the San Joaquin River. Actually, even before this, we stop at the boat launch for a bathroom break. Then we head to our parking place. The parking area is on the opposite side of the road from our trail head, maybe two hundred yards from the bridge.

Walkers on the road

There is a gated road up a ways from the parked cars. But before that is a little short-cut of a trail which leads up to the road-sort of nice, sort of steep, but it is short. Once on the road, John notes that the road is not on the map from the San Joaquin River Trail Association (SJRT). While true, there is no trail on the US topo map, nor do we see anyplace else to walk. So we are content walking along the road. It goes generally up, but mostly goes around the edge of a ridge above the San Joaquin River. Pretty pleasant. As we go around this ridge, one feature will consistently draw my attention on this hike: Southern California Edison's Power Station #3.

Power Station #3

This power station is part of the Big Creek System. It is feed water through penstocks, fed from Shaver Lake-that is the long tubes you see in the picture. Above the penstocks is the Million Dollar Road which we have walked on occasion.




Once we round the end of the ridge, we cross under some power lines, and then the fun starts. The road starts up the ridge. With the rains which happened in December, everything is green and pleasant. The air is warm, but comfortable. But I can tell it has been awhile since I have hiked and about three months since I have hiked seriously. So even this little uphill starts me to breathing harder. I have been talking with Kate, Richard and Kurt. But it is amazing how a good conversation will keep ones mind off of the stress of hiking.

But now the trail keeps going up and I am needing to stop for breaks. While saying it is so others can catch up, I do not think I am fooling anybody that I also need the stops as well. Others are thinking we are close to the top, but looking at our maps I am seeing it is at least another 1,000' till we cross over a ridge and drop down to Hookers Creek. We have already gone 3 miles and most of us are feeling the effects of the 1,200' we have already come up.

Stevenson Falls

Some of us decide to turn back, but most continue on. After another half mile, we stop by the side of the road and have a lunch. I think we are ready to turn back, but I am thinking I would like to see what is around the corner. So Lee and I head up.  We do get to see a bit of Stevenson Falls with bridge for the Million Dollar Road. The San Joaquin is low, but there is still a small amount of water flowing. About that time, most of the rest of the bunch is coming up the road and decides to continue on up. I am content to stay where I am and enjoy the view. Sherri asks about a domed area to the east, but there is not much to say about it from PeakFinder. From my content position, sitting back on the side of the road, I am ready for a  nap. All I need is my milk and graham crackers.

Charging back to the cars

After a while, several of the group who went ahead comes back. They did not make it to the top of the ridge-after looking at the map, I would have been surprised if they did. Not because these folks aren't great hikers-they are, but it is a long ways and a good trip up.  So down we go.

Let me just say, going down this thing is much easier than going up it. I felt good-even keeping up with Kate, whom I had a good discussion on backpacking with. Four of us set a good clip coming down and four are behind.  With the ease of descent, I am able to take a little bit better look around me. The power station does dominate still. But now I get to enjoy the brush and trees, the tops of the mountains around us.

The return back is just backtracking the road we came up. As I travel down this, I have several thoughts. First, just glad it is January and not June. When we got back to the car, saw that my thermometer recorded 82 degrees. This goes with warmer than expects-notice above I am in shorts and a T shirt. Also it is OK, but not spectacular-would I walk it again? Yes, but it will not be a walk I gravitate to. The draw of it being part of the San Joaquin River Trail is interesting. And that is the last thought. When you look at the SJRT maps, it shows a trail. My comment when I first saw it was, you got to be kidding. It looks like it follows the power lines. On the map it does. But I think the someone got lazy and did not follow the road on the map. While the road is OK, it definitely is not a great trail. The SJRT organization could help hikers out by giving better information on the trail. Like a description, better map and what the trail looks like. All in all, I am glad I walked it. Maybe next time, I will be in better shape and complete the hike to Hookers Creek.



Trail Lesson:

Curiosity will lead you around a corner, and then another corner, .... and then another corner. Will there ever be an end to my curiosity?

San Joaquin River gorge

Redinger lake

Ridge above the trail