Gary-Summer: June 16, 2018 - Fernandez Trailhead to Vanderburg Lake

Saturday, June 16, 2018

June 16, 2018 - Fernandez Trailhead to Vanderburg Lake

Title: June 16, 2018 - Fernandez Trailhead to Vanderburg Lake
Hike Info : Description : Trail Lessons : Menu : Extra Photo's : Animals : Flowers and Plants

Trail head: Fernandez Trailhead

Hike Info:

Type: Backpacking

Trail: Lillian Lake Loop

Destination: Lillian Lake

Actual Destination: Vanderburg Lake

Distance: 4.63 miles

Start Time: 1:56

End Time: 6:44

Travel Time: 4:47 (0.97 mph)

Moving Time: 3:31 (1.32 mph)

Elevation Rise: 1,418'

Descent: 305‘

Maximum Elevation: 8,745'

GPS Tracks

Description:

I got up around 630 and then mosseyed around a bit. Sherri got up shortly afterwards. By 820, we left our house and headed to Rose’s place. There was to be four of us, but Sonya came down sick. We met her at the Oakhurst visitor center to transfer and update our wilderness permit. We also had a short stop at Judy Donuts for obvious reasons.

Now for the adventure of the day: to get to the trail head. There are two ways to get there. The first is to go up Beasore Road. While the road is more rugged it is faster. The second is to go via the Sierra Vista Scenic Byway. Evidently there is a third way. We ended up not seeing Beasore Road and being in North Fork. Then we wandered around a bit, probably on the Mammoth Pool Road before hitting the Scenic Byway. As we went up the Byway, we can see places which we hike on the other side of the San Joaquin River, such as the Million Dollar Mile. While an enjoyable drive, it certainly is not getting us on the trail very fast. So we took the Grizzly Meadow Road over to Beasore. Eventually we ended up at the Fernandez Trailhead.

Rose and Sherri

By this time it is 1:00pm and we are hungry. So we down lunch and hit the last bathroom-outhouse-for the next three days. After all of our getting ready, it is 2:00pm before our boots touch the trail.

Gary's version of a pine drop

There are two trails going out of Fernandez Trailhead. The Walton Trail which goes up a road a ways. And the other is the Lillian Lake Loop or as the sign says, the Fernandez Trail Complex. We head towards Lillian Lake. The trail is pretty nice and we start off in high spirits, enjoying the walk after taking so much to get here. We pass by the trail to get to Jackass Lakes. Then the trail starts a pretty good climb.

As we climb, we notice flowers are blooming. Lupine and Philox, of course, but many Hartweg’s Iris, Indian Paintbrushes and Western Wallflowers. Many of them are in meadows offering a dazzling display of color.

Lupine field

It is a good thing that there are these distractions as the trail has gotten steeper, or I have gotten more tired. We get to the Norris Trailhead Jct around 3:30 and take our first break. The good thing is there is a nice view just over a small rise. The bad thing is that we have a ways to go yet. After some talk, we decide to go to Vanderburg Lake instead of Lillian. A shorter walk and not as much climbing.

From the car I have been in shorts and a T-shirt. Not sure if I am starting to regret that. The little pesks called mosquitoes are starting to find me-and Sherri and Rose. Hope this is not an indication of the next three days. If so, I may not last long.

But some compensation is seeing the high peaks above us, which is the boundary of Yosemite-we are in Sierra National Forest. Also sometimes we get a view across the drainage of the crest of the Sierra. So wonderful to see. The JMT runs close to it and you can almost trace parts of it.

Climbing up the final ridge

About ¾ of a mile before Vanderburg Lake we hit a pretty good climb. Makes me think we made a good decision. Sherri has a remark Tuesday when we come back down this slope which recognizes what we are going up. At the top is a small, scum topped pond. Which also means more mosquito bites. So down we go.

When we get close to the lake, we confront a problem: How to cross Madera Creek which flows out of Vanderburg Lake? At the trail are a few rocks, but we definitely will get our feet wet. I go upstream to the lake outlet and there is a logjam which makes crossing possible. Rose and I cross with just a bit of making sure our footing is good. Sherri has a few balance issues, but makes it across safely.

Rose crossing over the creek

Just a few feet up the trail was a pretty nice campsite. It looks like we have the lake to ourselves. We have not met anybody and we see no signs of others. When I dump my pack, it is 6:45. I filter water-new Platypus gravity filter and Sherri works on setting up the tent. Neither Sherri or I feel like cooking, se we eat the remaining sandwich from this afternoon and the extra donuts from Judy’s. May not be the most nutritious, but it fills the spot.

As we are eating, Rose realizes that this spot is only a few feet away from where she and Shawn camped previously. By the time we get all done, it is getting dark and we are tired. So we hit the tents and say good night. I read for about half an hour more and turn off my phone around 9:00pm.

Trail Lesson: Slow is smooth; smooth is fast. Kate R

Breakfast	Lunch	Dinner	Snacks
Ate At home. Granola	Half a sandwich - Peanut Butter, Nutella.	Half a sandwich - Peanut Butter, Nutella. Also donuts	GORP, Scratch, Coffee Candy