March 29, 2017 - Wolverton

Title: March 29, 2017 - Wolverton
Hike Info : Description : Trail Lessons : Background : Extra Photo's : Animals 

Trail head: Wolverton Parking Lot

Hike Info:

Type:  Snowshoeing

Trail: Wandering / Lakes Trail

Destination:Wandering

Distance:  2.82 miles

Start Time:10:28

End Time:  2:16

Travel Time:  3:48 (0.74 mph)

Moving Time: 2:10  (1.30 mph)

Elevation Rise:  589'

Maximum Elevation: 7,721'

GPS Tracks

Description:

This was to be a trip with two of our friends: Betty and Rose. But Rose did not feel well enough to go so it was Betty only. We picked up Betty in Famersville and proceed on to Giant Forest. We thought that it would be a good idea to snowshoe into Crescent Meadow along its road. But there is a requirement for snowshoeing: snow. The road had been plowed. So we travel on to Wolverton, which is 600' higher. Snow.

Start of Trek

By the time we get unloaded, prepared and made our trips to the bathroom, it is 10:30. There are a couple of meadows in Wolverton which I had thought of walking around, enjoying the relatively flat trek, with an occasional foray into the slopes above.

Small Creek, Sizable Walls

But that was not to be. With the snow melt, Long Meadow was a swamp of snow and water-definitely not going to be enjoyable. So we followed up the other side of the meadow which parallels the parking lot. There two a little creek with five foot snow sides cut off our path to go over to the slopes. So I am content to follow up the creek and see how far we go. One thing which hampered us, particularly me, is that one of my baskets broke off of the pole. It was more of annoyance because occasionally the pole would sink way down into the snow.

That is one of the nice things about snowshoeing. For those who are relatively inexperienced, like myself, you can just wander and not be too concerned about the difficulty, except for steepness of the slopes.

Gary and Betty

The snow is old, so as Betty notices, we are crunching through it. Still that is the only noise we hear.  The silence of a snow landscape is so subdued, so different than our noisy city life.

As we follow the creek up, we start rising up. I realize that we might not be able to continue our course along the creek. So I look at the ridgeline above us and think, let’s see if we can go up there and find something interesting, or at least the Lakes trail.

Our route lead us up the side of a ridge, a bit of a zig-zag course, but well within the abilities of all. From my perspective, it was fun and a bit of a learning time-like how steep of a slope can I go up without sliding down vs digging in my toe. I figure I still have some things to learn.

Whose Paw Print?

Betty and Gary

As we get close to the top, three skiers whiz by up about 40 yards away. We must be getting close to the Lakes Trail. Sure enough, there is a yellow triangle in the distance where the skiers disappeared. We decide when we get to the top of the ridge, we will try to find a good view and stop for lunch. I notice some tracks, some big old tracks. Well maybe not old-less than three days old. I think we have some bear tracks we follow. In a few minutes, we find a nice look at Mt Sillman and a flat place to lay my space blanket down. Score!

Mt Sillman

 

As we munch on our lunch, two snowborders came by. They happen to be the backcountry rangers for Pear Lake. They check on us and continue on down. They are certainly graceful. I guess that is what practice, youth and coordination gives you. 

Sky Candy

Big Feet and Good View

Betty and Sherri ready to leave

Betty Descending

 We continue following the tracks for a few more minutes until they disappear, but we continue on. Nothing too exciting. The trail branches to the right and we decide it is time to turn back. But instead of following the trail which goes below the ridge, we follow the ridge in the hopes of getting some better views. But there are many trees blocking the views, so we catch glimpses of the area across the Topakah Valley. 

End of Trail

Eventually the Lakes Trail meets the ridge and we follow the trail down. It is much easier going down. By now the afternoon soon is starting to make the snow a bit slushy and consequently slippery. It is fun doing a mini-slide down slopes, even though it is pretty easy to fall. We reach the car without further incident around 2:15.

The next question is where to eat? We decide River View Bar and Lounge in Three Rivers will be a good place. Food was good by the fast moving Kaweah River. A good place to relax after our walk today. We drop off Betty at her car and proceed back to Fresno. Our arrival was about 6pm. Showers always feel good.

Trail Lesson:

Anytime I am in the snow I think of that verse which says Though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow (Is 1:18). Fresh snow is so white, so clean. But as it ages, debris and dirt get mixed in and it no longer looks that blinding white. Is that not like me? While grace never diminishes, I need to be re-covered with His grace to look clean.

Background
The Wolverton area used to be a ski recreation area.



