Gary-Summer: January 31, 2018

Wednesday, January 31, 2018

January 31, 2018 - Temperance Flat

Title: January 31, 2018 - Temperance Flat
Hike Info : Description : Trail Lessons : Extra Photo's : Flowers and Plants

Trail head:January 31, 2018 - Temperance Flat

Hike Info:

Type: Hiking

Trail: Temperance Flat

Destination: Temperance Flat

Distance: 7.14 miles ¹

Start Time: 8:23

End Time: 2:11

Travel Time: 5:47 (1.24 mph)

Moving Time: 5:03 (1.41 mph)

Elevation Rise: 1,476' ²

Descent: 1,484‘

Maximum Elevation: 854'
GPS Tracks

¹Mileage has been adjusted to reflect the true mileage of the trail. I personally traveled 7.82 miles, over 5:23 moving time; 6:09 total time.

²The elevation has been adjusted by creating another track which is a mirror-image of the one coming out. The original track has us starting at an elevation of 640’ and ending at 814’.

Description:

It is the first meetup hike which Sherri and I will have been on in awhile-that is except for the one we organized a couple of weeks ago. We meet at Eddie’s Bakery at 7:00am and leave before 7:10. Mario is riding with us-he was on our South Shore hike a couple of weeks ago. We get to the trail’s parking lot around 8:15 and are ready to hit the trail by 8:25.

But arriving there was half the fun. We were the last car to arrive. Between us and the car before us a small group of cattle decided to go on their morning exercise run. They came storming down the hillside, onto the road. Then half decided to cross the road in front of us and the other half was on the other side. They weaved back and forth across the road before trotting on up the hill to continue their herd-i-size.

Bill Explaining The Finer Points of the Trail

This is Sherri’s and mine first time on this trail. The excitement which we have is that this area has been under discussion to be dam’d up for more water storage. The dam being called Temperance Flat. While mostly remaining unconvinced that this is a good solution to California’s water crisis, I am interested in seeing what is so special about this area.

The “trail” itself is a bit contorted. Thankfully Bill gave an introduction and some pictures about some of the key points. From the parking area, you go through an opening in the fence-no not that way! By the gate down the paved road. You go on the paved road, over a cow grate until you get to a bend in the road. If you look closely, you will see a path going up to an opening in the barb wire fence-that that one. You still with me?

San Joaquin River

Good, because the trail gets a bit easier to follow. It now hugs that barbed wire fence-mostly because there is a good drop off on the other side. But once down that, we go and do a couple of switchbacks. Well, almost. Part of one of the “backs” have been washed out, so we cut a switchback. Now for some nice walking above the San Joaquin River.

San Joaquin River

We go through a gate which Bill has labeled “Confusion” Gate. Reason? Not so much how we are coming in. But when we return, the trail looks like it should go straight. But the astute person would see a small and narrow trail taking off to the left-that will be our trail coming back. Now to remember that.

Water in Millerton Lake Caves

Pretty soon we get to what looks like should be a creek. But there are giant boulders lining up the gully. Jerry is there is explain to us that this is the site of Millerton Lake Caves. We can hear the water running underneath these monster rocks.

Unnamed Pool

Shortly afterwards-we rounded a ridge or two we came to the “crooked” bridge. Bill was saying that originally it was a redwood bridge, but over the years it had disintegrated. BLM put helicoptered in an aluminum bridge to replace it. Feels good and solid.

Crooked Bridge

Squaw's Leap

Bill marks another place where we can get waylaid. Need to remember to veer left when coming back off of the dirt road. As we get closer to Temperance Flat, the ground takes the shape of more rolling hills covered with low grasses with trees-some oaks-spread across the landscape. I am feeling a lot more relaxed in my walking. Now to get a bit more speed and strength in my stride.

Once we hit Temperance Flat proper, the trail criss-crosses an access road. By one of the intersections, there is a old sign post, now called the picture frame. So we all get into the picture while Bill makes it the frame official with a picture. In ten minutes, we come to an outhouse and then down to the water’s edge to have lunch.

Lunch Break

Outhouse

View at Lunch

We sort of lounge around there. Betty, Sherri and I eat lunch together while looking out across the San Joaquin. Somebody ost be tired. Usually our rest stops are 15-20 minutes.. Today? A good 45 minutes. But we cannot stay here forever. So we start on our way back to the cars-pretty much reversing the route.

Being Watched

Shortly after starting, we see a bovine on guard duty.It observes us and then we pass by, it sounds a warning Moooo! to its companions. I am feeling pretty good but there are others who are behind me. So I slow down a bit and wait. That is not altogether unpleasant as there is a lot to see. When we are crossing the “crooked” bridge, there are some manzanita flowers in bloom-it is Winter isn’t it?

Guard Cow

Also the pond by the bridge is so serene. We do manage to go through all of the gates correctly. So no lost hikers today.

We continue on. It is a bit warm. Definitely warmer than what it should be for January. Like in the upper 60’s. I have gone to my T-shirt and shorts during the lunch break. Others still have multiple layers on. As we head up a slope, the warm day is definitely taking a toll on people. One normally strong person comes in pretty dehydrated. A lesson for me: make sure I take enough water and then drink it! But all arrive at the parking lot. And now at 2:40pm, the trail is clear.

On the way back, we stop in Prather for pizza at the Pizza Factory. I go through a couple glasses of tea-I must have been a bit low on fluid. The pizza is good. Then Sherri and I continue on home, stopping at Kaiser and Costco before getting home at 6:30.