August 30, 2014 - North Grove Loop and Dead Giant Loop

Title: August 30, 2014 - North Grove Loop and Dead Giant Loop

Trail head: General Grant Tree parking lot

Hike Info:

Type:  Hiking

Trail: North Grove Loop and Dead Giant Loop

Distance:  2.91 miles

Start Time:  4:55pm

End Time:   6:10pm

Travel Time: 1:14 (2.36 mph)

Moving Time: 1:11 (2.46 mph)

Elevation Rise:  622'

Maximum Elevation: 6,288'

Description:
We are getting a late start and I am getting a bit frustrated. But we do get up to Grant Grove and meet Fritz around 4:20. Fritz is a person who we met on the JMT last year and have kept in contact with. A very knowledgeable guy about the hiking trails in California. I suspect he has read, if not owns, all trail books ever written about our area.

Fritz and Gary

We decide to do a couple short trails. The first is a loop out of the General Grant Tree parking lot, called the North Grove Loop. We have hiked it several times and have even skied it as well.  It is a pleasant walk among the elder trees, the Sequoia's. We go counter-clockwise and start our descent. For such a simple trail, it seems like it descends so steeply. During the Spring it is reviving to me seeing all the green. But now the Fall is close by, the plant life is preparing to go dormant. Still the Sequoia's reign tall and allows me to ponder outside my narrow confines of thought.

Dead Giant

As we round the lower western edge of the loop, we enjoy the leveling of the trail. Here the trail shows signs that the road this once was is fading away. So it is of all things mankind makes. It is only dust in the wind. That is the works of man. But man is more than his works and so will work out his mortality with the Creator of all.

As we come to the end of is section, we start on the second trail-The Dead Giant. For this trail we hike about a quarter mile to the start of its loop. We take the loop clockwise. A pleasant walk and we soon get to the overlook of Sequoia Lake. Enjoyable view. Way off in the distance we think we see Delilah lookout, where Sherri and I have volunteered at. Then off we go to finish our hike. We pass the Dead Giant and return back to the North Grove Loop trail. A short time later we are back to the cars.

A log I have always liked

Once in the cars, we go down to Cedar Grove with Fritz. We get into the lodge-thanks Fritz! Then go down  and get a tri-tip dinner. Then it's time to discuss tomorrow's plans and hen off to bed.