Extra Photo's

Sherri and Betty

Sherri and Betty descending

Animals

Bear Track

March 23, 2017 – North Grove Loop Trail

Title:  March 23, 2017 – North Grove Loop Trail
Hike Info : Description :  Background :  Extra Photo's 

Trail head:General Grant Tree Parking Lot

Hike Info:

Type:  Snowshoeing

Trail: North Grove Loop

Destination:Loop

Distance:  2.08 miles ¹

Start Time: 12:47

End Time:    2:47

Travel Time:  1.59 (1.05 mph)

Moving Time:  1:37 (1.29 mph)

Elevation Rise:  469'

Maximum Elevation: 6,272'

GPS Tracks
 ¹First time with GPS since November.

Description:

The Trail

Sherri and I  have somebody to care for my Mom today, so we decided to go up to the mountains for a bit of snowshoeing.  We decided that it would be a couple of hours on the shoes would be good, both for our bodies and spirits. So about 10am, we start up and go to the General Grant tree.   

Sherri among the redwoods

By the time we get our snowshoes out of the car and onto our feet it is a after 12:30. We start in the parking lot to the west of the General Grant tree. When we were here a couple of weeks ago, there was 6-12” of snow. Now, maybe 3”.  At the end of the parking lot is a gate which was surrounded by bare ground. This is going to be the story of our trip: think snow and bare ground.

Since the North Grove Loop is something we have done a multitude of times, there is not much new to describe. About a third of the way along the loop, I mention to Sherri that it would have been easier to walk without the snowshoes-there is just that little snow at this elevation. But probably that there is any snow is a good thing.

Gary and Sherri

But when you walk in these woods, snow or dirt is not the main attractions to this trail. Walking the Sequoias fills you with awe. Here they grow right beside the road we travel, some surrounded by snow, others with wet dirt. These trees are the monarchs of the forest. They teach us how to be regal without being pompous or overbearing.

West end of loop

There is a layer of clouds overhead, damping the light. This gives the forest a feeling of heaviness, but not gloom. I cannot say that at the west end of the loop where the Rough Fire burnt that it is delightful, there seems to be a sense of cleanness, of having burnt out the brush to start afresh. Please do not take it that I am saying I am glad for the Rough Fire, but this is just the aftermath of it.

Lunch Spot

Just after we head start back up towards the parking lot from the west side of the loop, we stop for lunch. There is a nice creek of melted snow flowing by. It is the type of serenity which you wish you were talented enough to capture with a camera. But you have to rely on your fallible memory.  After that, we start our climb. While I have never liked this climb, I have liked the twin Sequoias which guard a small meadow-now covered by snow.  I always feel like I am going through double gates there. The first gate is the Sequoias. The second is a gap the road goes through and then drops down to the trail we came in on.

Below I had seen the tracks of a herd of deer. After passing through this gap, I spot them crossing our road. They bound down the hill. Two are left behind to guard the retreat of the others. Those two do not seem to be too concerned as they stand a distance away, munching some leaves.

We make it back to the car at almost three. Now, it is time to take off. We do not feel like pizza, but we feel like eating out. So we stop at the outskirts of Fresno at DiCicco’s on Kings Canyon. Filling and full. By the time we get back home it is 6.

Background

Rough Fire.  The Rough Fire started in late July 2015 on the north side of the Kings River. It exploded into the monster fire of the season, consuming over 150,00 acres. The fire touched parts of Grant Grove, but did not come into the grove proper. This was mostly because of prescribed burns over the previous five years.

• Wikipedia
• InciWeb

Extra Photo's

Rough Fire Effect

Sherri among the Sequoias

Another Sequoia

Young Sequoia

Sherri passing by a burnt tree

March 18, 2017 – Stevenson Creek Falls and Million Dollar Mile

Title: March 18, 2017 – Stevenson Creek Falls and Million Dollar Mile

 
Hike Info : Description : Background : Extra Photo's : Flowers and Plants

Trail head:  Italian Bar Road

Hike Info:

Type: Hiking

Trail: Million Dollar Mile

Destination:Stevenson Creek Falls

Distance:  12 miles ¹

Start Time: 9:00am

End Time: 2:00pm

Travel Time:  5:00 (2.4 mph)

Moving Time:  4:15  (2.83 mph)

Elevation Rise:  1,220'

Maximum Elevation: 2,365'

 ¹Another hike without my GPS. So the times, distances and elevations are best guesses based upon experience and my Fitbit. (Yipee-found my GPS, but after this walk.)

Description:

This was the final training hike in a series of five to get ready for the Classic California Half Marathon. The idea behind this one was to walk five hours to the end of the road, to Powerhouse #8 and back. We were to walk about 13-14 miles. But we had a slight problem: we could not go beyond Stevenson Creek Falls. Why you might ask? The Falls were thundering, covering the bridge, making it impassible. So we decided on a different tactic.

We would give our meetup group two options:

• Option A: To hike 7 miles round trip from the trailhead to Stevenson Creek Falls and back. Six of our group took this option. This would take 2 ½ to 3 hours.
• Option B: To hike the full five hours. We would hike to the Falls, then back. Any remaining time we would hike half of the time back towards the falls, giving us the rest of the time to walk back. Four of us took this option.

