April 19, 2017 - Yosemite Valley, Mirror Lake

Title: April 19, 2017 - Yosemite Valley, Mirror Lake
Hike Info : Description :  Extra Photo's : Animals 

Trail head: Mirror Lake Tram Stop 19

Hike Info:

Type: Hiking

Trail: Mirror Lake Loop

Destination:  Ahwahnee Hotel

Distance:  7.27 miles

Start Time: 10:52

End Time:     3:12

Travel Time:   4:19 (1.68 mph)

Moving Time:  3:32  (2.06 mph)

Elevation Rise:  962'

Maximum Elevation: 4,249'
 GPS Tracks

Staircase Falls

Description:

This is to be a short hike, about 5-6 miles around Mirror Lake and then to the Ahwahnee. The idea is that we have a friend who has not been able to get out, but who loves the outdoors. Her husband (and her) hikes with us, or more accurately, we hike with them.  So Sherri, Betty and Rebecca devised a plan to get Cathey up to Yosemite and wander around the visitor center, museum, shops and cemetery in the Valley. Not be outdone, I invited a couple of John’s friends-Jerry and Roger to go with John and I for a hike around Mirror Lake.

Tenaya Creek

We meet at 7:30 and head up to Yosemite.A quick stop at Chinquapin before hitting Camp Curry. Staircase Falls is running full.  There we tried to hop on a tram to go to the Mirror Lake stop to start our hike. But the tram was full, so we walked up the road to Happy Isles. There we caught a tram over to the Mirror Lake stop, #19. We got a hint of what we are in for today.There is water running down the side of the road and we see the Merced River running swiftly and vigorously. Sounds like a start of  an amazing day.

Now we head north along the east side of Mirror Lake. We take turns walking with each other. There is something special about the companionship along a path which is almost like kinship. There are many more people today than the last time I walked it last month. 

Jerry at the Ahwiyah rockfall with Mt Watkins

When we get to Mirror Lake, we see that the lake is full and overflowing its sandy banks. The rapid moving water creates ripples on the surface so there is not much of a mirror today.  Still it is good to see the water here after so many years of it drying up sooner than it should.

We continue our walk on the east side, slowly climbing, nothing strenuous. We stop to ponder the Ahwiyah rockfall. Then we spot water coming down the Wall of Death under Half Dome. Just so jaw dropping amazing. When we finally get to the bridge across the Tenaya, we wonder how we would have crossed without it.

Our trail, a pool of water

One thing I did not mention was that this trail was akin to an obstacle course. First there was fallen trees to play limbo under. Or trees to go over or around. But no obstacle course can be without the water trap and there were some good ones.

Tenaya Creek from the bridge

Now it is back to Mirror Lake on the west side of the canyon. Just plain old walking and enjoying. When we get to Mirror Lake, we stop for a few minutes for snacks and lunch. We decide that maybe following the Valley loop trail may not be so good of an idea with Royal Arches Falls running so full. Last month when we went by the drainage for the falls, some people felt the runoff was a bit much for them. we do take the horse trail a ways down until we meet the outhouse. Then, we follow a bike path until we hit the Merced River. From there we cut over to the Ahwahnee.

Once at the Ahwahnee, we find out that the other contingent is going to the Yosemite Lodge for some eats. So we board the tram and head there, taking 10-15 minutes. Once there, we all enjoy our meal after a fun and good day. We all return via the tram to the Curry Village parking lot and pour into our cars. But there is one more thing I wanted to show them. As we go down Northside Drive, we stop a couple of miles after Camp 4 at a turn out. We go to a spot, and there is Horsetail Falls. Maybe not as exciting as in February, but it is a glorious way to end our day in the Valley. 

 

Horsetail Falls

Extra Photo's

Washington Column

Royal Arches Falls

Half Dome hiding behind a cloud

Animals

April 12, 2017 - Bluffs Trail, Montana de Oro

Title:  April 12, 2017 - Bluffs Trail, Montana de Oro
Hike Info : Description : Trail Lessons : Extra Photo's : Animals : Flowers and Plants

Trail head: Montana de Oro Parking area

Hike Info:

Type: Hiking

Trail: Bluffs Trail

Destination: Rattlesnake Creek Trailhead

Distance:  4.31 miles

Start Time: 10:43

End Time:     1:15

Travel Time:  2:32 (1.70 mph)

Moving Time:  1:34 (2.75 mph)

Elevation Rise:  361'

Maximum Elevation: 160'

GPS Tracks

Description:

We wake up to some noise around 7:00am. Next door it looks like there is construction being done for a new hotel. Then at 8 overhead is the sound of scrapping. This gets both of us up and about. The hotel has a continental breakfast which we opt to skip. Instead we wander down the street to the Apple Farm for a full breakfast. I order a full stack  of seven grain pancakes. Afterwards, I feel stuffed in a good ways-probably should have had one less pancake. We checked out of the hotel room a little before 10 and make our way to Montana de Oro.

