February 27, 2016 - Pincushion Peak

Title: February 27, 2016 - Pincushion Peak

Trail head: Cow Chute on Finegold Road

Hike Info:

Type:  Hiking

Trail: Pincushion Alternate

Destination:Pincushion

Distance: 2.38 miles

Start Time:  9:51

End Time:  12:42

Travel Time: 2:50 (0.84 mph)

Moving Time: 1:30 (1.59  mph)

Elevation Rise: 913'

Maximum Elevation: 1,538'

Description:
We have been up Pincushion before-a 1,500' mound surrounded on three sides by Millerton Lake. But it has been by the trail from the State Park side, not from the FineGold Road side. So this should be a fun adventure for us.

Also, this is the inaugural hike for the Moving Mountain Hiking Group on Facebook, put together by Shawn for some friends of hers who wanted to hike with her. We meet at 9:00am, a totally ridicules time to start a hike. Aren't all hikes to start at 6am, 8 at the latest? But it is just a short drive from the Four Corners area in Madera to Table Mountain Casino and then down Sky Harbor/FineGold Road.

East to Table Mtn

There we find some old hiking friends: Lee and Donna, and Lori and Wayne by the trail-head at the cow chute.  After grouping up , we take off.  Immediately the trail starts it's ascent, and not your gentle rolling hills, but a let's tackle this Hill straight on trail. Turns out this is about an 800' climb per mile,  or a 15% grade.

But there are several things making this an enjoyable walk. The rains we got in January are making the hills be covered with shimmering emeralds, or at least the color there of.  On top of that a pattern of whites, purples, orange and rose sprinkle through this covering. The one thing marring. The scene is a layer of gray which only more rain will wash out of the sky.

Gary and one of the new hiking friends

Most of the people I am hiking with today are new to me. But as one person noted,  these are friends  of Shawn, so they must be nice. This is a true statement, at least with these  friends.  I enjoy walking with several of therm. It also gives me a chance to catch up with Lori and gain some new knowledge, such as what EMDR therapy is-will at least an overview.

By this time, we have reached Pincushion's top. We spend some time up here, gawking at its 360 degree view.  If only a it was a clear day. Even the coastal range would be in view. So we are content with seeing only the shadowy form of  the snowy Sierras to the East. Even Delilah is fuzzy.

Peaks seen from Pincushion Mountain from the PeakFinder application

Pincushion Mountain

Millerton Lake and Beyond

But now, all good things come to an end and we do need to start getting down the mountain. But instead of retracing our route, we come down northeast instead of southwest. This is the trail going to the State Park. it is a bit more  interesting going down than what we came up. Even though they both are not your straight forward walk in the park hiking. But we get down, then loop back on an old dirt road which circumscribes the Pincushion. This gives new sights and a bit more walking

San Joaquin River Trail cutting through a poppy field

Like usually, I am the last off the mountain. But it was a good hike. Then it was off to the Pizza Factory in Friant for a Dam Pizza. We get home someplace around 3:45pm, slightly tired, but doing good.

Popy and Lupine fields

Fields of Color

Popcorn Flowers

Maybe Fiddlenecks?

To the North