 So we met at Eddie's Bakery at 7:00am and get off about 7:20-there was repeated visits to the bakery for coffee and pastries. A stop in Prather-the last bathroom before or along the trail. Then take off along some backroads-Audberry Road, Jose Basin, and Italian Bar Road-where our trail starts. The trail is a road which Southern California Edison cut into the mountainside 90 years ago-it is still in use.

Jose Creek

Mill Creek

Bruce is waiting for us at the trailhead. We take our picture, observing the sign that says the road beyond Stevenson Creek is closed. Of course we already knew that. So we started out along the road. Denise and Ken leap ahead-not that this is a race. The rest of us start clumping together walking and talking.

Shortly along the way, we cross JoseCreek-on a bridge built for trucks. Most of the time before we crossed it, there was water, but way down. Today, there are falls above it running full, along with the creek beneath us. After lingering there for a few minutes, we take off up the road.

Inside the adit

Adit Opening

For the next mile we trade off people to talk to. Sherri bounds ahead of me when I ask hiking partners do they know what an “adit” is. None did, so I moved a whole wad of them over to a tunnel and showed them an adit. There was appropriate wondering over the adit-both the size and the purpose. One additional wow factor was the little water dropping 30' in front of the adit.

San Joaquin River

But now we are off again. We start to see the gorge which Stevenson Creek dumps into the San Joaquin. The only thing we are able to see is a bit of white foam where the two combine. But the gorge itself is so deep and the river is at the nadir of the steep V of the gorge. We can look all the way up to mountains which are 8,000' high.

Stevenson Creek Falls

There is a place on this walk where we hit a high point, about 2,300' up which we start a long descent into the place where Stevenson Creek. But you cannot see the creak for most of the way. But there is a point where the road does a right turn and there is the falls. Today, we make the turn and there is THE FALLS!!! It is roaring, kicking water high, creating all kinds of mist and pounding the bridge. There is no way to cross it today.

Note: This video is courtesy of Bill Redando

Roadside view

Mist from top

  Then we come along a group of our people. Some wet, some dry. The wet ones went a bit closer and got sprayed on-no one ventured, or should venture, into the actual fall itself. I went further down the road and made a mistake here. Instead of being content with the pictures I had taken, I thought it would be cool to get a different perspective on the falls. All I got was a lot of water on the lens. Fortunately the camera still worked. In a mater of 10 seconds, I was dripping wet from the spray from the falls. Once wet, why go back soon, except the water was cold, like having come off the snow recently. Still enjoyable being experiencing the close roar of the falls.

Art and Gary

Sherri on the road

Water down a rock

Then it is back up the road. Sherri and I now start walking together instead of with others. While we keep a steady pace, we are definitely the last ones. The uphills do take a toll which going down only partially relieve. We stop occasionally to take pictures of plants, redbud and water dripping from rocks. Anything to stop. No place to get lost so cannot stop to do a bit of map consulting.

Lunch Spot

A little before noon, we make it back to the car. Only two-plus hours more of walking. Art and Ken are out taking pictures along the Million Dollar Road. It will be interesting to see the results of their efforts. We find a little spot of grass and flowers for lunch. The normal Peanut Butter and Nutella-the best. Then it is off again to finish up our walk-an hour more in and another hour out. How will we do this for real in two weeks?

Ken and Gary

We return up the road and do another two or so miles up the road. We stop less for pictures, but I feel like our pace is slowing down. So as we approaching the high spot on the road, we see the outflow of Stevenson Creek into the San Joaquin, but not the falls. Since it is 1:00pm, it is time to turn around-we have almost reached the high point for the second time. The good part is that it is now almost all downhill, well most of it. I did notice that our pace seems to have picked up. But not enough to keep Ken behind us. The final third of a mile, he catches up to us and I walk with him back to the car. He is the only one who has done a full two trips to the waterfall. Art, the other one who did an additional time is back at the car waiting for us.

Tired, not looking forward to the drive back. But looking forward to our meal at Velasco's. I have a light meal of a chicken burrito-content. Then it is back to Eddie's to drop off Art and Ken. We get back home around 4:30 to take a shower and enjoy family time.

Background

An adit is an opening cut into the side of a hill or mountain to drain or access something. In the Big Creek project's case, it was to gain access to the tunnel leading through the mountain.

The Big Creek project is a Southern California Edison project dating back to the 1910's. It actually was originally the project of the Pacific Light and Power Company before being taken over by SCE. Its purpose was to harness the San Joaquin River for the use of hydro-power. Since then, the San Joaquin River has gotten the reputation of being the hardest working water in the world.  Some links:

• History and description of the project from SCE (pdf)
•  Sierra Nevada Geotourism information
• Wikipedia pages
• California Water Board map of the Big Creek Project  (pdf)

Extra Photo's

 
Flowers and Plants