Gary-Summer: October 7, 2017 - Big Basin Trails

Saturday, October 7, 2017

October 7, 2017 - Big Basin Trails

Title: October 7, 2017 - Big Basin Trails
Hike Info : Description : Trail Lessons : Background : Extra Photo's : Animals : Flowers and Plants

Trail head: Parking area around the park headquarters

Hike Info:

Type: Hiking

Trail:Sequoia Trail, Shadowbrook Trail, East Ridge Trail

Destination:Loop

Distance: 7.78 miles

Start Time:1:27

End Time: 6:15

Travel Time: 4:48 (1.62 mph)

Moving Time: 4:24 (1.77 mph)

Elevation Rise: 1,054'

Maximum Elevation: 1,412'

GPS Tracks

Description:

Fern and Trail

After taking care of my Mom and having David return from Hawaii, Sherri and I decided to take a day and do some hiking. Some thoughts were to go to San Francisco and walk around or San Jose-there are app’s to help you with walking tours of these cities. But then we decided that going to Big Basin really warmed the cockles of our hearts.

We left around 11:45-a late start which we will run into some limitations on our walk. Instead of going the quicker route, I decide we will go up Steven’s Creek to Skyline and drop into Big Basin. Much more scenic and interesting. We continued on up Mt Eden Road, hitting Pierce Road. This led us to Skyline Blvd which we traveled for a few miles. Hoards of bicyclists were out today. Then following Highway 9 down to Waterman Gap. There we turn off onto Highway 236 which drops us into Big Basin.

Gary walking the trail

It is Saturday and Big Basin is crowded, but we find a parking place, way down the road which parallels Opal Creek. We did talk with the visitor center about 1) Getting a senior pass-need to send it in or you can get it at selective parks, but not Big Basin. 2) The Skyline to the Sea trail. The Skyline-to-the-Sea trail is more of a December possibility. So on to find a parking place. We go up the road a ways, along Opal Creek before finding an empty spot.

We start our walk up the paved road having decided to try to at least do the Sequoia Trail. After about ¾ of a mile, we get to the branch off of the road-this is after the road has turned into a dirt service road, behind a gate. So far, it has been a pretty gradual climb. But now we start a climb up. Not used to taking these ascents, no matter how minor. Part of getting back into shape.

Gary the the Chipmunk

As part of the walk, we come across a growth which I call the Chipmunk burl. From a certain perspective, it does look like the eyes and snout of one. At least it gives a place to stop. The redwoods here are so much different than ours in the Sierra’s. Leaner and taller. Still I can see why they were mistaken at one time for their big brothers. These trees have the same elegance as our Sequoia’s, only thing it reminds one of a younger forest.

There must have been a fire as we do find some blacken trees. But it does not look like a prescribed burn. I will need to research this.

Fire burnt tree having swallowed Gary

Top of Slippery Rock

When we get to the top of the ridge, we cross highway 236. And then we see Slippery Rock. A couple of years ago, we were at its base on a rainy day. Being able to take a hint: slippery rock, we had decided not to continue on up this way. But today all is dry and we go down it. I see a bit of rock graffiti-boo, hisss. But the sentiments I share: I Wish My Daughter Could Be Here. At the bottom of Slippery Rock is the founder’s plaque. We stop and have lunch here before carrying on.

Sherri coming down Slippery Rock

Founders Plaque

The Job Tree

Time to switch trails to the Shadowbrook Trail. It goes up and over Sky Meadow. On the way up, we see a knotty dead stump which I label the Job Tree. You know the story where Job was covered with boils. Sort of looks like that. Sky Meadow is a group campground. The trail skirts by it on a service road. But the combination of light and green gives it a very Arcadian feel. But now we drop down to Union Creek and follow that for a ways. Few people are with us. Sort of amazing in a park as busy as this one. We also see some redwood groves.

Trail close to Sky Meadow

By now, I am feeling the lack of hiking. Sherri says that my step still has spring to it. But the legs are starting to feel like they have already sprung. Glad this is downhill, following the creek. We pass by Huckleberry Camp where we hear the noise of campers. Progress. But we still have a ways to go.

A bit later, we get to the Sempervirens Campground and I start looking for a place to turn along Highway 236. We see a ranger making sure that the campgrounds are properly filled. But we continue on down the Shadowbrook Trail looking for our cutoff trail. Finally we come to the East Ridge Trail-not the trail we are looking for. After doing some head scratching, we decide that this is the best route-either that or go back the way we came from. So onward we go. We cross Blooms Creek and then take a break, eating the last of the Cliff bars.

Our nice little trail climbs the side of a ridge until we hit a service road, which is also part of the trail. Traveling a little ways, we come across a giant limb across our road. It is about 4’ high. I struggle to get across it. Sherri thinks there is a way around. But ends up also straddling this limb.

Brother's Grove

Further down the East Ridge Trail we hear the sounds of campers. Looking across we spot a tent. When looking at a map, it looks like we are seeing the Blooms Creek Campground. There should have been a trail going off to it. I must have missed it. So we backtrack a ways, but see no sign of a trail. But there seems to be an opening to get down to the campsite, maybe an eighth of a mile away. There is plenty of brush in the area, but we should be able to find a way around it, right? This was true for about 200’ and then our way got blocked by some brush. We were able to wander our way around and through it, but with some scratches. We even found a redwood grove hidden away: the Dorothy L Carpenter Redwood Grove. I wonder when was the last time anybody has been here. Then came the hidden barrier: Blooms Creek. The creek itself was not a barrier, but the 20 sides to the creek is. But we eventually found a way down and across to the campground.

But what is this? It is not the Blooms Creek Campground, but the Sempervirens Campground. We have come full circle! Would have been better off backtracking in the first place. But then where would the adventure have been? Would we have ever seen Carpenter’s Grove? Still, I was not happy with myself. I am guessing if we had gone on a hundred yards further we would have seen our lost trail.

Limb Walking

Dorothy L Carpenter Grove

Now it is a matter of walking about 2 to 2 ½ miles back to the car. it is starting to darken. I ask Sherri if she wanted me to go on ahead and get the car? No. Love that woman. Once we hit Blooms Creek Campground, we cross over Highway 236 again. There is an accessible trail on that side of the road. We make pretty good time. Even though I was “glad” to see that the park was giving the handicap the same issues as us-there was a branch across it. But the handicap would have more issues than us. So it was not fair.

We get to the car around 6:15pm. Tired, but glad we walked this. Now what to do about eats? Maybe pizza on the way to Santa Cruz? Cannot find the shop I remember, so we stop in at a Foster Freeze in Felton. Tasted real good to us hungry people. Then on to Marianne’s Ice Cream in Santa Cruz for our reward.

Trail Lesson:

Now matter how good your navigation skills are, you can be lost. Be Prepared!

Background

Lost. After looking at some of my previous blogs, we did much of this loop before. On August 24, 2012, we took the East Ridge and Shadowbrook Trails. So there is no reason why I got turned around.

Fires. There was a 3.2 acre fire near Blooms Campground in June 2014. Sept 1948 there was a 1,000 acre fire at Mill Creek. Big Basin has conducted prescribed burns since 1978. T he Pine Mountain Fire burned 6400 ha in 1948; the Summit Fire burned 1728 ha in May 2008, and the Lockheed Fire burned 3163 ha in August 2009.

Extra Photo's