January 22, 2020 - Million Dollar Mile to Stevenson Falls

Title: January 22, 2020 - Million Dollar Mile to Stevenson Falls
Hike Info : Description : Background :  Extra Photo's 

Trail head: Italian Bar Road

Hike Info:

Type: Hiking

Trail: Million Dollar Mile

Destination: Stevenson Falls

Distance:  7.88 miles

Start Time: 11:27

End Time:    2:51

Travel Time: 3:24  (2.32 mph)

Moving Time:  3:15 (2.43 mph)

Elevation Rise: 928 '

Descent: 726‘

Maximum Elevation: 2,338'

GPS Tracks

Description:

Originally Sherri was going to go on this Meetup hike, but she came down with a cold, so a no-go. Also our son Steven had thought about going, then realized he had other obligations. So it will be just me, along with around 20 old and new friends. I got up at 6:30 and left the house at 7:40. A bit cool, but not bad. Cathey has three people riding with me: Meagan, Carol and Nita. Nita is a person I have not met before. Always interesting finding a new person.

San Joaquin River

We left the parking lot at 8:15. Our first stop is the Exact Center of California. This is just outside of the town of North Fork on road 225. I would be less than truthful if I was to say this is exciting. Actually the first time there, it is fun and it should be visited at least once in each California’s lifetime. But to me, and it is just me, there is a bit more excitement going to other places in this state.

Now normally, going to the Exact Center of California works out. We just continue on down Road 225, cross the bridge over Redinger Lake and go up a third of the say on the other side to get to the starting point of our hike. But the bridge is under repairs, so we take a longer way around. We stop at an outhouse by Redinger Lake, then continue west to Powerhouse Road. This crosses the San Joaquin River and goes up the other side. We pass by Smalley Road-where we hike the San Joaquin River Gorge and continue on the Audberry. We then head down Audberry Road to Jose Basin Road. The road is a bit interesting. We then turn off onto Italian Bar Road, which is even more interesting. Finally when we get to a horseshoe turn, we are at the trailhead-three hours after we left the parking lot this morning. On the other hand, I have been down roads I have not been down before. That should be worth something. Before we started our hike, three SCE vehicles have gone through. Each are friendly enough.

Jose Creek

We start off close to 11:30-a bit late. Jose Creek is always a good refreshing start. It has a tendency to tell how Stevenson Falls will be. Today, the water is calm. With the dried up stocks it is pretty tranquil. I am back at the pack. But today it is not so much from lack of energy or oomph. Rather just playing my part-helping to herd those at the back. I pick up some information on cameras from Karl. Eventually it is just John and I at the back. We talk about a variety of stuff. Some serious, some just for fun. For example, of what use is a buckeye? We were finding a whole bunch of nuts along the road. We also have time to look around and observe that the San Joaquin does not seem to be a bustling river, but more wet spots between boulders. Still all of this makes for the walking to pass nicely, even though we are the last.

San Joaquin River where Stevenson Creek Enters in

So far Stevenson Falls has never disappointed us. Last year, the Falls were in full roar mode, going over a bridge. But it has not rained that much yet and the release from Shaver is not going full,. Yet there is enough to realize this is one of the prettiest falls in California, which if known, would compete with Yosemite-I am glad that only certain people know about it.

After a bit of a sandwich, I take Nita into the adit-not really one of your scenic areas of the Sierra. But it is interesting because most people have not heard the term adit. Even if you have, chances are that you may not know what it is. Or have even seen on. She is impressed enough by it in an appropriate measure.

Bridge over Stevenson Creek

 Now it is time to return. I hang around with Bobby as he is getting the last of his pictures. One of the benefits of hanging around with a photographer is that you get to pick their brains about how they make a good shot. From what I have seen of Bobby’s pictures, he knows how to select his shots and select which pictures are good. And that is what I did-talk, I am not in his league with my pictures. We talked about exposures and how the idea is not to make every shot perfect, but that you can end up with a perfect shot by bracketing your exposure times and f-shops. 
 

Stevenson Falls

After Bobby gets done, we play catch-up to John. Unfortunately for us, the first part of our trip back is a long uphill grade. By the time we get to the top, we want to stop and breath for awhile. But we also have John in sight now and after being able to get oxygen into our system, we catch up to him. 

Jose Creek

The three of us walk on, enjoying a leisurely pace. Even though each time we went up a slope, we were ready to see the end of the road. Instead of the end of the road, Jerry comes up the road to escort us the last stretch. When we reach the SCE gate, we are glad to be back at the cars. I am tired, but feeling like I still have a bit of energy in the tank. Things are much better.

After we get packed up, we head to Prather and Velasco’s Mexican Restaurant. A bit slow for hungry people. But there was one waitress for 15-20 people. So be patient. Food was good. On the way out, I met Jeannette, a co-worker whom I had not seen in 30+ years. A good little chat. We make it back to the parking lot by 5:30 and home at 5:45. I slept well.

Background

Center of State There was a list of the geographical center of each state. You can find it on Wikipedia. There is also a Wiki list of extreme points for each state.

Buckeyes. What use is a buckeye? Evidently, unless properly prepared, they are toxic because of tannic acid. But they are high in protein. The Native Americans would open up the balls and pound the contents making a flour, then leach out the acids. Or I was reading that some people roasted the outside. Sounds like it was best not to use it to munch on, except as Rebecca pointed out that in Ohio they make a Buckeye candy, made to resemble the tree's nut, is made by dipping a ball of peanut butter fudge in milk chocolate, leaving a circle of the peanut butter exposed. The ones found in California is different than the ones in Ohio.

Extra Photo's

Stevenson Creek and Falls from Google Earth

Below the Bridge

From the adit looking at Stevenson Falls