Title: December 24, 2020 - Big Meadows Snow Hike
Hike Info : Description : Extra Photo's : Animals
Trail: Starlight Trail and Big Meadow Road
Destination: None
Distance: 2.09 miles
Start Time: 11:50
End Time: 2:08
Travel Time: 2:17 (0.91 mph)
Today is not going to be a big day. Just a time to get out into the mountains and enjoy a little snow. Steven has the day off, so he and Korra will join us. This will be Korra’s first day in the snow. We also have a family Zoom call at 6:30. So not sure how long we will have up there.
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Gary, Korra and Steven at start |
Korra takes to the snow, as if she was born for it. And being a husky, she probably is. She sniffs everywhere and eats a bit of the white stuff. She clearly enjoys it.
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Korra, the Snow Dog |
I think this trip is more to get out and enjoy the snow than to look for spectacular scenery. Still there are the times of just enjoying the wintery scenery around us. The whiteness against the green, the sound of snow crunching underfoot, and the sense of being alone in the white. On the last part, the only folks we see on this day is a couple clearly just going up for a little ways to see how things are. And another couple who knew what they were doing after 50 years of skiing the area-we will meet them later on.
A little before 1:00 we stop for lunch at some boulders which are clear of snow. Enjoyed just lounging around. I can feel that I have not been doing this much for a while. It has been a month since Andrea and I went out to the Pinnacles. Other than my morning walks there has not been a lot of activity. There is another factor in our lounging. It just feels so refreshing sitting here alone, with each other.
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Tracks, but whose |
On the way up, I did see some tracks. I am thinking they may be mountain lion or a bunny rabbit. The rabbit is more probable, but it does not quite look like it is. They seemed a bit older than fresh. Sort of thrilling that we are walking the same area as it did and comforting knowing that it has been awhile since the cat has been here.
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Steven, Gary, Korra, and Sherri |
We decide to go on up the road for another 15 minutes. There is a nice area where we can look out to the south and see Shell Mountain and the area where Alta Peak is. Really nice view there.. We catch up with the skiers and talk a little more. Also we spend a few minutes just taking in a view of white, rock and tree.
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Southern View |
There are gradual slopes to the road. I would say for the most part, uninteresting. If we had enough time and energy, we could do a loop around the Rabbit Meadow loop. But none of us feel up to it right now. There are some interesting clouds around us as well. Nothing looking threatening.
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Towards the Central Valley |
We get back to the car around 2:10. It takes a few minutes to get packed up and then we are off. I was wondering what the Woodward Creek Trailhead looked like, so we went a few minutes further south and took a look. I think I have been here before, many years ago. Now it is back home. The big question is where do we eat. Or in these COVID days, more, where do we eat out. It is decided to do Chinese food in Fresno, Shanghai restaurant. We get back home a few minutes before 4:00. Plenty of time before our family Zoom call tonight.
Extra Photo's
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Sherri and Steven hiking the Big Meadow Road |
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Gary almost back to the parking lot |
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Gary, Sherri, Steven and Korra |
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Gary and Korra |
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Off towards Alta Peak Area |
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Log and Clouds |
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Sherri walking on Starlight Trail |
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Korra |
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Interesting Rock |
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Gary and Sherri walking the Starlight Trail |
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Panorama of forest and snow |
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Korra and Steven |
Animals