August 13, 2014 - Giant Sequoia National Monument

Title: August 13, 2014 - Camp Nelson

 Trail head: East of Belknap Campground

Hike Info:

Type:  Hiking

Trail: Nelson Trail

Destination: A creek about 3.5 miles

Actual Destination: About 1.5 miles

Distance: 3.08 miles

Start Time:  8:58

End Time:   11:03

Travel Time: 2:05 (1.48 mph)

Moving Time: 1:41 (1.83 mph)

Elevation Rise: 710'

Maximum Elevation: 5,526'

Description:
There is a good reason why John has us meeting at 6:00am. We take about three hours to travel to Camp Nelson. Then another 20 minutes travel, through Belknap Campground just to get to the trail head. Groups of cabins line the road, with the trail head located at the end. There is actually three hikes today: Camp Nelson, Dome Rock and the Trail of 100 Giants.

South Fork of the Middle Fork of the Tule River

A bit of the creek

Walk on the Wild Side

We start out by wandering along the South a Fork of the Middle Fork of the Tule River-such a long name for such a little creek. But the walking is pleasant, both the surroundings and the people. We quickly come to our first redwoods, the McIntyre Grove I think. Always a wondering walking through the aged trees-even though these are a younger brood, maybe less than a millennium old is my guess. 

We come to a fork in the trail and there is a guy collecting lichen for a friend to create natural dye with. Evidently you can dye things-green, as well as make some sort of medicine with it-not sure that I want to consume it. He was a pleasant enough fellow to chat with.

Walk Through Tree

We continue our walk, but now we go up a nice little hill and through a Sequoia. Sort of like one of those drive through trees, but we walk through them then on up, but not really far. With the three hour drive, it has cut into our hiking time, so we turn around and head back. But there is enjoyment in coming back through this area.

Tule River

Nelson Trail is definitely on my list of places to come back to. From what we see on the map, the trail goes on till Quaking Aspen, maybe about five to eight more miles. But now we load back into our cars and head on to Dome Rock.

What a Tree!

One of the Sequoia's

Title: August 13, 2014 - Dome Rock

Trail head: Dome Rock parking area

Hike Info:

Type:  Hiking

Trail: Dome Rock

Destination: Dome Rock

Distance:  0.42 miles

Start Time:  11:57

End Time:    12:39

Travel Time: 0:42 (0.60 mph)

Moving Time: 0:18 (1.39  mph)

Elevation Rise: 103'

Maximum Elevation: 7,226'

Description:
The Dome Rock hike is pretty short, only about a quarter mile or so. You go about two miles off on a dirt road until you hit a wide space. Then climb up a closed off dirt road up to the dome. Pretty tame hiking, but that is OK. From here you get a 360 view, looking at the Kern River, down south to various smog layered areas. Then around west to the forested mountains. But the prize, at least in my view and since I am writing this, that is what matters, is to the north. You see the mountains of Mineral King, such as Sawmill Peak. But the prize is The Needles. They are a grouping of rocks sticking straight up, while rounded, they do remind you of rounded needles. There was a lookout up there which got burnt a few years ago, but is now being rebuilt. Then the eyes return back to the upper part of the Kern.

In researching out the area, found out that the road we walked up used to be for accessing the heliport on top of Dome Rock. It is now about two miles away at the Peppermint Work Center.

Toward Mineral King

We have lunch here and then come back to the cars.

The Needles

Title: August 13, 2014 - Trail of A 100 Giants

Trail head:  Trail of 100 Giants parking area

Hike Info:

Type:  Hiking

Trail: Trail of 100 Giants

Destination: Loop

Distance: 1.61 miles

Start Time:  1:12

End Time:    2:33

Travel Time:  1:31 (1.19 mph)

Moving Time: 0:51 (1.89 mph)

Elevation Rise: 170'

Maximum Elevation: 6,272'

Description:
This is probably the most popular trail in Giant Sequoia National Monument. There is even a docent at the parking lot. The trail is handicap accessible and paved. Well most of it, we will get into that a little later. We lost one car-turns out they went back to the Ponderosa Lodge-lesson in communication.

The Nostril Tree

The rest of us start the trail. There are only gradual inclines-but there are long, long switchbacks to allow a wheel chair to climb up the slope. We pass by what I dub as the Nostril Tree, for obvious reasons. Then a tree which Lee F and Richard sandwich themselves into. Reminds me of the tree which Tom Bombadil in The Lord of the Rings rescued the hobbits from.

Then it is a continuation of the gentle climb amongst the Sequoias. This is a self-guided trail so we stop and get enlightened as we walk. We soon get to a massive root base of a fallen Sequoia. As it turns out, there is two Sequoias and a smaller tree which fell, right over the trail. Some kids are climbing the root system-by kids, I mean college age boys. This is where the handicap trail has been damaged and would be hard to get a wheelchair around it-management is working on determining a new route for the trail.

We spend some time, with Lee F climbing the tree-about 11' off the ground. Leslie and I go around the tree and scamper among the branches back to the root base. There is a little alcove where the trees had been burnt out. This makes a cave all the way back through the roots. Also the remains of a smashed railing can be seen.

Inside the fallen Sequoia's

Leslie and I are now behind, but the people in the lost car have caught up with us. We walk with them and complete the loops around the grove. Enjoyable and easy walk. But I will admit, this is not an exciting walk, but it us always good to be that close to the Sequoias.

We return via California Hot Springs. Then stop at Bravo Farms around Visalia for dinner. I had a chili verde burrito. Tastes good and nice and filling. I get back home around 7:30. A good day, but long on the traveling.

Trail Lesson:

Look for unexpected treasures in my walks.