North up the coast

On the way to Montana de Oro, it starts to rain. Will this be the end of our walking for today? We decide to go on the Bluffs Trail. Neither of us are energetic and those pancakes are really starting to make me feel sluggish. We have not been on the Bluffs Trail in a little while. The last time we were there, they were renovating the trail for handicap access. So this should be a good one to go on.

Interesting erosion

The path has gradual grades and flat, as well as wide.  We start along, taking pictures here and there, but mostly just admiring the seascape. There are birds, seagulls, which pose for us. Also some black cormorants perched on an island. That rain we were concerned about-did not show. But there was some wind, but not bothersome. Several plants have us wondering what the names of them are. Some morning glories and poppies and other fine looking plants.

There are plenty of benches to sit down on and today, I need them. Not sure why. That sluggishness I said earlier, it has broken out into a full fledged, flat out being tired. This is not a tiring trail either. Only 400’ of rise over 4 miles. I should be able to do this as a morning walk. But not today. Legs are tired, breathing hard and body just non-responsive. This is being a long walk for such a short and easy hike.

Moro Bay State Park

Tired Old Man at end of Bluffs Trail

When we reach the Rattlesnake Creek Trailhead, we hit the outhouses there and then decide which way to go. We could go to the east of the road, up in the hills with some ups and downs, or just go back the way we came. Sherri is leaving the decision to me. Usually this means going on the more challenging trail. But today, I say let’s go back the way we came. Sherri looks at me with a bit of concern. Am I sick? Is something a matter? I do not know, I just know my legs feel full of lead and I am sweating a lot.

Shoreline and Moro Rock from Bluffs Trail

But it is a good walk back. I stop several times to take pictures, at least that is what I say. I do take pictures, but maybe a bit more than warranted. On the way in, Sherri talked about a talk we hear from   Peter Kreeft on The Spirituality of the Sea.  I do not go as far as Kreeft does on how comes the Sea gives us relaxation and peace. But there is something to what he says and this is something to stop and ponder when I look out at the ocean.

Hills of Moro Bay State Park

By the time we get back to the car, it is after 1pm. But neither of us feel too hungry, at least not hungry enough for a Sylvester’s Hamburger. Something about a hearty breakfast keeps with you for a while. What to do? So we decide to head over to the pygmy pine forest. It would help to find it if I got the name right-it is really called the Elfin Oak Forest in Los Osos. It would be even better if I remembered which streets to turn on to get there. But eventually we make it there.The entrance we use is on 16th St.  We go a couple hundred yards in sand before hitting the boardwalk loop. The loop is pleasant and only about a mile. I still am lethargic, so I am glad for an easy walk. When I am alert, it is a fascinating walk. There is a variety of vegetation to look at. We complete our walk in an hour or so. The Elfin Forest is only a mile or so on boardwalk.

Moro Rock from the Elfin Forest

Moro Bay State Park from Elfin Forest

Now it is time for Sylvester’s I have a Texas Burger, which in reality is an open face burger with chili over it. It is ok, but knowing what some of the other burgers are like, I am a bit disappointed. But one good thing is that lethargicness is disappearing. So this did the trick.

Now it is time to head back to Fresno. But instead of going straight back to Fresno, we go up the coast past Morro Bay and past San Simeon to Piedras Blancas and the elephant lions.  There is something about a mammal who can snort, fart and wallow. Even though it was cold and windy, we stayed out watching them and fascinated. As we looked around, we saw a couple interpretive signs. Looking at them, we realize that the signs were created by a friend of our, Faith Rumm.

After leaving Piedras Blancas, we travel up Highway 46 past Paso Robles and on the way home. Except, that we have another thought. Maybe a perfect ending is to swing around Hanford for some ice cream. Like a sundae with chocolate chip ice cream and fudge topping. That is a perfect way. We roll into Fresno around 9pm, content with our couple of days.

 Trail Lesson:   Even hiking, you can have one of those days.

Extra Photo's

North from the Bluffs Trail

Ocean and Plants

Seagulls posing

Animals

Seagull

Black Cornanets

Spider web in the grass

Common Checkspot

Common Checkspot

 
Flowers and Plants

Morning Glory

Morning Glory

Gypsum Loving Larkspar

California Golden Poppy

April 11, 2017 - Wallace Creek, Carrizo Plains

Title: April 11, 2017 - Wallace Creek, Carrizo Plains
Hike Info : Description : Background :  Extra Photo's : Animals : Flowers and Plants

Trail head:Wallace Creek Trailhead

Hike Info:

Type: Hiking : Car

Trail: Wallace Creek Trail

Destination: Monument Boundary

Distance:  2.70 miles 1

Start Time: 3:00 appox

End Time:  5:01   

Travel Time:  2:01 (1.34 mph)

Moving Time:  0:34  (2.38 mph)

Elevation Rise:  326'

Maximum Elevation: 2,500'
 GPS Tracks-Driving
 GPS Tracks-Walking Wallace Creek

 ¹I discovered I had not turned on my GPS when we started. So the recorded tracks is only the return trip, which was 95% downhill. I have doubled the distance from the GPS; used the descent as the elevation rise; moving time is only the downhill. But the start time is a guess.

