Gary-Summer: March 2021

Wednesday, March 31, 2021

March 31, 2021 - Azalea Trail Snowshoe

Title: March 31, 2021 - Azalea Trail Snowshoe
Hike Info : Description : Extra Photo's : Animals : Flowers and Plants

Trail head: South Boundary Trailhead

Hike Info:

Type: Snowshoeing
Trail: Azalea and Park Ridge Trails
Destination: Park Ridge Lookout
Distance: 5.83 miles
Start Time: 9:33
End Time: 5:02
Travel Time: 7:28 (0.78 mph)
Moving Time: 6:04 (0.96 mph)

Elevation Rise: 1,465 '
Descent: 1,503‘
Maximum Elevation: 7,550'

GPS Tracks

Description:

Start of Azalea Trail

Betty and Rose have commitments this Wednesday. Sherri and I got our second vaccine Sunday. I ended up with just a sore arm, but it has taken a lot out of Sherri. So I am the sole remaining hiker for this Wednesday’s hike. So what do I want to do? I figure there might be three places depending on what I find:

Buena Vista Peak-the one we did earlier
Road up to Panorama Point
Azalea Trail-This is my preference as I am pretty confident I will be the only one on it.

I leave a bit later than I was hoping at 8:15. It is a clear day without much issues going up. Above Dunlap there is a prescribed burn going on McKenzie Ridge

Waterfall on log

, but I do not see smoke. I get into the park at 9:00. The beginning of the Azalea Trail is the entrance into the South Boundary Trail/Needle Dump road. There is a wide area to park, so I stop here to see about walking it. It looks like the first part is mostly dirt with patches of snow. So this is what I will do today.

Snow covered trail above the creek

The first part of the trail is about half and half dirt and snow. But the snow is set up pretty well, so no need to put on the snow shoes. I go up pretty well and my lungs can feel it. After about ⅜ th of a mile, the snow becomes more continuous, so I put on my snowshoes. Shortly afterwards, I come to a tributary of Sequoia Creek-the one Ella Falls is on. There has always been a nice little creek here. A log has fallen across it a long time past so the water trickles underneath it, creating a peaceful waterfall-one which you might like in your garden.

Final Hill

The trail crosses the creek, with a nice little platform bridge. On the other side of the creek, I come across some coyote tracks-I think they are a bit smallish, but then again, I am no judge. It does remind me that even though I am hiking by myself, I may not be alone.

About ten minutes later, I hear a single bark, maybe hundred yards away. That really means I am not alone, am I? But that was the last definite sign that something else besides the birds were around me. I kept imagining I heard something throughout the hike, but when I would stop, I would only hear the sound of my breathing.

Park Ridge Lookout

It has been a pretty easy path to follow, even if the route is covered by snow. Of course, I have been up this trail several times, and I look for signs which I know, such as a fallen tree or notches in the ground. I do feel the grade and stop to take in breath.

Shell Mountain

Eventually the trail leaves the creek and starts climbing the ridge. I know that it will be a pretty good rise from here to the saddle. It is a pretty continuous climb, some of it is exposed so I wonder if I will be taking off my snowshoes again. In the meantime, it is really nice walking up this slope, enjoying the view over the trees, not seeing distance yet.

Bald and Bear Mountains

When I come to the long switch back up to the saddle, there is a large tree across the path-both sides of trail has bush or is pretty steep. I am not sure I can easily get under the tree either. I decide to go around and down the log. While doable, it did drain a lot of energy out of me. But I continue on. Shortly afterwards, there is a long stretch of dirt. So off comes the snowshoes. I walk the last quarter of a mile up to the saddle this way.

It is time for lunch-my peanut butter sandwich. I noticed that I have pretty good cell service-wonder if it is from Wilsonia? I give Sherri a call and I discuss the situation. I am feeling pretty tired, but not sure how I will be after I have lunch. If I do, then I will not make it back to Fresno like I said by 4pm. It has been a lot harder than I expected.

Patterson Bluffs

After resting up for twenty minutes, talking with Sherri, I decide to continue on. After I have done the climb right? And how far away is it? Well in retrospect, my mind may have been clouded by optimism! I decided that going via the road would be easier than trying to follow the trail. I am not so sure now. A little ways up the road, I come across another fallen tree. Not an issue going over this one. Just noted it as I think SEKI might want to know, particularly if service people need to come up here.

Buena Vista Peak-left lower, Mt Silliman

There are thoughts of, Should I turn around? I am feeling the energy draining from me. My steps are getting heavy which means I am more plodding instead of stepping. On the other hand, I am really close. Fortunately there is some eye candy of the ranges to the east and north. A couple of familiar curves and I know I am really close. one last hill to climb. I do note a nice field of snow-maybe coming back that would be a shortcut back to the trail.

North Guard, Mt Brewer-Thunder Mt on Right

Finally, the last pull up the hill to Park Ridge Lookout. The destination does not disappoint. During the summer, our field of view is mostly down into the foothill communities with some views of the mountains to the east and south. But usually there is a haze to dampen our enjoyment in these directions. But today, the air is clear in those directions and the view is magnificent! Even though it is warm, the air is not hazy, the mountains have snow on them, and everything is in sharp relief. So glad I made it all the way up here. I tried to call Sherri-no answer. But in the message I left, I was wondering about being stationed up here during the winter-it is that good.

