Gary-Summer: March 16, 2019

Saturday, March 16, 2019

March 16, 2019 - Miami Mountain

Title: March 16, 2019 - Miami Mountain
Hike Info : Description : Background : Extra Photo's

Trail head: Cattle Chute along Miami Mountain Road

Hike Info:

Type: Hiking

Trail: Miami Mountain Road

Destination: Miami Mountain

Distance: 4.36 miles

Start Time: 9:26

End Time: 1:55

Travel Time: 4:28 (0.98 mph)

Moving Time: 2:22 (1.84 mph)

Elevation Rise: 1,068'

Descent: 1,023‘

Maximum Elevation: 4,337'

GPSTracks

Description:

It is turning out to be a nice beautiful day for a walk. A bit cool, but since this walk will have a lot of exposure, that is not a bad thing. We have six people coming, including Sherri and myself. We leave Fresno at 8:00 and head to Oakhurst, stopping at Ralph for a last minute pit stop. We leave and get to the trailhead around 9:15.

The trailhead is just off of highway 49 on a little dirt road. We stop at a wide spot in the road across from an old cattle chute. There we start off up the road to Miami Mountain. A question is asked, can’t we just have driven up the road? Well, yes and no. The yes is that we can go all the way to the gate. But can we turn around?

The Road, looking towards Shuteye

We pass a ranch which owns land which we will walk on. Then up the road to a wye. We go left. The one on the right goes to another ranch, I think. This hike is mostly about the destination, not the journey. But hiking with others provides its own sense of pleasure. I talk with various people on the way up. Sort of takes the mind off of the dryness and the climb.

Shuteye

I hope I do not paint of picture of total bleakness as there are certain places along the road where you do get some eye-candy. About a third of the way up, we look east and see Shuteye. A discussion follows about is there a small building on top of that mountain-yes, a lookout. Then further on we see a lake to the south-Eastman Lake. I later get corrected, not about the lake but about the visibility from the top-you can see Eastman from the top of Miami.

Eastman Lake

When we turn the corner to start up the northwest side of the ridge, we now get different views. When Rose, Sherri and I did this hike last year, there were trees down. But now, it is more just the bark of trees. This side seems a bit more shady and more pleasant to walk. We gain our first sight of Miami Mountain Lookout. To me this is an illusion about closeness. The Lookout is just “right up there”, but we have to travel all the way around it. I am hiking and talking with Carey now at the end-which continue to make the climb less tiring. Then we get to the final turn and the lookout is only a hundred yards away.

West and North Looking

Devil's Peak - Signal Lookout

And then we are at the top. 360^o view! And this is the clearest of the three times I have been up here. Just amazing. The others also seem to agree. None except Sherri, had been up here before. All are amazed at what they see. We try to pick out mountains and places. I am using Peak Finder to help me out-see the guide below. After walking around the top-and we can see Eastman Lake from here-and having a snack/lunch, I suggest that we start back. But there is universal agreement that can we stay here another 15 minutes. Sure, with a view like that, it is an easy decision.

After staying up on top of the mountain for close to an hour-probably the longest rest stop on a meetup hike I have ever done, we start back. The trip back is a lot easier and quicker than going up. After while, I lag back, mostly to take pictures. Unlike other recent trips, my legs feel somewhat fresh. By the time we get down the mountain, the same way we got up it, it is approaching 2:00pm. Enjoyable. Even Bozo the dog seemed to be happy.

Cattle chute where we parked the car

Sherri and I are going on to Mariposa to pick up a painting. So we leave everybody to fend for themselves for an after hike meal, if they want it. The painting is as good as we remember it. We also have a good conversation with Faith of FaithRumm Studio’s. Then it is onward to hoe with our valuable cargo.