January 30, 2021 - Sequoia Lake Snowshoe

 

Title: January 30, 2021 - Sequoia Lake Snowshoe
Hike Info : Description :  Extra Photo's :

Trail head: Happy Gap

Hike Info:

Type: Snowshoeing
Trail: Millwood Road, Forest Service Road 13S97
Destination: None
Distance:  0.90 miles
Start Time: 2:36
End Time:  4:11
Travel Time: 1:34  (.58 mph)
Moving Time: 1:06  (.82 mph)
Elevation Rise:  233'
Descent: 112‘
Maximum Elevation: 5,627'

GPS Tracks

Description:

There was a heavy snow storm this week which unloaded tons of snow in the Sierra. The big question in my mind is, will the roads be safe enough to travel? The pictures I have seen shw snow starting at 3,000’ with a heavy layer as you approach Grants Grove. So I am thinking of compromising. Can we see Delilah in the snow? Maybe just walk the road with snowshoes? We had thought of an alternative of walking the Davis Road from the bottom. But there is too much iffiness there along with getting ready to go-it is a 2 ½ hours drive one way-with Korra’s record of car sickness, it will be more. An alternative is to go up a bit further around Sequoia Lake and walk some of the back roads there.

View from the car

Steven has an interview at 11:30, so we definitely will be leaving after lunch. We were planning on leaving around Noon or afterwards. By the time the wheels are rolling on the car, it is 12:55. Korra, Steven, Sherri and I are going. It is a clear and nice day. Should be a good day to go up there. When we start heading east, the Sierra comes into full view and it is one of those days when your jaw drops and you just hope you do not run into something in front of you while you enjoy the snow up in the mountains.

Start of our walk

Korra is still getting used to car travel, so we stop to let her settle down. But that is only temporary.Korra still has an unsettled stomach on the way up. We get to the Delilah Road, at least that is what I call it. It is really Forest Service Road 13S97. On the south side of Highway 180, it is called Millwood. We go up it a mile and there are three vehicles parked, so this is a no go there. We go up Delilah Road a bit more, but there is slick, not icy, snow on the road, so we back down and decide to go on.

We go on to the Sequoia Lake parking area. There are a lot of people in its parking lot, but most seem to be playing in that area. So we find a parking place and get ourselves together. By the time we start walking, it is 2:30. It is about a 100 yard walk to Forest Service Road 13S97. Yes it is the same road as above, but we are at the other end. People are also playing by the CalTrans station there, but no CalTrans workers are there. We get on our snowshoes and start walking.

Steven, Korra and Gary going to the point

The first 100’ is choppy-from people walking on it with shoes, not snowshoes. But once we get beyond this, we sink into some pretty good snow. In many places I drop to knee level-wonder how far down I would go without snowshoes on. Good aerobic workout. I go for aways., taking frequent pauses to rest. I wonder how the explorers do this? They really needed to be strong.

Steven gets ahead of me-Sherri has sunk a bit and needs help getting up. Following Steven’s tracks is a lot easier than making them.

Korra is having great fun in the snow. She started out by plunging down into a ravine and running around down there. Looking up, I think she expected us to follow her. I told her, no way, she is on her own. The snow covers her belly, so it looks like she has no legs. But she bounds around. When she gets back to the road we are on, she follows Steven’s tracks, realizing, this is a lot easier than running around everywhere.

 

Edge of Sequoia Lake

We go only a little ways farther and notice a ridge which looks like it has a good overlook. Steven breaks more snow-thankfully. And when we do get to the end, we can see part of a partially frozen Sequoia Lake and then looking across to where the Converse Basin is and a little bit of what is beyond the Kings River. I do not think any of us are really interested in continuing on. By now it is 3:30. We take a few pictures-I cannot get the right angle for pictures of all of us. Still it is good.

 

Steven and Sherri-no snow to break

 

Coming back on the already tramped path is so much easier. Even though I still kept looking down where I was placing my snowshoes, it was faster. Reason to look down? We are passing over brush buried under snow so there is a tendency to sink. But once back on the road, it is fast going. I stop and take pictures and then easily catch up to Sherri and Steven.

A little after 4:00, we get back to the car. I notice that things are a bit wetter than our previous outings. Still pretty dry. And then it is time to head back. We make it back to Fresno by 5:30 and are ready to eat. Habit burgers it is. They are satisfying. Thus ends a good, but short day, of snowshoeing.

Extra Photo's

Sherri almost back to the car

Late afternoon sun casting shadows

Gary

Korra, the snow dog

Sequoia Lake

Sequoia Lake

Steven and Korra

Picture time with Steven, Korra and Gary

Gary, Korra and Steven with Sequoia Lake in the background

Steven breaking snow for us

Sherri

January 13, 2021 - Badger Pass Snowshoeing

 

Title: January 13, 2021 - Badger Pass Snowshoeing
Hike Info : Description :   Extra Photo's :  Flowers and Plants

Trail head: Badger Pass Ski Parking

Hike Info:

Type:  Snowshoeing

Trail: Old Glacier Point Road ¹

Destination: Ridge above Badger Pass

Distance:   2.1 miles ²

Travel Time:  2:46  (0.8 mph)

Elevation Rise:  484'
Descent:  484'

Maximum Elevation: 7,545'

 

 

 

GPS Tracks
 ¹Once I laid down the GPS track onto both Garmin’s Base Camp and Google’s Earth, I saw that we did not go up the Old Glacier Point Road. It is a bit more to the north. But the hill looks steeper to get to where we had lunch. I was wondering where the steep hill we had to climb up to get to the top of the ridge was.

