Gary-Summer: October 25, 2017

Wednesday, October 25, 2017

October 25, 2017 - Crescent Meadow

Title: October 25, 2017 - Crescent Meadow
Hike Info : Description : Trail Lessons : Extra Photo's : Flowers and Plants

Trail head:Crescent Meadow Parking Area

Hike Info:

Type: Hiking

Trail: Sugar Pine, Soldier, Crescent Meadow Trails

Destination: Loop-Bear Hill Trail

Distance: 4.81 miles

Start Time: 11:33

End Time: 4:45

Travel Time: 5:11 (0.93 mph)

Moving Time: 3:49 (1.26 mph)

Elevation Rise: 1,088'

Maximum Elevation: 6,944'

GPS Tracks

Description:

Today is my birthday! So, of course, I will go hiking. My companions will be Sherri, of course, Rose and Jeff, and Betty. Sonya was going to go with us, but she has been called away by work.

Sherri made pumpkin pancakes for the four of us-Jeff, Rose, Sherri, and myself. Also apple syrup-I have low sugar maple syrup. By the time we have finished feasting, it is 9am, time to leave. Jeff drives us up to Crescent Meadow with a stop at the Big Stump bathrooms.

Hikers on the trail

Betty is waiting for us-she arrived there 20 minutes before us. By the time we take off, it is 11:45. But before we take a single step, a welcoming party of gnats come out to greet us. Betty, Rose and Sherri don mosquito netting. Jeff and I are defenseless against the intruders. So on we go.

Indian Grinding Area

Our first path is the Sugar Pine Trail. This runs along the south side of the ridge Crescent Meadow is located on. We could take off for Bobcat Pt, but we have had a later start so straight on we go. We stop briefly at a site where the Native Americans ground there food. I wonder what the Native Americans did with gnats?

Autumn Scene

The main focal point of our view along the trail is Castle Rocks. But they stay mostly hidden from our view, partly due to a curtain of leaves, and because of the distraction those same leaves provide with their array of red and yellow colors. We roll along the trail, up ridges and down ravines filled with these colors. After a mile and a half, we come to the base of Moro Rock. By now Jeff has put a bandana over his mouth, for the Frito Bandito effect.

The Frito Bandito Gang

Moro Rock

We decide that we will eat lunch here before our assault on the rock. After that was taken care of, we start up Moro Rock, I at the front. I suspect that I did not hide my stopping for oxygen very well by taking pictures. But no one was complaining. After several picture taking stops, we get to the top. To the West, it is pretty hazy, but we can see beyond Lake Kaweah. East has the Great Western Divide in full glory. What a day to be up here. On the way down, I stop and take a picture of Perry and Sharon of Hiram, Georgia. I talk with them all the way down. When we reach the bottom of the rock, our gnat escorts rejoins us, wondering where have we been?

View from Moro Rock: West to East on North Side

View from Moro Rock: East to West on South Side

Roosevelt Tree

Now the question: do we do the hike we started with, around Bear Hill? Or go on a new trail for me, the Soldier Trail? Because of the time, we decide to do the Soldier Trail.

Us in front of Buttress Tree

The first part is a climb out of the Moro Rock parking area. It is steep, but short. When we top a ridge, there is the Roosevelt Tree. Which one I wonder? I assume It Is Teddy, but it may be FDR since FDR signed Kings Canyon National Park into existence in 1940. Also there is another Roosevelt Tree at Redwood Mountain. This trail dumps us by the road going into Crescent Meadow. We need to walk back towards the Meadow about a quarter mile, just before the Tunnel Log. Along the way we pass the Buttress. And yes, those gnats continue to tag along.

Hiking the Soldiers Trail

A good thing about the Soldier Trail, and for that matter the Bear Hill Trail, is that you are almost guaranteed a fair amount of solitude during your walk. Not only that, the beauty of God’s creation through His Sequoia causes a person to consider their grandeur and size compared to us. Then you realize what we are to them, they are to God. How immense is this God, how small we are. Speaking of small, those gnats are still with us.

Cross Country

When we reach the top of the ridge, I suggest a course change. Instead of going down 400’ then switching off to another trail and coming back up another 400’, let's just follow this ridge. The topo map shows it to be fairly flat and broad. It is agreed upon to try this cross-country route. The big fear is brush. Once we do a short climb, 30’ or so, we find it pretty clear and an easy walk. After 15 minutes of walking we find the trail returning to Crescent Meadow. Evidently the gnats know about the route as we do not elude them.

Squatters at the Squarter's Cabin

Walking down this trail, we come across just the garden-variety of magnificent giant sequoias. We stop for a few minutes at Squatter's Cabin and take pictures. Now we are on the home stretch to return back to the cars. We walk along Crescent Meadow with the the commonly viewed giant sequoias as our companions. Then the cars come into view signaling the end of our walk. And yes those gnats still were with us. The score on that count was 4 gnats lost their lives down my throat; countless more died due to being swatted; and four hours of annoyance endured to enjoy a good day of walking with friends through beauty.

We ate dinner at Grant Grove at the DNC restaurant. Food good, service slow. Got home around 8.

Trail Lesson:

Why do we become immuned to the beauty filling our eyes from the Sequoia’s in front of us, but we pay close attention to the gnats swirling around our head?

Extra Photo's