February 6, 2018 - Deer Camp Trail

Title: February 6, 2018 - Deer Camp Trail
Hike Info : Description 

Trail head: Turn out around Yosemite West turnout

Hike Info:

Type: Hiking

Trail: Deer Camp Trail

Destination: As far as we can go

Actual Destination: About four miles along trail

Distance:  8.11 miles

Start Time: 11:09

End Time:    3:50

Travel Time:   4:41 (1.73 mph)

Moving Time:  3:18 (2.46 mph)

Elevation Rise:  607'  ¹

Descent: 435‘

Maximum Elevation: 6,430'

GPS Tracks

 ¹Starting elevation was 5,922’; ending 6,132’ for a 210’ difference. More like an elevation rise of 500’

Description:

Sherri and Rose were to be planning this trip after the ambiguity of times and places to hike from last time. But a couple of things happened. Our good friend Betty is up at Bass Lake and is joining us. Her recently repaired hand limits her for the time being to the trails she can be om. So we thought about doing Willow Creek near Bass Lake. But after a brief reconnaissance, that was a no go-to many place to slip and fall. Also Sherri got sick and cannot go, so it is off to Deer Camp.

Going through Buck Brush

I pick up Rose at 9 and Betty at 10. We get to the Deer Camp Trailhead a little after 11. The weather is cool, but sunny. After putting on our boots we are ready for our hike. This is a hike I have done several times and have noted it is not a destination, but journey hike. The trail is flat, so we are able to walk. But it is closing in on two years since I last walked this trail-back on Memorial Day weekend in 2016 when we backpacked into Deer Camp with Wayne and Michelle. There is a bit of freshness because of not walking on it for awhile.

We are hiking at a pretty good rate-like I said it is flat. But considering how much I have moaned about my lack of stamina and being out of breath, I am going pretty good at 6,000. Betty has not been able to hike for about four months is going good, while Rose with a 16 pound training pack is keeping right up there. It is a good day to walk. Temperature reaches the upper 50’s/low 60’s.

Cranberry Girl

There are three creeks along our path: Rail, Strawberry and Bishop. Each has some wetness to them, but the only one really running is Rail. We stop for lunch after an hour and a half of mostly walking-only a break or two to look at something interesting before lunch. This is a far cry for me from the hikes I have been on for the past month. Lunch is a bit longer than average. But it is a good rest.

I think we will hike another 30-45 minutes, then we should get to a turn around point so we can be back at the car by 4:00pm. So onward we charge. There is a long ridge after Bishop Creek. This ridge separates Bishop from Alder Creek and I would like to round the end of it. But it gets to be time to turn around. (When I check the map the next day, I found that we stopped about a tenth of a mile and 60’ short of rounding the ridge.) There is a big boulder which I rest against for a few minutes. Then we start back again.

Brush at Rail Creek

The return trip has mostly a gradual downhill slant. So we make a bit better time coming back. While the scenery is the same, and does not very, I still enjoy the walk. Just amazing that we are walking this trail this year rather than snowshoeing it. Not saying we did not see snow, or even that there was not snow on the trail. Still an inch occasionally does not mean we need to set on snowshoes!

Dishes on Henness Ridge

Towards the last mile, my legs start feeling tired, but I was able to maintain my stride instead of shortening it. Fortunately, there are little things to help you stop and enjoy. Such as spotting the data dishes at Henness Ridge or a plant along the way. So I still have a little ways to go before being in shape. But I am getting closer.

We got back to the car before 4, then get packed up. I think we all are a bit tired, but glad we hiked it today. When we get back to El Cids, Betty invites Rose and I to a Mexican restaurant in Bass Lake with her husband. After a quick glance at each other, off we went. The restaurant is Casa Velasco. Not sure if it is connected to the Velasco Mexican Restaurant in Prather. Food was pretty good, just a bit spicy making ti sharp. I guess I am getting a bit less of a spice eater in my old age. I drop Rose off at her place at 7:00pm and back home to Fresno by 7:30. I talk with Sherri a few minutes before getting into the shower-she is still pretty lethargic from being sick. Shower feels good.