January 22, 2020 - Million Dollar Mile to Stevenson Falls

Title: January 22, 2020 - Million Dollar Mile to Stevenson Falls
Hike Info : Description : Background :  Extra Photo's 

Trail head: Italian Bar Road

Hike Info:

Type: Hiking

Trail: Million Dollar Mile

Destination: Stevenson Falls

Distance:  7.88 miles

Start Time: 11:27

End Time:    2:51

Travel Time: 3:24  (2.32 mph)

Moving Time:  3:15 (2.43 mph)

Elevation Rise: 928 '

Descent: 726‘

Maximum Elevation: 2,338'

GPS Tracks

Description:

Originally Sherri was going to go on this Meetup hike, but she came down with a cold, so a no-go. Also our son Steven had thought about going, then realized he had other obligations. So it will be just me, along with around 20 old and new friends. I got up at 6:30 and left the house at 7:40. A bit cool, but not bad. Cathey has three people riding with me: Meagan, Carol and Nita. Nita is a person I have not met before. Always interesting finding a new person.

San Joaquin River

We left the parking lot at 8:15. Our first stop is the Exact Center of California. This is just outside of the town of North Fork on road 225. I would be less than truthful if I was to say this is exciting. Actually the first time there, it is fun and it should be visited at least once in each California’s lifetime. But to me, and it is just me, there is a bit more excitement going to other places in this state.

Now normally, going to the Exact Center of California works out. We just continue on down Road 225, cross the bridge over Redinger Lake and go up a third of the say on the other side to get to the starting point of our hike. But the bridge is under repairs, so we take a longer way around. We stop at an outhouse by Redinger Lake, then continue west to Powerhouse Road. This crosses the San Joaquin River and goes up the other side. We pass by Smalley Road-where we hike the San Joaquin River Gorge and continue on the Audberry. We then head down Audberry Road to Jose Basin Road. The road is a bit interesting. We then turn off onto Italian Bar Road, which is even more interesting. Finally when we get to a horseshoe turn, we are at the trailhead-three hours after we left the parking lot this morning. On the other hand, I have been down roads I have not been down before. That should be worth something. Before we started our hike, three SCE vehicles have gone through. Each are friendly enough.

Jose Creek

We start off close to 11:30-a bit late. Jose Creek is always a good refreshing start. It has a tendency to tell how Stevenson Falls will be. Today, the water is calm. With the dried up stocks it is pretty tranquil. I am back at the pack. But today it is not so much from lack of energy or oomph. Rather just playing my part-helping to herd those at the back. I pick up some information on cameras from Karl. Eventually it is just John and I at the back. We talk about a variety of stuff. Some serious, some just for fun. For example, of what use is a buckeye? We were finding a whole bunch of nuts along the road. We also have time to look around and observe that the San Joaquin does not seem to be a bustling river, but more wet spots between boulders. Still all of this makes for the walking to pass nicely, even though we are the last.

San Joaquin River where Stevenson Creek Enters in

So far Stevenson Falls has never disappointed us. Last year, the Falls were in full roar mode, going over a bridge. But it has not rained that much yet and the release from Shaver is not going full,. Yet there is enough to realize this is one of the prettiest falls in California, which if known, would compete with Yosemite-I am glad that only certain people know about it.

After a bit of a sandwich, I take Nita into the adit-not really one of your scenic areas of the Sierra. But it is interesting because most people have not heard the term adit. Even if you have, chances are that you may not know what it is. Or have even seen on. She is impressed enough by it in an appropriate measure.

Bridge over Stevenson Creek

 Now it is time to return. I hang around with Bobby as he is getting the last of his pictures. One of the benefits of hanging around with a photographer is that you get to pick their brains about how they make a good shot. From what I have seen of Bobby’s pictures, he knows how to select his shots and select which pictures are good. And that is what I did-talk, I am not in his league with my pictures. We talked about exposures and how the idea is not to make every shot perfect, but that you can end up with a perfect shot by bracketing your exposure times and f-shops. 
 

Stevenson Falls

After Bobby gets done, we play catch-up to John. Unfortunately for us, the first part of our trip back is a long uphill grade. By the time we get to the top, we want to stop and breath for awhile. But we also have John in sight now and after being able to get oxygen into our system, we catch up to him. 

Jose Creek

The three of us walk on, enjoying a leisurely pace. Even though each time we went up a slope, we were ready to see the end of the road. Instead of the end of the road, Jerry comes up the road to escort us the last stretch. When we reach the SCE gate, we are glad to be back at the cars. I am tired, but feeling like I still have a bit of energy in the tank. Things are much better.

