Gary-Summer: March 25, 2018 - Snowshoeing on an unnamed Road

Sunday, March 25, 2018

March 25, 2018 - Snowshoeing on an unnamed Road

Title: March 25, 2018 - Snowshoeing on an unnamed Road
Hike Info : Description : Extra Photo's

Trail head: General’s Highway, Road 14S10A

Hike Info:

Type; Snowshoeing

Trail: abandoned road

Destination: none

Distance: 0.73 miles

Start Time: 2:28

End Time: 3:17

Travel Time: 0:48 (0.91 mph)

Moving Time: 0:32 (1.37 mph)

Elevation Rise: 131'

Descent: 117‘

Maximum Elevation: 7,139'

GPS Tracks

Description:

We are not properly ready to go snowshoeing today. But the advantage of living in Fresno is we are close to the mountains, so it is an hour or so drive there.

Last night, I would have gotten ready, but we had forgotten there was a game night. I has not gotten stuff together before then. So that left this morning. First, we went to church. Then we talked with several people. Which we enjoyed. Then we got ready to go. By then, it was almost noon. So we had lunch. By the time we started the car, it was 12:20.

Clouds in our path

But away we went. Bright sun shiny day, a nice ring of clouds in the mountains. Clouds? By this time, we were well on our way. Sherri figured out that she should have brought her rain jacket. Probably a bit too late to turn around. So we continue on, thinking these are just clouds. But at the 4500’ mark, there is a chains required sign, complete with a checkpoint-I think of my friend Fritz and his numerous checkpoint issues and feel lucky not having to put on chains. We have both snow tires and four-wheel drive, so we get a free pass. Nothing really serious, just slowed down a bit to make sure we do not encounter anything. The temperature is nosing down-by the time we start hiking , it will be a wet 28 we we get out of the car.

Sherri bundled up and travelling

Once at the park entrance, there is a line where people are being checked. We get through, once again. After a stop at Big Stump, we decide to go down the General’s Highway. Sherri notices a few snowflakes hitting our windshield. Also there is a pretty good overcast. Looks like there was a small crash as two cars are on the side of the road, but they said they did not need help. The road after Quail Flat is open, unlike last time, so we continue on. When we reach Buena Vista Peak trailhead, we decide that we will save this for a clear day. So we turn around and go back to a closed forest road. We will wander for about an hour and see how that goes.

We have not been on this road before. It is closed to vehicular traffic and we wonder why it was even built in the first place. But for our purposes, it is good. Sherri is first out on snowshoes. She waits for me as I get situated. But then we get going. The road is gently sloping downward and goes around a ridge. I gaze up at the top of the ridge and wonder what is over there?

Gary looking for sunshine

Sherri wants a picture and so I turn around, and around, much to her frustration. Now we are off again. There is a good thing. I am now moving pretty good on the snowshoes. Only a couple of weeks ago Sherri was definitely stronger than I. The road goes around the ridge we are on. Sherri hears the noise of cars. Wonder where they are? Soon that question is answered-right below us about an eighth of a mile is the General’s Highway. We go a little ways further on our road, when we get blocked by a screen of young trees-about ten years old. Now what to do?

From my perspective, there are two ways to go: return back the way we came, or go up on top of the ridge and see where that takes us. If you are a reader of this blog, you pretty much have guessed which way we went. Even with a snow cloud settling in, we go up. I think the slope is a bit more than Sherri wanted, it was not too bud. The route I chose, avoided most of the shrubbery. So we reach the top. Nice and flat on top, but a bit of snow, cutting down visibility-not white out or anyplace close.

General Grant Tree

I think going around the ridge turned Sherri around, so that even though I can see where we came in on the road, Sherri is trying to get her bearings. I gallop off down a gentle and short slope to the road and stand there like I have just swallowed a chocolate chip cookie. I love these little trips like this. In five minutes, we are back at the car, ready for our next adventure: getting my boots off. Which Sherri helps me with.

Once we got going, where to next? It is only 3:30. Sherri would like to see the General Grant Tree in the snow. So off we go. I go up in my tennis shoes-I may regret it. Sherri still has her boots on. Much of the paved path has been kept free of snow. But it is wet and in a few places slushy-ice. But the Grant Tree looks good. We continue around the loop, a little over half a mile. Enjoyable and the feet did not get too cold.

Sherri and Gary at General Grant Tree

Now, it is back to Fresno. We get into town around 5:30 and stop at DiCicco’s for dinner. I have three cheese calzone. Tasted good. Then to home and a nice shower. A good short day.