Gary-Summer: January 23, 2018

Tuesday, January 23, 2018

January 23, 2018 - Miami Mountain

Title: January 23, 2018 - Miami Mountain
Hike Info : Description : Background : Extra Photo's : Flowers and Plants

Trail head: Cattle Chute along Miami Mountain Road

Hike Info:

Type: Hiking

Trail: Miami Mtn Road

Destination: Miami Mountain

Distance: 4.34 miles

Start Time: 11:13

End Time: 3:03

Elasped Time: 3:49 (1.14 mph)

Moving Time: 3:00 (1.45 mph)

Elevation Rise: 1,177'

Descent: 1,030‘

Maximum Elevation: 4,343'

GPS Tracks

Description:
Please Note: Previously, when I asked about going up to Miami Lookout, it was OK. We met bicyclist going up it and other folks. This morning in talking with the Bass Lake Ranger District, they said it was not OK. So call before you try this hike. February 1, 2018

Cranberry Girls with Bonnets

The location and time of our hike with Rose changed as the date grew closer. With the shutdown for a couple of days, we decided not to go into Yosemite. I had wanted to do Miami Mtn. Then our start time kept inching later and later. We ended up picking up Rose after 9:30.

The trailhead for Miami Mtn is just outside of Nipinawasee, close to the top of the pass on Highway 49. You head down a side road and stop by some cattle chute. Which after last time here, I got the right road, but did not recognize the stopping place. So went up about a quarter mile and decided I had gone too far. I guess I am getting better at figuring out where the start is.

Sherri and Rose get prepared and cap’s off their preparation with bonnets. Evidently, on the Facebook Ladies of the JMT group site, somebody had mentioned hiking with bonnets. So the two got into the swing of things and are wearing bonnets for sun protection today.

Entering Private Property

This is a dirt road hike which few if anybody drives up. Part of the road goes through private property, but it is my understanding that they allow access to Miami Lookout. The road starts off with a pretty good incline, going past the house of the property owner. We quickly come to the place which we turned around earlier and pass by a turn off. The road climbs up the south side of the mountain. There is a gate indicating that the road is closed. Rose and Sherri hop over the gate, while I straddle the bob-wire fence which is a little bit higher than my knees.

We get glimpses of views. Because we are in the middle of winter-mind you it is a nice hiking temperature of high 50’s, low 60’s-there is not much color by our road. But Sherri finds some buckeye trees and there are pods around them. At least observing them gives me a small break. But there is more up to go. There is a section of the road which looks like there is potential for another good rain to wash away a chunk of it-not dangerous now. I think you could even drive on it-just in the future. When we meet the shoulder of the mountain, the road swings back around so that it is heading more northeast. About this time, we meet the gate on the other side of the private property and enter into Sierra National Forest land.

First View of Miami Lookout

From the gate on up, we climb the top of the ridge. The first sight of the lookout pops into view. But there is a set of obstacles which needs to be overcome-or in come cases, undercome or gone around. There was a series of downed trees across the road. It looks like they were blown over. But not from the root base, but from around the top of the ridge. I wonder how strong of a wind was there that it sheared off the tops of these trees-probably most were dead already.

Tree Obstacle

Slash Pile burn near Nipinawasee

And then we turn a final corner and Miami Lookout is standing there before us. A good feeling making it to the top-even though there was not a doubt in my mind. Still 500’+ a mile is a pretty good slope to go up. We hang around up here for awhile, playing I wonder what that people is? I wonder if we can see a friend’s house from here? No. OOOOh!!! There is a smoke! And another! And another!! People are burning there wood scraps. One of the burns is close to us, maybe about two miles away. Another is other close to Shuteye. No wonder Miami reports a fair number of fires. It can see 360 degrees with a lot of low lands around it. But I suspect that during the summer, it may lack a lot of visibility due to the Valley haze. But for today, the view is fabulous!

Looking east and south

Looking west and north

After eating lunch, we start our way down the mountain. It is just the road in reverse. Nothing really exciting, just good walking. As we near our car, a truck comes up the road. We wave and he waves. Good that he did not look like he was calling the sheriff, or worse, reaching for a rifle. But then again, how could he do anything else but be friendly with two ladies in their bonnets?

East looking view from road down

Now that we have made it back to the car, the big question is, do we want to eat? And what do we want to eat? The what comes pretty quickly. It is a bit too early to have dinner, so the what is let's go to Reimers and have some ice cream. When we get to Reimer’s, it is on Winter hours and is closed Tuesday and Wednesdays. So we decide just to go back to Fresno and imitate God, just a little and call the day good.