Description:

This write up will be a bit sparse. Not so much because of the lack of things to see,  but my words will not compare to the pictures. The mileage above is only for the Wallace Creek trail, not the Soda Lake Boardwalk or Overlook.

At the entrance

For several years I had been hearing about the Carrizo Plain and wondered what the attraction was. This year we started to hear that the wildflowers were plentiful and really worth going there. One thing about the Carrizo Plain is it remoteness. It is a three hour drive from Fresno. So did we really want to drive six hours in a day? We decided to do an overnight and take a room in San Luis Obispo. Even that is an hour and 40 minutes away.

We got ready at a leisurely pace-leaving Fresno a touch before 10:00am. Sherri drives down Highway 41 until Kettleman City. I then take over, going down a maze of roads-thankful for GPS’ in this case, including Highway 33, Bitterwater Road, then ending up on Highway 58. We pass a large solar collector field before turning off on Soda Lake Road. Nothing really promising yet on the flowers, but a lot of greenness in the hills. But then after going 6 or 7 miles down Soda Lake Road we reach the Monument boundary. When we paused for a picture we look around and see hills covered with yellow.

This turns out to be the entrance to fields of color. We stop at an Overlook to Soda Lake, There is a parking lot behind the hill, but we park by the road and walk up a dirt road a couple hundred yards. Then climb up the hill which serves as the Soda Lake Overlook. This serves as a 360 degree look around the Carrizo Plain. If nothing else, this is a good first stop just to get one’s bearings. We are able to see Soda Lake in the foreground and the Temblor Range to the east. Then to the south and west is Caliente Mtn. All over the the plain and up the sides of the mountains are blossoming flowers. There is a warning for us though: like the garden a long time again, there is a snake spotted. Somebody said it was a rattlesnake. The 2 seconds of view of the snake I saw made me think it was big.

People on the Overlook

On the overlook

Sherri on boardwalk

From this height, we go down to the level of the Sada Lake. Instead of a bird's eye view, we see the flowers up close. There are Nelder and Ferris Goldfields, along with Purple Owl’s Clove and, of course, California Golden Poppies.  We walk down to the lake on a dirt path. But once there, we walk along a boardwalk for a good third of a mile. The lake on one side and fields of flowers on the other. Nice. We have lunch on a bench. 

Gary on boardwalk

 Now what to do? We decide to go to the east side of the plain to a place called Wallace Creek. To get there, it is off of paved roads and onto dirt, washboard type roads. Except for the vibration, the road is not bad, as long as we go about 15-20mph.  

Wallace Creek is noteworthy because there is an example of fault movement of the tectonic plates. In this case the North American and the Pacific plates. The trail has an interpretive brochure with it-you can get it online. We walk up the trail-a long straight pathway to an embankment. Behind the mound is where Wallace Creek flows, while at least if there was water in it. The creek comes straight down the hillside until this spot and takes a right turn for 30 yards or so. Then continues on down the hill. This right turn is the result of the plate slippage talked about before.

Wallace Creek

But today, that is not the attraction. It is the wildflower fields beyond this point. Not only are their fields of yellow like we have been seeing, but purples, blues, oranges and white. So we climb up all the way to border of the monument. Flowers were covering the hillside. But you can tell that from the pictures.

After we came back to the car, we returned back to the main road and went down to the Visitor’s Center and had our sandwich dinner outside. The Visitor Center is opened for limited number of days. So we sat out on the picnic bench. After we finished our eats, it was time to head over to San Luis Obispo and our hotel-Travelodge. But as we were going down Highway 58, we saw buffalo. Not one, but about a dozen of them. We stopped and gawked for about 15 minutes. The buffalo belong to the Camatta Ranch which also has rents out rooms-maybe the next time we go to Carrizo Plain we will stop there.

It is starting to turn dark and we still have an hour to go to San Luis Obispo. When we get in, it must be around 8:00pm or later. Looks like there is some construction going on. But we are tired and ready for bed. We get our room and go up the stairs. But the room looks like it had been slept in already. So another trip down and we get another room. After reading for a bit, sleep comes quickly.

Background

Wallace Creek. I use topo maps. A lot of times I use older ones because while they may not show the latest development, the land does not change, does it? In this case, when I look at the older 1959 topo maps, the land has changed. Wallace Creek along the fault has moved a great ways, about 420' in the last 3800 years.  When looking at the 1959 topo maps, the creeks show most of the creeks with a straight down. But one creek does not. You can download both an interpretive guide and the Geological Society of America Field Guide for this area.





Extra Photo's

Patches of color

Soda Lake from Overlook

Panorama from overlook

More of Soda Lake

Soda Lake

Wallace Creek

Field of Color

Temblor Ridge

Temblor Ridge

Carrizo Plain

Animals

Lizard

Buffalo

 
Flowers and Plants

Nelder Goldfields

Baby Blue Eyes

San Joaquin Blue Curls

Gypsum Loving Larkspur

Purple Owl's Clover