Gary-Summer: December 7, 2017 - Stevenson Creek and Million Dollar Mile

Thursday, December 7, 2017

December 7, 2017 - Stevenson Creek and Million Dollar Mile

Title: December 7, 2017 - Stevenson Creek and Million Dollar Mile
Hike Info : Description : Extra Photo's

Trail head: Italian Bar Road

Hike Info:

Type: Hiking

Trail: Million Dollar Mile

Destination: Stevens Creek Falls

Distance: 7.48 miles

Start Time: 11:37

End Time: 2:54

Travel Time: 3:16 (2.29 mph)

Moving Time: 3:00 (2.49 mph)

Elevation Rise: 1,053'

Maximum Elevation: 2,323'

GPS Tracks

Description:

Gary

It is a slow start morning. I get up after 7; Sherri gets up after that. By the time the car starts, it is approaching 10. Sherri drives us to the trailhead. This is a big step for her-she does not like hill driving. We get to the trailhead on Italian Bar Road by 11:30 and on the trail by 11:45.

It is a cool day, but warmer than I expected. Still I start off with long sleeves, but only one long sleeve shirt, not two. We have been on this road many a time. While the walking is not adventuresome, except when a SCE truck comes around a blind bend in the road-they drive pretty reasonably so that is not much of an issue. Of course, the Million Dollar Mile is their road, so I guess they have the right to drive it. So there is not much new to tell about the route which has not been told before. But it has been pretty dry, so not much in the way of greenery. Then again, there is a sign which indicates we need to fasten our seat belts.

Gary crossing Jose Creek

We spent time looking at Jose Creek. While not as high as last March when we were here last, the water had a mellowing quality to it. The water grasses gentle sway with the flow of the water. Mesmerizing. But then it is time to continue on. I start shedding and before I know it, I am down to shorts and a T-shirt. Not that it was hot, just comfortable that way as long as we are walking or not stopping in the shade.

Jose Creek

Redinger Lake

San Joaquin River

We walk at a pretty good pace, at least for us old people, enjoying the sunshine and the company. There are some views of the San Joaquin which we see and are glad to have. After an hour of walking-since converting my pants into shorts-we round a bend and there is Stevenson Falls. These Falls are always different. Last year, they were pouring out over the bridge. Some years it has been just a pleasant place to stop. This year, it is more of a medium set of Falls. But as someone has said, these Falls would be at least a State park anyplace else. Just so pretty

Stevenson Falls

Gary and Sherri

Now the question is where to eat lunch? Shade or walk a bit further into the sunshine? Sunshine wins out. So we went a ways past the Falls and found sunshine and a nice rock to sit on. Lunch is the same: peanut butter and Nutella, of course. While we sit there, I watch spiderwebs being blown by the breeze. (Not quite, Dust in the Wind by Kansas or Peter, Paul and Mary’s Blowing in the Wind, but still enjoyable watching them. Quietting to the mind. We should be able to enjoy these kinds of blessings, finding something soothing to your soul.

Lunch View of Stevenson Falls

Gary going around the knoll

Not too much exciting on the way back. A truck from SCE came by. He said that there had been a mountain lion spotted near the flats a bit further on down. So that gets us to being a bit more observant along the way. But there was no spotting of the cat (I did not know that mountain lions had spots :-) ) Also there was a little dirt road off to the side which we decided to go down. It ended about 30 yards at a small knoll. We found a track around the knoll and follow it until the track disintegrated into the brush. Not a good view. Maybe during the Spring there might one.

Jose Creek

We are on the final stretch now. As we approach Jose Creek, we stop and gawk for now. The water is in the shadows now, giving a deeper coloring of the water grass, turning the pools of water darker. Too cold for a swim. But nice just looking. But then it is a short walk back to the car. We get back around 3:00pm.

I drive backup. We stop in Prather at Velasco’s Mexican Food for dinner. Sherri asks where Humphrey’s Station is. Since it is close by, we take some back roads to it and then down the hill towards Fresno. Eventually we get back to Fresno.