Title: March 23, 2019 - Briceburg, the Other Way
Hike Info : Description : Extra Photo's : Animals : Flowers and Plants
Hike Info:
Type: Hiking
Trail: Road to Railroad Flat
Destination: Railroad Flat
Actual Destination: A little bit before Railroad Flat
Distance: 8.56 miles
Start Time: 9:13
End Time: 1:06
Travel Time: 3:52 (2.21 mph)
Moving Time: 3:21 (2.56 mph)
Elevation Rise: 336'
Descent: 229‘
Maximum Elevation: 1,174'
Description:
We walked for wildflowers and
got rain. Life could be a lot worse. Somehow I enjoy walking in the
rain-but there are limits to that statement. Drizzles are fun; a
light rain-enjoyable; a deluge-not so much. We will see what the day
brings.
This is a Meetup
hike. When I posted it, looked like the rain would only be in the
very early morning and pretty light. Sounds good. Even Friday night,
the forecast called for a hundredth of an inch when we started
hiking. But when I got up Saturday morning, the forecast called for
two hours of an eighth of an inch each. Sounds a bit more serious.
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| Merced River |
We all arrive at the parking
lot at 7:00am and are ready to go. We are to pick up a person at Four
Corners and then meet another at Burger King in Mariposa. In Fresno
it is not raining, so that is hopeful. Apparently we missed the
person at Four Corners-turns out she arrived about 5 minutes after we
left-so close, so far. We take a break in Mariposa. It is raining and
raining pretty decently now. I gave our hikers-there are seven of us
some modification. But all were interested in hiking the full two
hours in and two hours out. What a group!
When we get to Briceburg,
any hope of having a dry hike gets dampened. There is a steady beat
of water descending on us. Most of us hurry to get ready. I give the
group a last chance to shorten the hike, but they are all ready for
the full experience. Sherri is having troubles getting her pack cover
on her pack; the group takes off and waits on the other side of the
bridge; and Pam with her two dogs is off to the races. There is a
group picture before we start our hike.
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| Across the Merced |
We head west from the
Briceburg Bridge. This is a road to three campground, but is closed
right now due to rockslides. Because it follows the Merced
River,
it is only a gentle decline. Pam and Robert have shot ahead at a
good clip. The rest of us are walking pretty nicely, stopping often
for pictures. Not many of wildflowers, but many little places where
water is running down. Also the wetness is making the greens just
glisten. There are reasons to hike in the rain.
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| Boulders blocking Road |
And the rain, it still is
raining and pretty good. Some of us have umbrella’s. Others rain
outfits. I do not see any poncho’s-wise people. Both Sherri and I
have rain pants and jackets. So we stay comparatively dry. After the
hike I see that my pants are damp, but not wet. While my shirt around
my stomach is soaked but the top is dry-go figure. Oh yea, for some
reason the pocket in my jacket where I kept my camera has a small
pool of water. I do not see how that happened. Camera still works.
Thankful for that, but I switched over to my phone to take pictures
on the way back.
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| Raingear Not Optional |
Our pace has been slow as we
have wanted to take pictures of so much. But when I see Pam and
Robert coming back up the road, I am thinking it is time to turn
around anyway-technically we had another 15 minutes to walk before
the two hours going in was up. But with the rain and we all getting
drenched, it is a good time to turn back.
The trip back is uneventful.
The rain seems to be lighting up. My legs and lungs still feel good.
This is a blessing as for the last year and a half, I have been
pretty lethargic. Still not up to what I consider my top form for a
65 year old. But better than I was two months ago. Now the question
is, will I be ready to walk a half marathon in two weeks? Maybe? Will
I make it in under four hours? Probably not. While I used to have a
co-worker whose motto was there
is no try, only do,
to me to try is the main thing, to do is good, but to fail after
trying is not a sign of disgrace. Shows the heart is willing but the
flesh is weak.
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| Newts in Love |
We get back to the car around
1:00pm, pretty much soaked-but only the outer garments. The bottom of
the shirt is wet, the pants damp and I am happy. Several of us go to
Mariposa and stop at the old standby for lunch, Happy Burger. Sherri
and I stop by Faith’s place, but she is closed. A good day of
walking. But now the final words are below
.
People enjoy hiking on a clear
sunshiny day. But say it is going to rain? That discourages a lot of
people. It takes a special type of crazy to go out in the rain on a
hike and enjoy it. Glad I was with this bunch of crazies.
Extra Photo's
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| Merced River |
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| From the Briceburg Bridge |
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| Clouds to the East |
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| Rock Garden |
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| Waterfall during Rain |
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| Mud Puddle and Rain |
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| Grasses Glistening Green |
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| Merced River |
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| Newts |
Flowers and Plants
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| Raindrop and Redbud |
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| Redbud |
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| Redbud |
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| Redbud |
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