Trail: Forest Service Road 14S11 and Rabbit Meadow Loop
Destination: Loop
Distance: 2.74 miles
Start Time: 12:40
End Time: 3:48
Travel Time: 3:08 (0.87 mph)
Moving Time: 2:18 (1.19 mph)
Elevation Rise: 377'
Descent: 252‘
Maximum Elevation: 7,780'
GPS Tracks
What better day to go up to the snow than on Super Bowl Sunday? Most people are off watching it, hopefully in their own bubbles and not in large gatherings. So Steven, Korra, Sherri and I go off to the snow to play.
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| Rabbit Meadow Junction |
We end up at Big Stump with a
lot less people, but with a couple trailers used to haul
snowmobiles-oh no! Not those people. And then one of the vehicles
with the trailers opens up and comes towards me! But never fear, it
is people who I know from the Buck
Rock Foundation-Bob
L and Steve B. They just got back from their cabin around Big
Meadows.
We talked for a while. So good to see people who you know in
unexpected places.
And speaking of people who I know, at least his voice, Patrol 32 was parked there. When we were just starting in, he and a friend were coming out on a snowmobile. We hear P32 over the radio when we are in our lookout. Also met him in Porterville one year at training. But I introduce myself and we exchange greetings.
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| Rabbit Meadow |
Then it was off up the road towards Big Meadows. Steven is on skis with Korra sometimes pulling him, sometimes running beside him. Sherri and I are on snowshoes. Eitherway, this road has been groomed before and is both packed and reasonably smooth. So we move at a surprisingly good clip.
After a half mile, we get to the junction where the Rabbit Meadow branches out. We decide that it is time to have lunch, after all it is a little after 1pm. We see the snow grooming machine go by while enjoying our lunch.
Then it is time to continue on. Going around Rabbit Meadow is less traveled than to Big Meadow. We see that a couple of skiers have gone around the meadow since the last snow and one snowshoer. Steven and Korra go on ahead of us. I take the lead and try to keep with the previous snowshoer. But that person’s stride is a bit longer than mine-I wonder how big the person is? We go a long pretty good and Sherri goes along. We both enjoy the day.
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| Sherri and her tracks |
We do hear Steven ahead of us. Korra comes bounding over to us. Staying with us for a few minutes, then looks puzzled about which way to go. She figures that it must be easier following their previous tracks than trotting across the meadow. We see her faithfully following their previous tracks and disappearing behind trees. We know that Korra got to Steven as we followed the sounds of both of them.
We continue on. Even though breaking snow, I feel pretty good about myself. When we get to the end of the meadow, I noticed that there is a low ridge which looks like it might have a view off to the north. Sherri decides to continue on with the tracks. But I head up. It is only about 50 yards away and 30-40’ up. But it is a bit of a disappointment. Trees are blocking the view. Oh well. Maybe if I follow the ridgeline I can get a glimpse.
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| Looking west from the road |
So I round a boulder and see there is some brush, but it looks like it is pretty sparse. So I go through. Mistake. My left snowshoe sinks down into a hole. Not deep, but deep enough that I am not able to easily get out. So I floundered around for about 15 minutes and eventually was able to stand up.
By this time, I am getting a bit tired. I make my way back down to the trail-Sherri is long gone. But I can now follow her tracks. I definitely am lacking energy, but I still have enough to continue on without a problem, just no umph. Eventually I catch up with Sherri after going about 20 minutes in pursuit.
It is about another 15 minutes until we read the Big Meadows Road. Steven and Korra are waiting for us there. We found out later that they had gone all the way to the car, waited for us and came back again. It is a lot easier going on the packed snow. My legs and lungs start being revived. Right before we get back to the parking lot, a skier passes us by-he really looks good. By this time it is 3:40.
It has been a good day. We head back home after getting packed up.Nothing worth noting on the way back. Of course the question is what to eat. Only when we got to the outskirts of Fresno was the decision made to go to Foster Freeze. We get home by 5:30, tired. But a shower really perks me up. for our family Zoom time.
Trail Lesson: Sometimes you know doing something is dumb to do and you still do it. Expect to pay the price.
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| Korra only appears to be dead. She is just enjoying the snow |
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| Korra |
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| Sherri waiting for Gary |
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| Sherri |
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| Steven |
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| Korra |
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