   ²The GPS went a bit funky. It changed its internal readings to being fine, so many more points than could be kept was recorded and cannot be shown. Also the GPS did not record the elevation. Elevation came from Google Earth. The first part of the map is a drawed-in route.

 

 

 

 

 

Bruin Slope past First Aid hut

Description:

This trip started off for four people. But or two friends could not make it. So Sherri and I went up to Yosemite, Badger Pass particularly. The day is bright and shiny. I start it off the day by taking Korra for a walk around the park in Fresno-she will not be able to come with us because of it being a National Park.

We have breakfast and leave Fresno around 9:15. Sherri drives and we listen to a Paul Swearengin podcast on the way up. Once inside the park, we change drivers and I drive the rest of the way to Badger Pass. When we get onto the Glacier Point Road, I see a dirty grey cloud, rising from the forest, a long ways away to the northwest. I think it is a fire, but way out of range for us to report anything. Still wish I got a picture.

Looking down the slope we came up

There is a concern as we start up the Glacier Point Road-where is the snow? As we travel along, we start seeing more, but it is really patchy. It is only when we get close Badger Pass does the snow seem at least it is covering the ground. But my guess is about a foot to a foot and a half. Really sparse.

We get parked and get our gear together. By the time we start it is 20 minutes to twelve. Today we will go up the Old Glacier Point Road. But to the West, not East like we normally do. Since the ski lifts are not running this year due to COVID restrictions, we do not need to worry about skiers.

A couple goes up the slope a little ways . But we put them behind us. We follow a snowmobile track. It is not rutty like a lot of tracks are, pretty smooth and it has made the snow firm for us. We stop every once in a while to catch our breath. When I look at the resort map, I think this is the Bruin run. It says it is easy. For us, there is a lot of huffing and puffing. When we approach the top, it is just pretty steep. But we find our way up.

Mount Hoffman

When we turn around, a spectacular scene awaits us. The Clark Range with Mt Starr King is there front and center. Through the trees is Mt Hoffman and Mt Conness. Clouds Rest is just above Horizon Ridge.. Peak Finder says that Half Dome and Sentinel Dome can be seen, but I think the trees on the far ridge block our view. Such a good view. And then we found a dry patch under a tree in the sun for lunch. Score! After lunch, I lay down and enjoy a few minutes with my eyes closed.

 I could have laid there for a long while. The sun was warming my body-Sherri was concerned about burning, I was not even roasting. I got up and walked around while Sherri got ready to go. We decided that we have enough energy to continue on for a time across the top of the ridge. Besides, this delays our needing to go back down.

Gary on the ridge top

The ridge is a bit rolling-not a steep roll, just enough to let you know you are going up or down. We catch glimpses of the Clark Range. But mostly it is nice just going through the trees. Skiers have been along here, but not recently. We follow an even older snowshoe track.

We shortly come to the top of another ski life and the Badger run. The tracks go on and we still have energy, so we keep on going. More of the same. Just plain old enjoyable walking along the top of this ridge. There is another run which is below us, we only know about it because there is an equipment stash.

We finally come out about two-thirds of the way up the Red Fox run-the longest run of the area. It is turn around time. But rather than turn around, we check with each other if we are game to go down the run-Yes. About that time two cross country skiers came along. We wave and they wave and then go straight up the path of the ski life. We are in awe as they do not break stride or stop to breath going up this thing. A thing of beauty.

 

Ski lifts going to the top at Tempo Dome

And now we are on our way down. Nobody on the slopes, nor will there be this year, except for a few people who skin their way up to slide down. So we cut across the Red Fox run, following what turns out to be a service road. Pretty easy descending across the run to the trees across the way. At the Eagle run, we zig back across and down until we hit the flat area of the bowl.

You know those two guys we said looked so good going down? Well we met them when they finished their run. They are Tom and Art, who live in Yosemite West. Enjoyable talking with them. Tom does sort of a BnB. This sounds interestings. He says that his place can be found at YosemiteHouse.com. Also Art rents out his as well. We will have to figure out a reason to do this. We are thinking when there is snow up in Yosemite, it will save us a drive when the days are short.

 

Gary going back to the car

They return for another run down the slope. We go on to the road and get our gear off. Then it is to the car. That couple which we saw when we were going up the slope? They are lounging in the back of their vehicle. We have a few pleasant words.

We take off-it is about 3:15. By the time we hit Oakhurst, it is 4:30. So we stop at Carl’s place for a burger. Then it is back to Fresno. One more stop at Costco for gas and we get home at 5:56. Just in time to unpack and take ashower before meeting up with our family on Zoom. A good day.

