March 30, 2022 - Million Dollar Mile

 

Title: March 30, 2022 - Million Dollar Mile
Hike Info : Description :  Extra Photo's :  Flowers and Plants

Hike Info:

Type: Hiking

Trail head: Italian Bar Road

Trail: Million Dollar Mile

Destination: Stevenson Falls

Distance:  6.90 miles 1

Start Time: 10:40

End Time:    2:36

Travel Time:   3:45 (1.84 mph)

Moving Time: 3:15 (2.16 mph)

Elevation Rise:  988'  2

Descent: 837‘

Maximum Elevation: 2,337'

GPS Tracks

 ¹I was late turning on the GPS, so it missed maybe the first eight to a quarter mile of our route-basically the part going down to Jose Creek from where we parked.

²The elevation rise and descent is from what was plotted on my GPS. My Google Earth had 1,497’ and 1,397’. Previous hikes had 900-1200’.

Description:

I am keeping up my streak of going on a meetup hike-second week in a row. The rest of the group is going to the Center of California, but Betty and I will go directly to the trailhead on Italian Bar Road, The fortunate thing is we can leave later, well at least I can. Betty had a 45 minute drive to get to my place. Sherri is still recovering from her surgery so she is not going.

Jose Creek

On the way up, we pass by McKenzie Preserve. We see a group gathering for some activity and I wonder about seeing a blonde-a friend of mine is a docent there. Turns out my friend is not there, but Betty and I have a discussion about my first infatuation with a blonde-Mary Travers who once put her head on my shoulder (be still my beating heart).

After stopping in Prather at a public bathroom, we go on to the trailhead. I had thought we would be about 15 minutes early, but I miscalculated. It was 40 minutes before anybody showed up and about 15 minutes before our fearless leaders, John and Cathey, showed up.

The Million Dollar Mile Road is a private, paved road, owned by Southern California Edison (you can read about it in the link). It was created in the 1920’s as part of the Big Creek Project. SCE allows pedestrians and non-motorized vehicles on the road, but no private cars. When a bunch of us get to the gate, two SCE trucks have it opened, so we slip in, rather than do the more common, allowable, short scramble down and around the gate.

Redinger Lake

John and Cathey are starting a bit slow, so they tell us to go ahead and stop at the bridge. We stopped at the Jose Creek bridge, but they meant the bridge 3+ miles ahead at Stevenson Creek. Oh well, it gives me a chance to slip to the back of the pack and walk with my friends Cathey and John,

A couple of days ago, a good rain came through, clearing the air and washing away the accumulated dust from plants and rocks. This has brought out a bounty of flowers. The purple of lupine, the yellow of common madia, orange from the California golden poppies and whites from the miners lettuce, to name a few of the flowers, creating a collage of color. In the past after a rain, we have seen the walls of the canyon glistening with water and it falling down the steep sides of the gorge which the San Joaquin River has carved out. But I think the ground being so dry, there was no excess water to put on this show. So we are content with the flowers.

 

 

I forgot to mention the helicopter-I think there were two of them, but we only saw one at a time. I think SCE was doing some work in the area. This helicopter carried a long pole up the canyon. We kept on hearing them throughout the day, but only that once carrying a pole.

Even though we are going up the canyon, there is a place where the road has a long descent into Stevenson Creek. I have been apprehensive about this. Not to go down, but the obvious situation where I have to come back up it. For the past three years, my stamina has not been good-so the concern is real. Before that time, while the climb is wearing, it was more of an inconvenience. We will see how I will do. But John and Cathey decide this is a good turn around point. They tell me to continue on and let the others know they have turned back. I guess I have no choice now :-).

Initial view of Stevenson

Down the road Terry and I go. At last, rounding a ridge, we see the falls-having done this road several times, I knew it was coming. The falls look like they are a bit on the weak side of moderate. But they still rate in my mind worthy of what one website said: it is one of the ten best waterfalls in California.

We are the last to arrive. I talk with those around, we will be going back up in 10-15 minutes, after we have had a chance to eat lunch and get a few minutes of rest off of our feet. In the meantime, like anytime you hike with people, a discussion can take place. Such as, what is above Stevenson Falls? I know from previously looking at maps, we are only seeing about a quarter of the falls. But it looks like from down here there may be a pool or something above the part we can see. (Looking at Google Earth, it is only a rock slab up there). There is a road at the top, but the falls would be hard to access from the top.

 

 

Spot above the falls from Google Maps

 

To fill in a bit of time, the conversation turns to snakes. Not that we have seen any on this trip. But just various reports of snakes. Such as a boa constrictor squeezing a handler or a snake trying to swallow a child or a house with a den of rattlers under it. You know fun stuff like that.