After we get packed up, we head to Prather and Velasco’s Mexican Restaurant. A bit slow for hungry people. But there was one waitress for 15-20 people. So be patient. Food was good. On the way out, I met Jeannette, a co-worker whom I had not seen in 30+ years. A good little chat. We make it back to the parking lot by 5:30 and home at 5:45. I slept well.

Background

Center of State There was a list of the geographical center of each state. You can find it on Wikipedia. There is also a Wiki list of extreme points for each state.

Buckeyes. What use is a buckeye? Evidently, unless properly prepared, they are toxic because of tannic acid. But they are high in protein. The Native Americans would open up the balls and pound the contents making a flour, then leach out the acids. Or I was reading that some people roasted the outside. Sounds like it was best not to use it to munch on, except as Rebecca pointed out that in Ohio they make a Buckeye candy, made to resemble the tree's nut, is made by dipping a ball of peanut butter fudge in milk chocolate, leaving a circle of the peanut butter exposed. The ones found in California is different than the ones in Ohio.

Extra Photo's

Stevenson Creek and Falls from Google Earth

Below the Bridge

From the adit looking at Stevenson Falls

January 15, 2020 - South Shore Trail

Title: January 15, 2020 - South Shore Trail
Hike Info : Description :  Extra Photo's : Animals

Trail head: McKenzie Point parking area

Hike Info:

Type: Hiking

Trail: South Shore Trail

Destination: Winchell Cove

Actual Destination: Beyond Winchell Cove

Distance:  4.98 miles

Start Time: 10:45

End Time:     1:55

Travel Time:  3:08  (1.59 mph)

Moving Time:  2:15 (2.21 mph)

Elevation Rise:  645'

Descent: 556‘

Maximum Elevation: 745'

GPS Tracks

Description:

We just want to get on a trail today, but we need to be back at home by 3:00pm-going to a Sierra Club meeting tonight featuring our fire lookouts. On the other hand, we do not get out of the house very quickly. We have decided to go up to Millerton and do the South Shore Trail. It is close by and fairly easy.

 Juvenile Goshawk?

 

On the way to the trail, we stop in to the Millerton State Park office to procure a Golden Bear Limited Use Pass. This allows us into almost all of the state parks during the off-season. This time around, we bring a copy of our marriage license. Score! For $20, all we have to do is go into a state park twice to break even. That should be easy.

We continue on and park at the McKenzie Point parking area. Sherri discovers that she forgot her phone at home, so no phone, no camera-guess you are stuck with my pictures. There a couple of birders with some significant looking leans are eyeing a bird in a tree-a hawk. But what they were really looking for were eagles, which they did not find. But we had a nice conversation before they left and we started out.

Is this Billy Goat Gruff?

 

Before we got very far, there was a hawk-maybe a goshawk-just sitting high in a tree. He checks us out occasionally just to make sure we will not be messing with him-which we do not. So I get some pretty good pictures of the hawk. Then it is onward.

Sherri climbing up the the Cemetery

The South Shore Trail is 1.7 miles long and pretty level, maybe with a variance of about 50’ or so. Still you are on the side of a hill with Millerton Reservoir on the other side. We have hiked this several times, the first time in a drizzle-it is that kind of trail where you can enjoy the walk no matter the weather. Well maybe in the middle of Summer you will want to get an early start. Today not only did we get a hawk, but two goats were on the trail. We approached them carefully. They finally moved, much to their annoyance.

Winchell Cove Cemetery

We rounded a point and entered Winchell Cove. Then the pit stop at the outhouse at the end of the trail. We still had a little more time to hike, so we went around the end of the cove and went to the Winchell Cove Cemetery. When the Reservoir was created, they had to move various things like the original courthouse of Fresno and Ft Miller. There was also a pioneer cemetery which got moved to a point along side of Winchell Cove. In 2007, an Eagle Boy Scout project renovated the cemetery.

There is still a little more time, so we head up the slope-this is most of the elevation gain for today. I would classify this as a journey hike. We get to a place on the side of the ridge and decide to make it back, we needed to turn around. Still a nice walk.

The trail beyond the Cemetery

The trip back is mostly a reverse of the trip in. Except we do follow the trail down to the end of the cove. The goats have moved themselves so we are able to pass through. There are a couple of kayakers on the lake. Wait, one is calling out to us. It is one of our hiking buddies-Bill and his friend Leland. We talk, or I should say yell, for a few minutes. Then we both depart our separate ways. We get back to the car at 2:00 and are off.

Bill is on the left

We stop at Costco on the way home and are back at our house by 3:15. I am getting stronger. This is good and it was a good hike.

Hawk in flight

Extra Photo's

The Glass House

View of Winchell Cove from the Cemetery

The other arm of Winchell Cove

Sherri either admiring the view or waiting for Gary

Little Shuteye Peak

Shuteye Peak

Animals

The goshawk eyeballing me-he is big, but is he tasty?

