March 11, 2015 - Hite Cove

Title: March 11, 2015 - Hite Cove

Trail head: Savage Trading Center

Hike Info:

Type:  Hiking

Trail: Hite Cove Trail

Destination: Hite Cove

Actual Destination: About three miles into trail

Distance: 5.92 miles ¹

Start Time:  9:40

End Time:   4:03

Travel Time: 6:23 (0.93 mph)

Moving Time: 4;12 (1.41  mph)

Elevation Rise: 1,403'

Maximum Elevation: 1,617'

  ¹Hite Cove is about 4.5 miles from the Savage Trading Center. But I stopped about 3 miles up the trail. The red trail line reflects how far I went. The blue dots is the rest of the trail to Hite Cove,

Trail along side of ridge

Description:

South Fork of Merced River

It is an overcast Wednesday morning, so a-hiking we will go. We meet at our normal gathering spot for meetup and take off for Mariposa. After a brief stop at Burger King, where we celebrate Donna's birthday, it is time to take off for the Savage Trading Center, just west of El Portal. Along the way, it starts to rain, but not too bad, just enough to wet the pavement and cause us to put on rain gear when we stop.

Lava Rock

John talks a bit about Major James Savage and that Savage seemed to enjoy the benefits of many well placed Native American wives. Dan notes that according to Kit Carson's diaries, that Carson saw Yosemite as early as in the late 1820's. With this brief interlude into the past, it is time to charge up a small ridge, in the rain still.

Lichen on Rock

But the good thing about the rain is that it clears the air and the dust from the flowers. That is what this trail is known for-flowers. On the other hand, the rain makes an already somewhat treacherous trail even slicker and the lack of direct sunshine keeps the flowers undercover. But with the company we have, we enjoy the ramble.

Western Pond Turtle

Our Trail through poppies

California Golden Poppies

Newt

There is about a half mile section on this trail which is a bit sketchy. We have seen worse on many high Sierra trail. Still it can be unnerving, particularly going down something like this in the rain. So we get a bit of a trail jam in this place. Everybody makes it through pretty nicely.

Mist in the foothills

One of the advantages of traveling with the slower crowd is you get more opportunity to look around. While this year is not reported to be a stellar wildflower year, there is more than enough to go around. Poppies line the path and purple, white and yellow blaze among the green grass. But that is not all. Many newts litter the trail and Carl, Donna and I spot two Western Pond Turtles enjoying the wet weather.

Purple Flower

 
Around 11, the wet weather turns dryer with only a drop here and there-not sure those drops did not come from trees. But about the three mile mark, a couple of us out of the 34 people on this trek turn back, I provide the accompanying escort. It is more of the same. Shortly afterwards, the first of the Hite Cove people pass us by. I guess they were tired of the wetness. Oh well.

Yellow Flower

Sketchy Trail

On the treacherous part of the trail, I hang back and make a couple trips up the slope. But I suspect this is more to make me seem useful than anybody really needing assistance. We get back to the cars around 4, ready to eat. To continue the birthday celebration, we retire to Mariposa and have a meal in a parkway by a stream. Sherri and I grab a Subway sandwich. We hit Fresno someplace after 7pm. A long day, but looking at the pictures, there was a lot to enjoy.


Trail Lesson:

Sometimes just take your time and enjoy what your effort brings. Let nature show off the glory God has given it!

More trail, more poppies

Unnamed Creek with a little fall

South Fork of the Merced