October 25. 2024 - Giant Forest

 

Title: October 25. 2024 - Giant Forest
Hike Info : Description : Background : Extra Photo's : Flowers and Plants

Hike Info:

Type: Hiking 

Trail head: Giant Forest Museum parking area

Trail:  Moro Rock, Soldier, Bill Hill Trails

Destination: Lop

Distance:  4.27 miles 

Start Time: 11:48

End Time:    3:42

Travel Time:  3:54 (1.10 mph)

Moving Time:  2;49  (1.52 mph)

Elevation Rise:  1,122'

Descent: 828‘

Maximum Elevation: 6,800'

GPS Tracks

Description:

Happy Birthday to Me! I got up at 5:30. Then I lumbered around for a while, then had breakfast. Sherri gets up at 7:45. Yesterday we got a letter saying that Liberty Mutual is dropping our home insurance. Why? Some outbuilding have either algae, mold, or mildew. I go up to make sure I do not find any of that-I do not. Then phone up Liberty and ordered a copy of the image they are using to make this determination. Guess we will see how this all turns out.

We leave our home at 9:30. Because it is my birthday, Sherri decides to drive. So I settled back and enjoyed the ride. We briefly stop when we get into the Park. Then on to Giant Forest. We arrived about 11:40. As we were getting ready, a man from Kyrgyzstan asked to have his picture taken. First time I have met someone from there. Then a couple from Toronto parked beside us. They asked where would be a good place to go around here/ I recommended Crescent Meadows, then the General Sherman tree. Both are really awesome.

 

 

About noon, we are ready to start. That is after using the restroom. Sherri needs to go back and change out her glasses, so I sit on a log and wait. The route which we are going to do today, we have done a couple of times before. This is our Fall hike in the area. I think we are about a week, maybe two early.While there are Fall colors, there is still much green showing.

The first part of our walk is the Moro Rock Trail. This takes us through a forest of burnt trees. I speculate this was caused by the KNP Complex Fire, about three years ago. The burnt forest is there with a backdrop of smoke. I think this smoke is from the Happy Fire, north of Kings Canyon.

As we progress along the trail, we leave the burnt forest behind and go through a couple ravines. We now encounter some of the colors we were hoping for. Mostly the yellowing of ferns with a few touches of red of the dogwoods. Of course, there is the reddish-orange of the bark of my Sequoias. And I say “my” Sequoias. Who really owns them but Him who created them. I am only able to appreciate and love that Creator through enjoying these trees.

 

Soldier Trail

Along this route I think of another time along here. John and Cathy come to mind by a particular Sequoia. A spot along the trail where Rose and I lightly discussed some of the current topics of our time. It was good to be able to share a trail, a place, a time with others. It is even better being able to share this time with my wife.

We get to the road to Moro Rock and this ends our time on the Moro Rock trail. We walked along the Crescent Meadow Road for a third of a mile, at the Buttress Tree, I took a picture for some Japanese youth-are almost all people younger than me now? Then we reach a favorite trail in the Park, the Soldier Trail-take a look below for why it is called that. We seldom find people on it. And I will not advertise it too much.

A couple hundred feet onto Soldiers Trail, we find a nice rock to sit on and have lunch. Maybe we did not go far enough. Most of what we see is a sea of green, red and yellow. This is why we came this way. But looking a bit to the east I see the glint of a reflection from cars going around the Tunnel Log Tree. But we do not hear them, instead we are able to enjoy a lunch in comparative isolation.

After lunch we continue our climb up and over an unnamed ridge which Bear Hill is on. This takes us out of the area of Fall colors and into an area which had fire a while back. There is one burnt tree which I have been fascinated with called the Burnt Arrow.

When we reach the top of the ridge, we go downhill rather steeply. It is surprising to me how much down we are going as it does not seem like we have gone up all that much. Sherri and I have a discussion about the steepness. I think the Lewis Creek trail in parts is steep; Sherri thinks this is steeper. When I lay down the tracks after we get home, I find out the Soldier Trail has a steeper down hill. I learn something new.

Burnt Arrow

At the bottom of the ridge, we come across a couple of trail junctions. One will lead us back up the ridge, another down to the highway and Round Meadow. But we chose the way to Bear Hill.

This gets us onto an uphill stretch, which seems more uphill than the 120’ it is. It is still one foot in front of the other. We get to the junction of the trail going to the Museum. But we travel a hundred feet further and come to Bear Hill. How do we know? A sign says so. Also there is a RAWS here as well-looks like a large, menacing robot. In the robot’s presence, we rest for a few minutes and greedily gulp down Sherri’s peanut butter cookie.

I had seen that a second trail leads down to the Museum area. This one being 0.5 miles. We decided to take this trail rather than the normal one. Why? Not because it is shorter, but because I could not remember going down it before. That is always a good reason for me to go down a trail.

 

This one did not disappoint either. It is completely one way-down. There is one place where we get on an overlook to the southwest which has the haze on it. We started off in a strictly pine forest. But then it gives way for a final display of color before emptying us out on the Crescent Meadows Road, a little ways from the Museum.