 

 

 

Pretty dry San Joaquin River

Terry has been busily taping up her foot-maybe blisters. And now she is ready to go. The group have been dribbling out and there is a small group of us who are the last to leave. I still spend a few minutes getting pictures of the falls from the bridge. When I look up the road, everybody is pretty far up it. This does not look promising.Like I said, it is a long uphill journey. But my body surprises me. I am going up this slope at a pretty good pace and not being winded. Not sure why, but I will take it. Close to the top, I catch up to the tail end of the group and do not have to stop to catch my breath!

Last helicopter sighting

The rest of the way I am feeling much more confident now. I stop occasionally to take a picture. Then I am able to catch up pretty nicely. Maybe it is the weather-not hot, not cold, just right to walk. A beautiful day! I still have sweat on the band of my hat, but it is not dripping down my face. When we go past a little adit, nobody takes me up on the offer to see it. I think they want to get back to the cars. I still get to explain what an adit is and the relationship to penstocks are. I think I am in my element, just blabbering away.

When we come around the final turn to go down into Jose Creek, I spot a helicopter over the SCE yard below us. He just seems to hover there, almost motionless, except for its rotary blades. And then I spotted people making their way up out of Jose Creek. We are not that far behind them! Amazing. By the time they get to the gate, so do we.

And now for the drive home again. The rest of the group will stop in Prather for food. But Betty and I will continue on back to Fresno. Because we came down this way, John suggests (directs?) that we take the lead to get them out of here. It can be confusing, but having traveled it many times, I have confidence, we will not get lost. In Prather, we see them turn off for food. And another 45 minutes Betty and I are in front of my house, getting in around 4:00pm. I am glad for today. It turned out so much better than I was expecting.

Extra Photo's

Field of Poppies

Stevenson Falls

Snow to the east of us

Field of drying miner's lettuce

 
Flowers and Plants

California Golden Poppy

Indian Paint Brush

Baby Blue Eyes

Redbud

Common Madia

Lupine

March 23, 2022 - Kaweah Oaks

 

Title: March 23, 2022 - Kaweah Oaks

Hike Info : Description   Flowers and Plants

Hike Info:

Type: Hiking

Trail head: Kaweah Oaks Preserve Parking area

Trails: Wild Rose Trail, Cottonwood Fitness Trail (Partial), Sycamore Trail, Elderberry Trail 

Distance:  3.42 miles

Start Time: 9:41

End Time:   1:51

Travel Time:  3:15  (1.05 mph)

Moving Time: 1:51   (1.85 mph)

Elevation Rise: 214'

Descent: 215‘

Maximum Elevation: 398'

GPS Tracks

Description:

Two things which I have not done for quite awhile: First hiked with the Central Valley Hiking Group, and second, it was pre-pandemic the last time I was at Kaweah Oaks Preserve. I will be glad to hike again with the group.

Line of Hikers

The Sierra between two burnt trees

 

Blackened log

I arrived at Eddie’s Bakery right at 8:15-I meant to get here a few minutes earlier, but we are having tree trimmers and I got delayed a little bit. As soon as I arrived, we took off to go to the Preserve. It is just under an hour drive. I am going alone since COVID may still be present, even though all are vaccinated. I want to lessen the chances of catching it and spreading it to Sherri after her surgery.

We get to Kaweah Oaks Preserve around 9:30, filling up the parking lot. A few of us parked along the road shoulder outside the lot. Once we got all together and greeted each other, John called us to gather together. With the size of our group, John splits us into two groups: John heading up one group and his wife Cathey the other. John calls me over to join his group. So off we go.

Crossing a flow control area

While Cathey’s group goes off on the Buttonwillow trail, we head straight up the road, about a quarter mile. There are some bathrooms there which we stop at briefly. Then we head north to get to the Sycamore Trail. I am towards the back with John leading the charge. Robert and I talk for a while. He spends his summer in Yellowstone working. Sherri and I were there in September, but our paths did not cross.

Back to the trail. The trail loops around. About six years ago, a fire burnt through this area, so there are a collection of blackened trees. While that can be depressing, there is something about the starkness of these trunks against a blue sky or the background of the Sierra Nevada. Unfortunately, there is not much in the way of wildflowers. We at the back, having gotten lapped before we go through the cattle gate, denoting the end of the loop.

 

 

 

 

 

Johnson Slough

But this is where John calls me forward and has me go ahead find the shortcut over to the Cottonwood Fitness Trail. This is a bit of a “well duh” time as the shortcut is more of a lightly used road than a trail. This is a straight shot to the west, Somehow, I end up towards the back again. But this allows me to see a Great Blue Heron flapping across in front of us, about 20; off the ground.

When we get to another gate, John has me go ahead. We pass through more downed trees and see some elderberries away from the trail. We walk beside a creek. The good thing about these loops is each has its own characteristic. Wild Rose’s is how overgrown it is with vines and berry plants. The Sycamore Loop we have talked about already. The Elderberry Trail, which we are about to go on and there are elderberries on it, just coming out with little white blossoms. 