Add caption

One of our goats

Same goat

What kind of a nest? Maybe an eagles?

January 11, 2020 - Wawona

Title: January 11, 2020 - Wawona
Hike Info : Description : Background :  Extra Photo's :  Flowers and Plants

Trail head: Wawona Parking Lot

Hike Info:

Type: Hiking

Trail: Wawona Meadow, Raymond Road, Old Trail to Big Creek

Destination: Loop

Distance:  6.97 miles

Start Time: 1:21

End Time:  5:15

Travel Time:  3:53 (1.80 mph)

Moving Time:  3:30  (1.99 mph)

Elevation Rise:  1,246'

Descent: 1,056‘

Maximum Elevation: 4,837'

GPS Tracks

Description:

I got up this morning not knowing what we might do or where we might go. Do we stay home and continue cleaning? Does not sound fun. Is fun the only criteria that there is? Snowshoe? Snow levels seems to be high, so the concentration of people will be pretty dense. How about hiking? Sounds interesting. Where? How about Wawona? Let's go!

We left Fresno after 11 and arrived a little before 1 at Wawona. In Oakhurst we changed drivers. We asked on entry into Yosemite about snow at Mariposa Grove. The ranger said there was snow at the Grove, but not lower. Does not sound too good for hiking. Maybe up to the Grove but not in the grove. So down to the meadow.

South Fork of the Merced River

Before we started hiking, we ate lunch. That is a peanut butter and Nutella sandwich. Over the years, we have developed an extended route around Wawona Meadow. Now to see how much we want to do of it. Actually, we have never done the extended route all in one hike, just in parts.

South Fork of the Merced River

We get our backpacks on and cross Highway 41. But instead of doing the trail which bi-sects the golf course, we go on the north end of the course, which takes us by the golf pro’s shop, which used to be the place where the butcher did his work for the Wawona Hotel. After rounding the building, we head towards Big Creek. It is a nice, third of mile walk through lots of young trees. We enjoy the flow of Big Creek as it enters the South Fork of the Merced River. Ice has formed in the river, where the flow has not quite knocked it down. We look around a bit, but do not go over where the pond was-too much snow and do not want to slip.

We retreat back the way we came until we come to the old smokehouse. Then we skirt the western edge of the golf course. Normally we pay a visit to the site of Galen Clark’s cabin, but it probably is a little bit too mushy, so we stick to the road which loops over to the Raymond Road. We feel that after Pincushion earlier in the week, this road should be acceptable to us. So up we go. I am doing OK, even though I am glad I do not have an overnight pack on. The road is pretty firm and we do not have any problems sliding or anything with it. In places there is a layer of frost, but nothing bad.

Sherri on the Mt Savage Road

We hit the crossover road. I have speculated that originally this might have been the entrance road to the park since it comes out right where the guard stations are. But I have not seen anything which confirms my speculation. By the way, from what I can find, the road is called the Mt Savage Road.

Walking is a good way to think and talk. The most pressing thing we have to think about during the next several months is what to do about an estate plan. So that is a topic of discussion. It is obvious we have a difference of opinion on certain matters, but that is why one talks, to see where you have agreement and find places where we can agree. We will continue to talk in the coming days and weeks.

Gary going back down to Wawona Meadow

I am looking for a stake and a trail to go down to Wawona Meadow. I see the stake, but Sherri keeps going. But not for long. The trail down to Wawona Meadows is narrow, surrounded by mountain misery for a long ways. Today it has a layer of snow-not much, but enough to be careful on how one walks. It is a pleasant route, but the one I am glad we are going down. At one place, we miss a turn and go down a very steep service road. I know that it all goes to the same place. Still, it is very steep.

When we reach the trail which loops around Wawona Meadow, we have a choice-left or right, clockwise or counter-clockwise? Normally we would go counter-clockwise and maybe even walk the flume. But it is cold and there are two creeks which we would need to cross. So we go clock-wise. The walking is much faster, but the light is fading. We make it back to the car before dark and even got glimpses of the sun leaving the ridges to our east.

Now that we are back in the car, snuggly and warm, the big decision has to be made. Where to eat? We decide on DiCicco’s in Oakhurst. Not a lot to say,except that it was a good choice. Had exactly what was needed to fill my body. Then it is back to Fresno and a nice hot shower.

Background
See the Wawona page for some of the things talked about on this page.


Extra Photo's

Confluence of the Merced River and Big Creek

Gary

Leaves under snow

The road we did not travel

South Fork of the Merced River

Sherri on the trail down to Wawona

Clouds on ridge to the east

Sky ablaze

Sunlight and clouds

More sunlight and clouds

Looking towards Mariposa Grove

Flowers and Plants