Tuesday, June 19, 2018

June 19, 2018 - Vanderberg Lake to Fernandez Trailhead



Title: June 19, 2018 - Vanderberg  Lake to Fernandez Trailhead
Hike Info : Description : Trail LessonsMenu : Extra Photo'sFlowers and Plants

 Trail head: Vanderburg Lake
Hike Info:
Type: Backpacking
Trail: Lillian Lake Trail
Destination: Fernandez Trailhead
Distance:  4.71 miles 1
Start Time: 10:31
End Time:     3:10
Travel Time:  4:39 (1.01 mph)
Moving Time:   2:43 (1.73 mph)
Elevation Rise: 446 '
Descent: 1,637‘
Maximum Elevation: 8,232'
 1Because of some confusion of where I was in relationship to Rose and Sherri, I backtracked about a quarter mile to see if I had missed them. Also as a note, someplace on this hike, the elevation readings were dropped. So the elevation information is off of Google Earth’s estimates.
Distance:  5.15 miles
Travel Time:   4:39 (1.11 mph)
Moving Time:  3:01 (1.71 mph)
Elevation Rise:  571'
Descent: 1,762‘

Description:
Got up 7:45. I must have been somewhat rested as I woke up several times last night and stayed awake for awhile. Nothing profound. I had a short quiet time and then went exploring about how to get across Madera Creek. Had our breakfast and then got things packed. Evidently breaking camp is not our specialty as it took us until 10:30 to hit the trail.
Rose Log Crossing
From my earlier scouting of the area, I thought I had a plausible way across the creek without taking off boots. But I seem to have misplaced it. Am I getting that old? This is the third time this summer which I was not on the ball in my navigational skills.


Rose and Sherri and a steep place






We do cross Madera Creek safely: Sherri and I rock hopping; Rose doing a high log balancing act. We are downstream a little ways from the trail, So I propose we head up the slope and then angle over to get to the trail. We do this without too much struggle, and nor buck brush or manzanita. The trail comes up shortly and we are almost at the top of a ridge.
From the top of the ridge, we lookout over where the waters drain into the San Joaquin River. This includes the areas where we have hiked, but also views all the way to the crest of the Sierra. After returning, we see that there was a fire called the Lion’s Point fire straight across from us. But we do not see any smoke with our naked eyes or later on our the pictures. Mt Ritter is still with us, but not for long.
Lion's Point Fire Location


As we descend, we realize how steep the ascent was. We also get into more the meadows which we passed up earlier. There are two things which really impress us about these meadows, first is the variety of flowers in bloom, Particularly the Hartweig Iris seem to be all over the place. The second is the abundance of mosquitoes which have found us so quickly
View of the Sierra Crest
After a quick stop to film the flowers and meadows before the mosquitoes get to me, I take off and catch up with Rose. She wants me to pass her-I guess it is a bit intimidating to have this huge person pondering dirt right behind you. I think Sherri is in front of me, so I hurry a bit to catch up with her. It feels good to stretch out my legs a bit and the general direction is down, not steeply. So I do pretty good. After going on close to an hour, there has been no sign of Sherri, which gets me to thinking, where is she? I hit the junction with Lillian Lake and decide to continue on down to the Norris Trailhead junction. Still no Sherri. So I drop my pack and head backpack and head back to the previous junction and wait.
One of many meadows
After waiting there for awhile, Rose and Sherri appear. Where has Sherri been? Well when I was talking my pictures, Sherri was actually behind me. So when I took off, I lost both of them. They were wondering what happened to me and now they know! I was looking for them and they for me.

We had a few snacks. A few pictures on top of a small rise and we got our final view of the tip of the Sierra Crest. Just a good way to say goodbye to the area. And then we were off. It was about another mile and a half down to the trailhead. But it seemed like it took us awhile to o this easy downhill. May have been the heat. But we got back to Rose’s vehicle at Fernandez Trailhead in good shape and good spirits.
The drive back was long, but not as eventful as the drive to the trailhead. We stopped at El Cid’s for dinner. Sonya met us there and we had a pleasant conversation. Then went across the parking lot to Remier’s for ice cream. A good way to end a trip.


Trail Lesson: You never know how bad of a climb it was until you come down it. Sherri



Menu
 Breakfast Lunch Dinner Snacks
Oatmeal and add-ins, such as dried peaches, strawberries, nuts, granola. Tang. Ritz Crackers,  Peanut Butter, Nutella
El Cid restaurant
Reimer’s ice cream
Clif Bar, GORP, Propel, CytoMax, Scratch, Coffee Candy, Jelly Belly



Extra Photo's
Mt Ritter

Gary, the missing hiker

Unnamed meadow

Unnamed meadow

Snow patch






 
Flowers and Plants

Lupine




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