 Top of Bruin Slope view from Peak Finder

 
Extra Photo's

Black and White of Sun, Trees, Snow and Sky

Sherri showing her form

Mount Hoffman with Mt Conness to the right

Tracks at top of the ridge

Clouds Rest

Looking back down to the east

Sherri, Woman of the Mountains

More Black and White of Sun, Trees, Snow and Sky

First Aid Hut and Bruin Slope

Main slopes of Badger Pass

 
Flowers and Plants

Moss on snow

January 1, 2021 - Woodward Winter Trail

 

Title: January 1, 2021 - Woodward Winter Trail
Hike Info : Description : Extra Photo's : Animals 

Trail head: Woodward Winter Trailhead

Hike Info:

Type: Snowshoeing
Trail: Woodward Winter Trail-Road 14S28?
Destination: None
Actual Destination:  Going up road 14S18B
Distance:  2.90 miles
Start Time: 12:17
End Time:     3:45

Travel Time:  3:27 (0.84 mph)
Moving Time: 2:31  (1.15 mph)
Elevation Rise:  417'
Descent: 263‘
Maximum Elevation: 7,294'
GPS Tracks

Description:

It is the first day of a new year. I will not make any predictions about it being a better year, or even a worse year. Just one which I will do my best to live in. But having said that, it is time for us to go up to the snow and play.

Start of trail 14S18

I get up around 7am. But we do not get ready to leave Fresno until at least 10:30. It is Steven, Sherri, Korra and myself who are going. Weather is clear and good. Not necessarily warm. We stop a couple of times to let Korra out for a walk-preventive measure for car sickness. When we got to the Big Stump entrance, there was a long line to enter the park. Being old, with a pass, is an advantage as they wave us through. Several places we pass by have large numbers of vehicles in their parking places: Big Stump and Quail Flat. Big Meadows has a “normal” amount of cars.

Steven and Korra

 

Korra, the Snow Dog

Fortunately we are going on to a trailhead called Woodward Winter Trailhead. It is only a mile or so further on the General’s Highway, past Montecito Lodge. Only one other vehicle is parked there. Two more pull up as we get ready to hit the snow.

 

Lunch Time Rest

 Looks like about a foot to foot and half of snow covering the road. This is road 14S18 on forest service identification. At the start, the snow is a bit choppy-but that is to be expected. After about 150’ there is only one real set of tracks. We meet a family from Bakersfield and talk with them for a few minutes. They will be the last people we see until we return.

After about 10 minutes, we come to a fork in the road. Either way is good. But we stick with the main road, with unbroken snow. This way is a snowmobile route, so I suspect if we see tracks or a trailer in the parking lot, it is not the way to go. The snow is not deep. Steven is on skis while Sherri and I are on snowshoes. Korra, well, Korra is on her feet, frolicing like a snow dog she is.

Sun, Sky, and Trees

We go along, just enjoying the day. This is a “journey” trip. It is made to enjoy doing what you are doing not in achieving some goal. Well, maybe the goal is just being there to enjoy the snow. The road goes down about 250’, not steeply, but enough that we know we will be going back up it.

At a bend in the road, there is a patch we can see across Woodward Creek and on to the Alta Peak area. Also there is a nice log without snow on it in the sun. Looking towards the southwest we can see Chimney Rock, I think. Lunch Time! We just enjoy the sun and the view. Korra does what Korra does, frolick!

We have gone about .8 of a mile. I think we can go about that far before turning around, probably to a junction on the map. When we return to the road, there is a junction within about 100’ of our spot? Is this it? The road is labeled 14S18B. That seems awfully close. But we take it-it goes uphill. So at least coming back we will be coming down.

So up we go-still no tracks, but isn’t that what we expected and wanted? We lose our vista but there is the enjoyment of travel on something untouched. We even get to see what looks like Christmas trees.

Korra  still being frisky after completing the walk

About ten minutes before we were going to turn around, Korra finds an interesting scent and runs off to track it down. I wonder if it is a rabbit track I have come across? She does not respond to any of us calling her back, so Sherri goes off to try to find her. When Korra was good and ready, she came back.

By this time, it is time to turn back. We retrace our steps. I cannot say there was much excitement. Just the usual awe of being out and enjoying the time. I will say that on that ¾ of a mile walk back up the hill to get to the car, I was happy to round a corner and see the forest service gate ahead. It has been awhile since I have been on snowshoes. Last year we did not get a chance to go up-between the lack of snow and COVID restrictions. So even though I lacked the umph, I enjoyed being out.

We got off around 4pm. There is another trailhead I wanted to check out another mile down. It is where some of the summer camps are. Looks like a possibility of when other places are not available or are crowded. Gotta keep finding these places. By the time we get back to Fresno, it is about 5:30. We have some of Sherri’s white chicken enchilada and then watched Jeopardy. By the time 10pm came along, I was closing my eyes. A good day.

Extra Photo's

Sherri at the start

Gary and Steven going up the road

Korra in the trees

Korra and Steven

Gary

 

Buck Brush in Winter

Christmas Like

 

Dead Bent Tree

Chimney Rock

 Animals