Even this did not disappoint on the excitement front. The road is narrow and even normally two cars facing each other would have to wait. And now you have two hikers also on the side. But the cars sorted things out and we walked down to the Museum, then across the General’s highway to our waiting car. We got back about 3:40.

It takes about 20 minutes for us and then we are off. Sherri offers to drive, but I could tell, she was not really into it. So I drove back. The discussion we have is do we stop at Bear Mountain Pizza or eat at home leftover chicken marsala and garlic potatoes which Steven made yesterday for my birthday? What kind of fool would turn down the chicken marsala, so that is what we did when we got back at 5:50. This is my kind of birthday

.

Background

Giant Forest RAWS station at Bear Hill

Soldiers Trail. I recently found out why this was called the Soldier’s Trail. Just beyond that, you’ll pass the site of Soldiers Camp, from which this trail derives its name. On this site in 1911, the army set up a camp from which they patrolled the forest to protect the Sequoias. Since most visitors at the time camped near Round Meadow, the army was frequently passing between the camp and what is now the Giant Forest Museum. At first, the soldiers followed the road, but they soon cut their own trail, shaving nearly a mile off of the route. This trail is the one you’ve been following since leaving the Alta Trail. From Modern Hiker blog.

RAWS. RAWS stands for Remote Automatic Weather Stations. This particular station is known as Giant Forest and can be found through Mesowest.

Extra Photo's

Gary and a Sequoia

Dogwood

Red leaves of fall

Deer Ridge

Gary

Fall Leaves

Fall Leaves

Scene off of Soldier Trail

More fall foilage

Top of ridge on Soldier Trail

Sky watching

 
Flowers and Plants

Dogwood

Dogwood pods

Dogwood

Dogwood pods

Fungi

October 22, 2024 - Lewis Creek

 

Title: October 22, 2024 - Lewis Creek
Hike Info : Description :  Extra Photo's

Hike Info:

Type: Hiking

Trail head:  Cedar Valley

Trail: Lewis Creek

Destination:  As fast as we can go

Actual Destination: Lewis Creek/Midway between Lewis Creek and Red Rock Falls

Distance:  3.05 miles

Start Time: 1:20

End Time:  4:46

Travel Time: 3:25  (0.89 mph)

Moving Time:  2:18  (1.33 mph)

Elevation Rise:  723'

Descent: 795‘

Maximum Elevation: 3,957'

GPS Tracks

Description:

Sherri at beginning

Several days ago we were going to go to Yosemite, but were thwarted by a wind event. We decided to go hiking this week, but Friday was the only day we had available. But today, we have an afternoon free, so we decided to hike. Steven and Sherri decided the Lewis Creek would be good. It has the advantage of Korra can go with us.

Corlieu Falls

I got up first, about 6:15. I sort of puttered around for most of the morning, doing things which needed to be done but which I have been putting off. At 10:00, I have my appointment with Erica. She is with Kaiser and is working with me to reduce my weight and manage my diabetes better. Today it is to work on my carb intake.

Afterwards we have about an hour before we want to take off. We have our lunch and Sherri shampoos some of the carpet. By the time we are set to leave, it is a bit more than an hour, 12:15. I drive while we converse about what we want to do. The thought is we want to be back at the car before dark.Sherri suggests 5:00 would be a good time. We think we will get to the trailhead about 1:15, so that gets us 3 hours and 45 minutes to go about 7 miles. We decided that if we can make Corlieu Falls by 2:15, we would be on track to make Red Rock Falls and back by 5:00pm.

We made it to Cedar Valley. Our boots get dusty starting at 1:25. It is a bit warm, about 80 degrees. But the good news is that it does not get much warmer and actually cools down as we travel up the trail. The coolness makes the trail pretty pleasant. We have traveled this trail many a time. If you want to know about the trail, look for Lewis Creek on this blog.

Gary at rest

Steven and Korra have gone ahead of us-they definitely are faster. At 2:20 Sherri and I get to the bottom of Corlieu Falls. We look up at it for a few minutes, until we see Korra bounding down. We travel about 30 yards up to an overlook. We discuss what we want to do.Steven and Korra will go on ahead and maybe make Red Rock Falls. Sherri and I will turn around at 3:00. Steven takes off and we rest for a few minutes with a Clif Bar and Jelly Bellys.

Then it is time to climb up to the top of Corlieu Falls. The climb is steep, which is not bad. While the trail was redone a while back, there has been a couple of years of hard rains, which has deteriorated the trail.Some steps are over two feet high. In other places parts of the trail has been washed out. Also various shortcuts have caused even more deterioration.

But we managed to reach the top and walk to the place where the trail crosses Lewis Creek. There are signs which say that the Bridge is Out. We know this. But at the crossing, logs and sticks have been placed across the Creek providing a way. But we have reached our turn around time. We rest for about 15 minutes and start back

 

 

Bottom of Corlieu Falls

That means going down the deteriorated trail. To me, going down is worse than going up. But taking things one step at a time we get down. I take a look at the pool at the bottom of the Falls. About that time Korra comes bounding towards me. That means that Steven must be close by. A minute later, Steven comes in.

