July 31, 2014 - Big Stump

Title: July 31, 2014 - Big Stump

Trail head: Big Stump Parking Lot

Hike Info:

Type:  Hiking

Trail: Big Stump Trail

Destination: Big Stump Meadow

Distance: 1.56   miles ¹

Start Time:  1:50

End Time:    2:29

Travel Time: 0:39 (2.41 mph)

Moving Time: 0:39 (2.41 mph)

Elevation Rise: 402'

Maximum Elevation: 6,281'

¹I did not start the GPS until about an eighth of a mile into the trip. Previous mileages was around   1 3/4 miles.

I am always mesmerized by this tree

Description:
Before heading to our church's family camp out at Aspen Hollow Group Campground near Hume Lake, Sherri and I stop at Big Stump for lunch-we had Subway sandwiches. Since we were looking for a short hike, this one seems to fit the bill. We have hiked this several times before both by ourselves, with kids and with others. It is a good hike for us, particularly when we lack time to do something more extensive.

One of the problems with doing something so often is you think you know the area. Consequently, I do not observe as much as I wish. On this trip we sort of pushed through the hike without really stopping to enjoy it, not saying that the walk isn't enjoyable, it is. But this is a place of history, where giant millennium old trees were chopped down. Usually something like this will cause me to consider what may we be doing today which is similar to what these folks were doing in the name of progress.

Big Stump Meadow

The trail leads us down into the Big Stump Meadow area. We then see the stumps and remains of trees. There is a side trail to a place which is called the feather bed. It is a trough they lined with boughs to cushion the fall of a tree-not that it did any good. Many trees still shattered. At the end of the meadow, our trail rises up to the road, close to the guard station.

We cross Highway 180 and continue around. We are no longer in the Big Stump area, but are able to see various rock formations, shrubs and trees-not too many Sequoias. A butterfly plays tag with us and then flies off. Sort of nice being close to the road and only being able to hear the traffic, but not see it. The trail is about 40-60' above the road until we come back to the Big Stump Parking Lot. There a culvert pipe takes us under highway 180 and up into the parking lot.

So off we go to complete our journey to Aspen Hollow. But as we go down 10 Mile Road we past Logger's Campground. There is a dirt road off to the side and we follow that. I had seen a trail on a map. But we never did find the trail, but found a few people target shooting.