July 7, 2015 - Park Ridge Lookout

Title: July 7, 2015 - Park Ridge Lookout

Trail head: General's highway by South Boundary Trail

Hike Info:

Type:  Hiking

Trail: Azalea Trail

Destination:Park Ridge Lookout

Distance:  5.50  miles

Moving Time: 2:50

Elevation Rise: 1,407'

Maximum Elevation: 7,556'

GPS batteries were dead, so the above and maps are from our May 27th hike which did the same trails.

Description:
 Today's hike is with our meetup group. We meet at Kohl's at 7:00am to go up to Grant Grove. By the time the Visalia contingent comes in, we will be 18 strong. We stop at Big Stump to take advantage of the facilities. Then on to our trail head, about 1.5 miles towards the Visitor Center, but not at the Center, it is at the South Boundary Trail. Our trail  is on the other side of the road. We will be doing the Azalea Trail, starting beside Wilsonia. We fit four cars in the parking area-not much room for more.

Tree at end of meadow

Now the adventure starts. Once a crossed the General's Highway, we take the trail up to Park Ridge-this is the trail I missed last time. We start our walk up the slope, going past a meadow of golden flowers. Then we follow the creek.

The creek bed is filled with azalea's. Their blossoms dazzling the eyes.  We get the pleasure of just walking through them, sometimes they are hip high, others we can look up and see them.

Von, Sherri. Rebecca, and Alphedio

Disputed tiger/leopard lily

But if you think Azaleas are the only thing which the Azalea trail has to offer, you would be mistaken. There are flower galore: pine drops, snow plants, penstomen, and tiger lilies. Rebecca and I discussed if these were truly tiger lilies or something like it. Later on I asked Rose C about it and in her opinion, they could be tiger or leopard lilies, depending on the elevation. Tiger or Sierra Lilies grow above 6,000'; leopards grow below 6,000'. We are at 6,500'. So I think we both agreed they are gorgeous.

Snow Plant

Penstemon

NPS 552  courtesy of Bill E

As we reach the top of Park Ridge, I find the rest of our group waiting. Love it when a plan comes together. Now we go half a mile across the ridge till we meet up with the lookout's service road. But as we walk along, Sherri hears the sound of beating blades. We know this is a helicopter coming by, but whose? Bill E says it is 552 out of Ash Mountain.

Us looking up at the lookout courtesy of Florence

We reach the final leg of our walk and find the Park Ridge Lookout before us. Most of the group goes up and sees the view and the operation of Park Ridge. Bill and Florence is staffing the lookout. Florence is taking care of the radio traffic while Bill helps explain what is going on.  They show us good hospitality and all enjoy this time. Thanks Bill and Florence. As lookouts ourselves, it is good to meet the people who come after us.

Clouds

Now it is our time to take our leave. Clouds are starting to build. While we are not in any danger of being rained upon-we would be down the trail before it began, the clouds were starting to look impressive. Our return trip was via the service road. I talked with Sophia at the front of the pack.  When we got to the junction with the Azalea trail, I stayed there so that everyone knew where to turn. I did not want to walk to Panorama Pt to track somebody down. Then it was a return trip down the Azalea Trail. It seems like the fragrance was more pungent going down than this morning when we came up. Is it because the warmth gets the scent going?

Meadow close to end of hike

As we closed in on the trail head, we pass through the meadow. With the noon time light, the yellow flowers seem to come alive.  A good way to end the hike, with flower a blooming.

Most of us wanted to stop for pizza, so Bear Mountain it is. Unfortunately, they were really slow. I think they were a bit understaffed. But the food there is improving. We got back home some place around 3.

Azalea Bush