Hike Info:
Type: Car
GPS Tracks (Google Earth kmz)
Description:
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| Cligan's Junction |
Originally,
this was to be an over-nighter to the coast just to unwind. But one
thing lead to another, so we decided to look at some wildflowers in
the foothills which Wendy had mentioned a couple of days ago. Where
we are going is sort of up n the air. The two places which was
mentioned was along Highway 245 and along Dry Creek Road.
We
left at 10:30 in Steven’s Mercury-he has the Ranger and the Rav4 is
in the shop. Off we head east along 180. Sherri would like to go up
Wonder Valley, so we cut off at Trimmer
Springs
Road, then up Elwood. It is a pleasant drive.
We
exit out out at 180, just above Squaw Valley and continue on up. When
we pass Clingan’s Junction, I tell Sherri about the coffee
shop
there being recommended by Wendy. So we turn around and Sherri gets a
cup of White Chocolate Mocha and just savors it for a long time on
our drive.
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| Maybe Eshom Point |
Several
miles later, we get to Highway 245. If you are seeking an expedient
route, Highway 245 is not that. It is much more rolling with the
hills, enjoy each turn in the road and wonder what is next around the
corner. Don’t expect to zoom at 60.; 45 seems too fast. This is
more like a 25-30mph road. So we enjoyed the ride, looking for the
wildflowers which we were told would be along here.
We
have been a long this way to Pinehurst before. So beyond that, it is
unexplored territory. We see the communities of Badger, Sierra Glen,
Cedarbrook and many others from our lookouts at Delilah
and
Park Ridge.
But now driving through them gives much better idea of what we see.
In
Badger, we come across a sign for Eshom
and Hartland. Since we do not see many wildflowers along our way,
lets go and explore a bit more of this area. We make our way around
various roads, but mostly Eshom Valley and Whitaker
Forest.
At one place we see a big long ridge and I realize that is Logger’s
Point
at one end and Park Ridge at the other. We can barely catch a glimpse
of the lookout at Park Ridge.
Close
to Eshom Campground we see a sign warning that following Whitaker
Forest Road up to its namesake may not be suitable to normal
vehicles. We go up a little ways until we see many trees down and
make a retreat following a classic seven point turn. We go back and
have lunch at Eshom Campground. It is closed and we are the only ones
here. A beautiful place.
 |
| Park Ridge Lookout |
We
walk around and wonder about the price of staying her ($25 for a
single; $50 for a double spot.) Then we go off exploring more. We go
through Hartland-a place I have been hearing about for 50+ years. It
is a non-denomination Christian camp, with cabins in the surrounding
area. Then we start making our way down. Ranches still play a big
part in this area. Several trucks are parked in the road and we see
cattle being unloaded for their Spring pasturing.
We are playing a game of trying to identify places we can see from the lookout.. Rounding a corner, I say, I think I see a lookout to the south. It is! Shadequarter Lookout, a de-activated lookout to the south of everything we can see. There has been some preliminary talk about opening it back up again, but I suspect that is a ways away.
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| Shadequarter Lookout |
After
winding down several roads, we come to a road called Dry Creek.
Remember that is one of the roads Wendy said had wildflowers. So we
head south on there. More area where we have not been. And yipee!
There are wildflowers. Maybe not the fields of Anza-Borrego,
still enough to make one’s heart glad.
We
then exit out onto highway 216. From there, past Woodlake and onto
Kingsburg. We head north up 99. Once in Fresno, we pick up the Rav4
which was in the shop and drop off the Mercury. I am tired. But there
is one more thing to do. There is a seminar with Deborah Blum at
Fresno State which I am interested in. So I go there-longer than I
expected, about 2 ½ hours before I get back home.
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| Maybe Eshom Point-radio towers on top |
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| Eshom Creek |
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| Looking south |
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| Shadequarter Mountain |
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| More south facing view |
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| Is this Burnt Point? |
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| Hillside flowers |
Animals
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| Deer Track |
Flowers and Plants
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| Lupine |
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| California Golden Poppy |
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| California Golden Poppy |
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| Manzanita |
Close
to Eshom Campground we see a sign warning that following Whitaker
Forest Road up to its namesake may not be suitable to normal
vehicles. We go up a little ways until we see many trees down and
make a retreat following a classic seven point turn. We go back and
have lunch at Eshom Campground. It is closed and we are the only ones
here. A beautiful place.
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