May 27, 2015 - Park Ridge Lookout

Gary, Sherri, Kim

Title: May 27, 2015 - Park Ridge Lookout

Trail head: General's Highway at South Boundary Trail

Hike Info:

Type:  Hiking

Trail: Azalea and Park Ridge Trail

Destination: Park Ridge Lookout

Distance: 5.50 miles

Start Time:  10:09

End Time:     2:42

Travel Time: 4:33 (1.21 mph)

Moving Time: 2:50 (1.94  mph)

Elevation Rise: 1,407'

Maximum Elevation: 7,556'

Description:
Just a quick little hike today. Sherri told Kim that if we went hiking today, we would be glad to take her. She being sooo naive, said she would come with us. So this should be a nice walk.We pick up Kim at her house at 8:15 and head towards Grant Grove. Along the way, I suggest that we might try a trail which I have not been on for 50 years, the Azalea Trail. Poor people, they do not know what this involves-neither do I, but at least I read the map.

Kim and Sherri on Not A Trail

We get into the park and find the start of the South Boundary trail. Across the General's Highway is the start of our trail, sort of hidden-you have to be looking for it. But we do find it and start walking along the trail, passing a sign saying, Park Ridge, 2 miles. We cross a small creek and are about the cross a road-hey wait a minute. We do not cross a road, nor a creek on the map. Where did I go wrong? So we backtrack across the creek and start making our way up it, with the hope of finding the trail. I look up and see the stone work for the trail. So we climb up the dirt embankment-both Sherri and Kim are good sports.

Sugar Pine

Now it is a matter of following the trail up to the top of Park Ridge. It is a good walk up. In a couple of weeks, the azaleas should be out in full leaf and maybe blooms. The trail is nicely shaded, but goes up and up and up. But we are enjoying our walk and the talk which goes with hiking. Kim is relatively new to the Sierras so every time we have walked with her, it has been fun pointing out some of the things which goes with the area. Today, it is sugar pines. The long cones are worth noting in their own right. But then we show Kim the tops of the trees where the cones hang like Christmas ornaments, even to an old jaded person like myself, it gives me a time to pause and enjoy.

Kim and Sherri on Park Ridge

We reach the top of Park Ridge, but not the lookout. That is another 3/4 of a mile walk along the ridge. Nothing very eventful happens along this route. So we get to the lookout, but nobody is home. I message Wendy and she confirms, nobody is scheduled, but we are ok to go up on the catwalk. After lunch, we take Kim up and she is amazed at what she can see.

Big Baldy from Park Ridge Lookout

East from Park Ridge Lookout

As we started back, engine 51 for SEKI comes up the road.  I go back and talk with Tom. He is not the engine captain, evidently there is not a captain since Larry left. They are at the lookout to fill the water tank-soap water. I am sure we will run into him when Sherri and I are at the lookout.

On our way down, we hit the Azalea Trail, we realize how steeply we came up. But it is a lot easier to come down than to go up it. As we come to the junction where I lost the trail coming up, I do a head slap-it was so obvious. Remember the trail sign? Just look behind it and there is a trail. Oh well.

Sherri, Kim

Gary on catwalk

We decide to go up to Panorama Point just so we can see the area in northern Kings Canyon. Mt Goddard shows up, along with the Palisades. Buck Rock is there too. So is the ringing of the phone in my pants. It is my brother. Reception is bad, so I talk with him at the Visitor Center. Dad is having a hard time breathing. Also their caregiver is leaving. Boy things happen while I am out hiking. Both of these  get resolved. But we decide to hurry back to Fresno. A good day up at Grant Grove, but a bit hectic at the end. We had fun with Kim. Hope to hike with her many more times.

Pretty, but unknown flower