Lewis Creek

After giving Steven the car keys, we take off again. Steven and Korra go on ahead. Sherri and I walk contently along the trail. Not too exciting. But it is a lot cooler than when we came in. We arrive at the car about 4:45.

Once situated, Steven drove us down to El Cid. Sherri and I shared an Enchi-Burrito while Steven had a fajita. Both Sherri and Steven enjoyed a margarita. Afterwards we walk over to Reimers where we each have a scoop of ice cream. I drove back to Fresno. We get back right before Jeopardy.

Extra Photo's

Gary at bottom of Corlieu Falls

Pool at bottom of Corlieu Falls

Corlieu Falls

Gary at Rest

October 15, 2024 – Park Ridge Lookout

 

Title: October 15, 2024 – Park Ridge Lookout
Hike Info : Description 

Hike Info:

Type: Lookout

 

Description:

I got up at 0500. No lightning which seems to be the new normal I then ate breakfast and got myself ready. Shortly before 0700I left the house, this time with the Highlander. I guess I am a bit nervous about the Ranger-but that should go away. When I got on Highway 168, I noticed SQF’s E32 in front of me. I pretty much followed them all the way to Centerville when another vehicle, slower, got in between me and them. I lost contact around Hills Valley Road.

Looking south from Park Ridge at smoke from Happy Fire

 

Happy Fire Smoke

The trip up was uneventful. When I got to the entrance station, I was the only one. I stopped and talked with Jeff, the same person as last Wednesday. Then I used the bathroom at the Visitor Center. By the Wye instead of a sign saying there was a prescribed burn, it says that “flames may be visible”. I wonder where that fire is? Is it the Happy Fire? The VC is closed, so I continue on.

On the Park Ridge Service Road, the “dangerous tree” is still leaning over the road. Then when a pass by an open area, the Happy Fire appears across the Kings. I get to the lookout about 0850. I take my time getting my stuff up and opening up the lookout. I think I am feeling a bit lethargic.

After taking the weather at 0912 and doing a scan, I go in-service at 0930-the first of our group. At 1000, Portville gives the weather and staffing-twice, both times pretty filled with statics and unintelligible. Since Division 3 is on, I am assuming he is the Duty Officer today. Ash Mountain Fire gives their staffing and is readable.

Things were pretty quiet. Scans and listening to the radio. About 1220, a couple ladies from Visalia ate lunch on the table below. So I had my lunch as well. After they finished, they came up, asked a few questions and left. They did not seem to want any of my long, drawn out answers their questions.

 

 

H522 returning from Happy Fire

Evidently I got a good Yelp rating as about ten minutes later another couple from Tulare came up. They were really interested in the lookout and how it was staffed. After staying about an hour, left their name and phone number for next year’s rookie class. Then about twenty minutes later a couple from San Diego came by and spent about half an hour. I think I earned my tour guide pay today.

By this time it is approaching 1500. I look at my phone and noticed that Wendy has called. I call her back and we have a nice call. Talked a bit about the Happy Fire and a few bits of business. It is good to have a friend like her. After I get off the phone, time to do another scan. 

 

 

 I hear that H522 is taking off from Pinehurst to scope out the Happy Fire. The helicopter should come pretty close to Park Ridge. So out I go to see if I can see it. I do spot it, but before I can take a picture, I hear a voice asking, Have you seen my husband? Am I hearing this right? Yep. She has lost track of her husband and trying to figure out where he went to. I had not, but she gives me a description and asks about where the road goes to. I tell her and she goes on her way.

Can you see the smoke from the Mustang Fire?

The helicopter takes off from the Happy Fire. This time I see it and get a picture. It is getting to be close to 1600. So I start cleaning up. I am expecting to hear the afternoon weather and indices, but nothing comes from Porterville. 

 I have found if I have dinner before I leave a lookout, that I do better. So after doing a scan, I microwaved a cheeseburger which Steven BBQ’d last night for our House Church potluck. It was a bit better fresh, but still tasty. Before I can completely consume the burger, I hear of a fire, the Mustang Fire. Now where is this? The radio is a bit staticy, but I hear them calling our resources in our area. I find online where the fire is-Yokut/Squaw Valley on Mustang Lane. Looking in that direction, I can somewhat make out the smoke. I looks like it coming from behind a ridge. But I get the azimuth from this lookout, 272^o 10’ and call that in, not that it is needed. It is too hazy to get a good take on how far away it is. At lets it confirms there is a smoke and that I am awake. About 10 minutes later resources start calling in to Porterville saying they were called off . I do not have anything to add to this, so I keep silent. I also do a scan or two, swifter the floor and go out of service by 1655.

 

More Happy Fire pictures from the Park Ridge Service Road

By 1710, I am on the road back home. On the way out on the service road, I meet three hikers and make sure they are doing well. Then I try not to leave too much dust. The drive back is mostly uneventful, particularly compared to last weeks. The only thing was got behind a pickup truck, a new one at that, who decided that 40mph was the safest speed all the way down the mountain. He kept a whole line of people safe. I get home about 1850, in time to watch Jeopardy.