May 21, 2016 - North Boundary and North Grove Trails

Title:May 21, 2016 - North Boundary and North Grove Trails
Hike Info : Description : Background

Trail head: General Grant Parking Lot

Hike Info:

Type:  Hiking

Trail: North Boundary and North Grove Trails

Destination:Loop

Distance: 4.82 miles

Start Time:  9:17

End Time:  12:52

Travel Time: 3:35 (1.34 mph)

Moving Time: 2:17 (2.11 mph)

Elevation Rise: 973'

Maximum Elevation: 6,717'

Red on Google map is the are of the Rough Fire

Description:
If you had faith like a grain of mustard seed, you could say to this mulberry tree, ‘Be uprooted and planted in the sea,’ and it would obey you.  Luke 17:6

Our hikers on the North Boundary Trail

Last Summer, the Rough Fire tore through the Kings Canyon area. Since the fire went out, I have been wanting to lead a series of hikes around some of the fire area. So this is our first Destruction Hike to examine what the fire did. Today's will be around Grant Grove. There are ten of us, most of whom we who have had limited hiking experience with. Should be fun

We pick up our friends, Fernando and Nancy at 7:00 and meet the rest of the people at Eddie's Bakery. We leave at 7:40 and travel non-stop, at least my car does, up to the General Grant parking lot in Grant Grove.

By 9:15, we are ready to start our hike. I talk a few minutes about the fire, but these fine folks did not come to hear me talk, So off we go. Up beside a small creek for a little ways, then we cut over and pay a visit to the General Grant Tree, the third largest living thing. Some of our company has not seen this tree. I have commented in other blog entries that sometimes I got so used to the spectacular it becomes common, so it is good to see things through fresh eyes. Afterwards we stop briefly at the Gamlin Cabin.

There he goes again-pontificating

Now we take off along the North Boundary Trail, going counter-clockwise. I do a lot more talking about the forest, Sequoia seedlings, fire and cones. At one point I talk about the saying of Jesus and a mustard seed. In my mind I think more of Sequoia seeds and the tree that seed produces. But mostly I talk about how fire is needed for a healthy forest. To get Sequoia seeds germinated and onto the ground, fire needs to go through an area.

For the first part of this trail, we notice a few old burnt areas, but we would never know that the impact of Rough Fire was just a third of a mile away from us. We are still at awe with the wonders of the Sequoias with its red colored wood. We pass by the stables and then talk a bit about prescribed burns. This area had been burnt a few years back.

Gary and fellow hikers posing in front of burnt forest-photo by Kevin S

We hit the top of a ridge, and there we see a blacken forest. We stand and look. Even here, the trees are not all black-this is where a prescribed burn was done a couple of years ago. As we travel further, the burn areas are almost completely removed of vegetation. Almost, but not completely. It is a mystery to me why some small brush seems to have been bypassed, but a large tree was burnt to a crisp. Thoughts to ponder.

Results of Rough Fire-photo by Kevin S

We get to a place where we stop for a few minutes, probably less time than wanted, but it is cold, definitely in low 40's, maybe a bit colder. So I do not stop long. We are at the connector piece with the North Grove Trail.

From the top of this trail, the Rough Fire could be long ways off. Enough so, that our group enjoyed mugging before one of them. But shortly after  taking trail split-we are doing this loop counter-clockwise-we start seeing evidence of the fire, My two favorite trees are unscathed, but right below them the fire rampaged, leaving bare ground in place of vibrant green. We would go in and out of burnt areas until we hit the lowest part of the trail. Then it was a complete burn. I thought Sequoias would be almost invincible to fire, but we saw at least two of them giants completely burnt. So sad it is.

Remains of Rough Fire from McGee overlook-photo by Kevin S

Now it is time to go back up the trail till we hit the parking lot. A bit of the climb. I mentioned the McGee Overlook and our group was interested in seeing it. On our hike, we got a close up picture of the impact of the fire. But from this overlook and being able to see a couple miles of nothing but burnt acreage, it is sobering. Even more so that we are only seeing about a third of the fire. With this on our mind, we head down to Squaw Valley and the Bear Mountain Pizza for a bite to eat before returning back to Fresno.

Enjoying a Sequoia Gigantia

Background

• The Rough Fire started on July 31, 2016 from a lightening storm. Originally it was called the Garlic Fire because it was misplaced as being on garlic Ridge-the spotting was done in the twilight. It is the 13th largest fire in California's recorded history, burning 151,623 acres with 3,741 firefighters, 345 engines, 19 helicopters and 45 bulldozers used.
• Prescribed burns is used to remove fuels from an area. allowing for more vegetation to grow.
• Wikipedia
• Smokey the Bear
• NPS policy concerning fire. 
• Fire is needed for Sequoia seeds to be able to grow.
• McGee Fire was in 1955. The picture above is the extent of this fire.