Gary-Summer: May 11, 2016 - North Boundary, North Grove and Dead Giant Loop Trails

Wednesday, May 11, 2016

May 11, 2016 - North Boundary, North Grove and Dead Giant Loop Trails

Title: May 11, 2016 - North Boundary, North Grove and Dead Giant Loop Trails
Hike Info : Description : Background : Extra Photo's : Animals : Flowers and Plants

Trail head: General Grant Tree Parking Lot

Hike Info:

Type: Hiking

Trail: North Boundary, North Grove and Dead Giant Loops

Destination:North Boundary Loop

Distance: 2.83 miles

Start Time: 10:52

End Time: 12:47

Travel Time: 1:55 (1.44 mph)

Moving Time: 1:34 (1.80 mph)

Elevation Rise: 561'

Maximum Elevation: 6,630'

Destination:North Grove and Dead Giant Loop

Distance: 2.78 miles ¹

Start Time: 1:16

North Boundary Loop

End Time: 3:05

Travel Time: 1:49 (1.53 mph)

Moving Time: 1:18 (2.14 mph)

Elevation Rise: 479'

Maximum Elevation: 6,291'
¹We actually did not finish the North Boundary trail, but went on a connector trail which is used by the horses. Between the two, I had turned off the GPS. It is about a quarter of a mile which did not get counted in the two sets of

North Grove Loop

data. It is the dotted area on the map.

Description:
We want to hike and take a look at some of the effects of the Rough Fire. So we are looking at the North Boundary trail to hike while our son is taking care of my Mom. Also we are somewhat scouting out a hike for our Meetup group, to be part of a series called The Destruction Hikes. These hikes will be focused on showing the effects of this large and intense fire. We are expecting somewhat of a short to moderate hike.

It is a pleasant day, even though we got a later start than a "normal" hiking day. So we get up to Grant Grove for the facilities. While there, I went into the Visitor Center and talked with the information person and explained what I was interested in and what I was going to do. He suggested adding in the North Grove loop as well. So that's what we did.

Not the General Grant

We started out by going up the trail out of the General Grant Parking Lot, up towards the Visitor Center, but we go up a couple hundred yards up a little used trail. But there is a cut off over to the General Grant Tree. We have been here so many times, this tree is just part of the backdrop to us. But then again, what a backdrop. So many big trees and this is the king of the area.

It looked like in back of the General Grant there is a trail up to the North Boundary Trail, so we follow it up. But this was probably a social trail because it sort of petered out and we scrambled up to the trail. This is not how we will take the Meetup group-better way is via Gamlin Cabin and the normal connector trail.

The first part of the North Boundary Trail starts going up. We walk by the Sequoia's and marvel at them. How many times have we seen these giants and still are in awe-well maybe the General Grant is the exception. Still appreciate it though. After a ways, we take the leg of the trail up to the stables and look around. To my eye, the Rough Fire did not touch it. But this is not part of our trail, so we backtrack about 150 yards to the junction and head north. So far we see signs of a prescribed fire from a few years ago, but not the big fire.

Where the prescribed burn stopped the fire

But that changes once we top a ridge. This is where the firefighters made one of their stands and where the prescribed burn stopped the fire by depriving it of fuel. Still the north side of the ridge is scorched, but not devastated. We marvel at the scene and continue to walk.

But then we turn and head back to the south and west and the scene is one of ash. A ravine the trail goes down looks like the fire was pretty intense when it went up it. Makes you appreciate all of these firefighters which stopped the fire before it reached the grove. But surprisingly there are a few bushes which somehow survived the infernal.

Below is Abbott Creek

There was a few glimpses into Abbott Creek drainage where you could see the vastness of the fire. We continue around the towards the Grove area seeing the remains of the fire until we hit a rise looking down on the parking lot. Here we see a little connector trail-actually, it is the trail the horses use to the North Grove. We stop at the top and rest and eat for a little while. Not a great view point, still it is away from all of the people by Grant Grove.

Sequoia totally burnt.

Using the connector trail, we hit the North Grove Loop, just above where the loop comes back together again. We take the steeper, north side trail. That is steeper down. But it contains some of my favorite parts of this trail. There are a couple young Sequoia;s guarding the trail, or should I say road, as this loop used to be a road and drivable. But when we get there, we can tell how far the Rough Fire moved through this area, right to the edge of these trees. Along the ridge above, the area is a combination of black burnt trees with the whiteness of ash on the ground. This is an area which felt the brunt of the fire.

We go down and there is more destruction.At the bottom, when the trail makes a left to the south, there is a total lake of green, except at a little bit of water crossing the trail. In a short ways further, there is a Sequoia totally burnt. I thought the these trees were almost immune to that kind of destruction. That tells me how intense this fire was.

Sequoia Lake Overlook

Sherri ending a loop

A little ways beyond this we decide to hike over to the Dead Giant. The Dead Giant died many years ago and was not a victim of the Rough Fire. We proceed on this short loop, almost oblivious to where the fire was, until we come to the Sequoia Lake overlook. The Lake looks no worse for the fire, even though I know it came close, very close.

It is now time to return back to the car. But we do stop at Bear Mountain Pizza in Squaw Valley. We make it back to Fresno around 5pm.

Background

The Rough Fire started on July 31, 2016 from a lightening storm. Originally it was called the Garlic Fire because it was misplaced as being on garlic Ridge-the spotting was done in the twilight. It is the 13th largest fire in California's recorded history, burning 151,623 acres with 3,741 firefighters, 345 engines, 19 helicopters and 45 bulldozers used.
Prescribed burns is used to remove fuels from an area. allowing for more vegetation to grow.