 

 

Vines on trees

And we come to another gate and head east. There is one more loop for us to do-the Wild Rose Loop, mentioned before. There is another loop right by the Wild Rose, the Grapevine, but it appears to be closed today. But back to the Wild Rose loop. We cross over a couple flow control dams and then onto the trail proper. At certain times of the day, earlier than we are walking it today, the area has made me think of how the earth must have looked a few days after it was created. This happens when the early morning sun filters through the hanging vines. But today, we are closing in on noon and there is the brightness and definition which comes with it. But there are also a few berry flowers which grace the floor around our feet.

 

 

Crossing a flow control

We make our way across the couple of locks, which we suppose should be directing the flowing water, but the dry gravel does not seem to be flowing, so there is no action to observe. We just gingerly walk across the tops of them and then back to where the bathrooms are.

Close to the bathrooms are a set of picnic tables. And since the time is closing in on noon, we break out the food and enjoy a bit of after hike companionship. Then as the air is heating up and people have things to do this afternoon, we breakup after having a good hike. Before I go, I talk with Ken from Three Rivers a bit. He used to be a docent here. I think he is a bit like me in that he accumulates tidbits of information. Not only am I interested in hearing a bit more about Kaweah Oaks, but if he has knowledge of the flume which is to the south of Ash Mountain. He has hiked it recently and says the flume is good, but the KNP Complex fire has done a number on anything wood. So there are places to scramble up and down now. The flume itself is filled with mud in spots. But the trail going along the flume is being rebuilt even now. That is good news.

Ken and I are the last to leave the parking area. It is 1pm and I have a 45 minute drive back to Fresno. When I get back around 2pm, our tree trimmers are just finishing up, so I get to talk a bit with Alan. And now to rest for the rest of the day.

 
Flowers and Plants

March 3, 2022 - South Shore Trail

 

Title: March 3, 2022 - South Shore Trail
Hike Info : Description :  Extra Photo's : Animals : Flowers and Plants

Hike Info:

Type: Hiking

Trail head: South Shore Parking area

Trail:  South Shore Trail (also called the Winchell Cove Trail and is part of the Blue Oak Trail)

Destination:  Winchell Cove

Distance: 3.40 miles

Start Time: 3:01

End Time:  5:15

Travel Time:  2:14 (1.52 mph)

Moving Time:  1:43  (1.98 mph)

Elevation Rise: 351'

Descent: 329‘

Maximum Elevation:617 '

GPS Tracks

 

Description:

Turkey Vulture

Sort of the same situation as yesterday. I was busy doing grocery shopping at Costco. Then did an OSHER class on the Glories of Spain-about the art of Spain in the 1600 and 1700’s. So we do not get off until after lunch, more particularly after 2pm.

But that is OK. We are only going a short distance up to Millerton State Park and doing the South Shore Trail. It gives us the first opportunity for us to use our State Parks Annual Pass. Only one more use to pay for it. We fill out the envelope and go to the end of the road. We do the usual getting ready.

 

 

 

Our path through the flowers

But before we shove off, a big bird-not the Sesame Street type-but the turkey vulture type. Off we went, we rounded the first point and came across our first fellow traveler-a bicyclist. He passes by after we step aside. A little ways further, Sherri sees a couple of geese in the sand by the lake’s shore.

But we do not need birds to cause us to stop. There are plenty of flowers to tempt us to gaze at them. Some I know, such as fiddlenecks and miner’s lettuce, a few orchid looking flowers and a blue Dick. But there are others I do not know, it is enough just to admire and enjoy.

 

 

 

 

Gary on trail

After a mile and a bit more gazing, Sherri thinks she may have seen an eagle in a tree. I am too slow with the camera to take a picture as it flies off. Also another bicyclest comes by, must have disturbed the bird even more.

Then the highlight of the trip, at least my highlight. Sherri goes a little ways ahead, so she does not see what happens right above her. A hawk landed on a branch a few feet above her. She walks on; I only stand and gawk and take a lot of pictures. After about five minutes and me gradually getting closer, the hawk decides he is tired of being a photogenic object of my lens.

 

 

 

 

Eagle looking down on Sherri

And now I catch up to Sherri. The last part of the trail has a few rocky places-not bad, but Sherri has a tendency to pick her way through these. We stop for a few minutes about a quarter mile before the trail’s end to look over the lake. And then we go to the end of the trail.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

There is a convenient outhouse at the end which we make use of before we head back down the trail. The wind has started blowing and we head towards the sun. So while we make good progress, it is against some slight resistance from the elements. A few walkers and cyclists pass us. We get back to the car around 5 and then head back home after a nice hike.

Extra Photo's

Sherri on path

Millerton Lake being low

Ducks

Oak Trees

Animals

 
Flowers and Plants