Gary-Summer: February 15, 2020

Saturday, February 15, 2020

February 15, 2020 - Davis Road

Title: February 15, 2020 - Davis Road
Hike Info : Description : Trail Lessons : Extra Photo's : Flowers and Plants

Trail head: Mill Flat camp

Hike Info:

Type: Hiking

Trail: Davis Road

Destination: Davis Flat

Actual Destination:

Distance: 8.88 miles ¹

Start Time: 9:52

End Time: 3:47

Travel Time: 5:55 (1.50 mph)

Moving Time: 4:52 (1.82 mph)

Elevation Rise: 1,403'

Descent: 1,328‘

Maximum Elevation: 2,170'

GPS Tracks

¹I went a little farther up the road because three of our members went up the road.

Description:

It has been close to a year since I last organized a Central Valley meetup hike. So I am a bit nervous that I will get everything right and that I am in enough shape for this. On the other hand, this is Sherri’s and mine hike, so I should be able to make it what I want it to be.

Mill Flat Creek

It is a long drive to Mill Flat Camp, about 2 hours, but just 60 miles. We leave Fresno at 7:30 with 14 people and three cars. The road has many twists and turns, but we all made it there. We visit the outhouses before hitting the trail. In the campground, we hear what sounds like a preacher exhorting his church in the campground.

And then we are off. After going under or around a close gate, our hike really starts. The road does go up. Some gentile, some at a nice clip. But what is drawing all of our attention is the greenness of the hills and the water flowing down Mill Flat Creek. Just these make the hike worthwhile. We are a bit early for flowers/ Still this is a perfect day for this hike. Much later, it will be too warm to be comfortable. While I think it should be a bit cooler, I will enjoy walking in a T-shirt.

Hillside

Today I am not being the sweep-Sherri is. But I am towards the back. Maybe this is my natural place. I am enjoying talking with Betty, Kylie, Randy and his wife Pat. Listening is an important component of this community process and I make sure I practice it, particularly on some of the steeper uphill sections.

We stop at Crabtree, a piece of private property in the middle of Sequoia National Forest. Here I give instructions about where Davis Flat is. We are about halfway to the Flat. After Crabtree, we move away from the Creek and out from the covering of trees. The road takes a decidedly different bent upward-at least my body thinks it does. But on the whole, it is doing well.

Sherri beside Mill Flat Creek

Delilah Lookout

After swinging around a couple of hills, we rejoin Davis Creek, but far above it. As we travel on, the Creek will rise to meet us until we have rejoined it. About a quarter mile before Davis Flat, there is a brief place where we can see Delilah Lookout. The sky is just right that with a bit of magnification, we can see through the windows. Sherri and I will need to remember this when we stay overnight and Davis Road is opened up.

And then we reached Davis Flat. Most of us have found the proper place to stop. Most is the operative word. Three went further up the road. I start off to see if I can track them down and Pam joins me. I do not have hopes of catching them, but maybe they have stopped and we can bring them back. Less than a quarter mile later, the first of the way-ward children appear and shortly afterward the rest return down the road. They had gone to where the road started to rise up in earnest.

Across the Kings-Rogers Ridge and Patterson Bluffs

Lunch is pleasant enough. We are in front of a mine opening and around Davis Creek. Today, it is someplace where I could stay here for a long while. I have my peanut butter and Nutella sandwich along with a few chips. Then it is time to take off. Oh, my back has stiffened up-it has been happening more. But once I get moving I am OK.

You would think that since our return trip is 90% downhill, it would be easy and quick.A couple of things happened. Sherri forgot her role as sweep, so I am at the last of the group now. This is not odorous, just was sort of looking forward to stretching the legs out a bit more. The second is that even though it is mid-February, it is warm. I think that this is taking a toil on us a bit. More water stops and slower travel.

Davis Creek at Lunch Spot

But with the slower travel, there are more pictures being taken. This may or may not be a good thing, but it is a thing. Hopefully some of them will come out. Another good thing going at a bit slower pace than expected is the afternoon shadows are coming over the road. I do not think I have described the hills surrounding the road. They are steep, rising maybe 1500-2000’ above the road and the sides are pretty shear, not like a cliff. Most of them you could find a way up them-at least cows do-but I for one would not want to. These hills hide the road from Delilah’s view, so when we are in the tower, we are always wondering what we are missing.

Around 3:45 we make it back to the cars. One group has taken off-these are the faster hikers. Now it is time for the two hour drive back. It is refreshing being in the car and moving. We get back to Fresno around 6:00pm. There are not too many places to eat between Mill Flat Camp and where we drop people off in Fresno. So it is a non-stop trip. After Sherri and I get home, we are hungry and ready to have something good and filling. Spaghetti Factory would be ideal, but there is a 40 minute wait. So we went to Yosemite Falls Cafe. Still good eats.