I rest awhile. It will be a long trip back. Either way, it will be some uphill which I am not looking forward to. That is what makes that long snow field I passed on the way up so inviting. But after checking the topo map, I decided that I could also run into considerable trouble as parts of it look pretty steep. So instead of taking the road back, I will take the trail back to the saddle. Even though there is an initial rise, once there, it is mostly close to level until I drop into the saddle.

Buck Rock Lookout

I thought I would be smart and go up a ways and contour the hill and save a few feet of climb. But I am too smart for myself and now get to circumnavigate fallen logs. I decide it is better to climb up the trail. It is better up there, but being the top I need to pick my way to maximize the snow and avoid rock. It may have been better to trudge along the road. Still it is good to go over different terrain. Just wish I was less tired so I could really enjoy the wonder and wander of being up here alone. Finally the hill drops off and I go down into the saddle.

I stop to rest a few minutes and find out I have lost my Moleskine with my notes. Oh well. I call Sherri and discuss what I am going to do. I have decided to go down the Manzanita Trail a little way-boots on, snowshoes off. There is a ridge which drops down to the Azalea Trail, if I work it right. Sherri says she trusts me. The one thing I do not like about this plan, is that these are my snow boots, not hiking boots, so I am not sure how the traction will be or if I will tear up the soles of the boots. Still I am not wild about either the extra distance of going to the Visitor Center which is where the Manzanita Trail leads, or navigating around the fallen log on the Azalea Trail. So I go with this plan.

Park Ridge where the Azalea Trail climbs up

This is an exposed ridge so it is a dry, well at least without snow on it. The slope is not bad and I make pretty fast time down it. Also feeling surprisingly refreshed. Maybe going without trail is my fountain of youth? Towards the end of the ridge, it will drop off steeply so I start looking for the trail to my left. Before long, I think I see a few markings of where I think the trail should be-no visual on the trail. There is a nice gradient here, so I head down. When I get to the creek, no immediate visual, but after a few minutes, I see it across the trail-success! I put on my snowshoes again.

I make pretty good time down the rest of the trail. About ⅜’s of a mile before the end, I take off the snowshoes-about the same place I put them on coming up. Even though the feeling of tiredness has returned, I make good time back to the car. It is 5pm. I guess I have totally blown my 4:00pm return to Fresno. I text Sherri and am off, arriving back to Fresno at 6:30, tired-obviously, and hungry. I eat during the family Zoom call. Then take a shower. Good to be back home.

Extra Photo's

Delilah Lookout

Monarch Range

Bear and Bald Mtns

Cedar Tree


Snow at the Beginning of the Azalea Trail

Wren Peak

Buck Rock Lookout

Park Ridge Lookout from close to the Manzanita Trail

Animals

Coyote Tracks

Flowers and Plants

Lichen

Shelf Fungi

Wednesday, March 24, 2021

March 24, 2021 - Briceburg to the West

Title: March 24, 2021 - Briceburg to the West

Hike Info : Description : Extra Photo's : Animals : Flowers and Plants

Trail head: Briceburg

Hike Info:

Type: Hiking

Trail: Incline Road
Destination: Railroad Flat Campground
Actual Destination: Good Gulch, but Sherri, Betty and Rose made past Hall Gulch
Distance: 6.97 miles¹
Start Time: 10:51
End Time: 3:18
Travel Time: 4:27 (1.57 mph)
Moving Time: 3:22 (2.08 mph)
Elevation Rise: 352'
Descent: 302‘
Maximum Elevation: 1,216'

GPS Tracks

¹I turned around about ¾ of a mile before Railroad Flat Campground, while Betty, Rose and Sherri went beyond Railroad Flat down the Merced River Gorge Trail. The mileage and elevation is what I traveled. The ladies traveled around the same mileage on their travels.

Description:

Rose, Betty, and Sherri above the Bridge

Today’s trip is one we have done a couple of times. The first time was with our son when we discovered the beauty of walking down this pretty warm road. The next time was with our Meetup group, in a pouring rain. Still enjoyable. Today we will hike with Betty and Rose. I wonder what this trail will bring?

Merced River

We leave Fresno at 9:00am with Betty. In Madera we pickup Rose-each in a separate car. You know we still are in the middle of a pandemic, even though we all are on our way to getting fully vaccinated. We arrived in Briceburg around 10:40. We pretty quickly started walking after arriving.

We cross over the Briceburg Bridge, being chased across by a car trying to cross after us. Then it is down the Incline Road. That pretty much describes what we will be walking on for the next several hours.

Redbud along our road

Of course the rest of the description is a lot different. We walk along the Merced River. While not the River of cascades and falls and rock of the upper part of the river. Still it is not a tame river, it is a wild and scenic river. But even the Merced is not the main draw. During the Spring time when the sun is shining, the wildflowers are out. There are the Redbuds, Shooting Stars, Blue Dicks, and then there are some California Golden Poppies. Not just some, but as we head down the River Gorge, there fields, and then whole hillsides of poppies. It is truly a glorious sight. The whole scene reminds me of:

California Golden Poppy

And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith?
A hillside of poppies

Apparently the secret of this area is out Today both coming and going, we see several other people walking the road. Not only people, but the road is open to vehicles. Several cars go down to the three campgrounds. In previous trips, the road was closed and we pretty much had the road open to ourselves. We stop for lunch at one of them, McCabe Flat. Pleasant enough place.

Decision Committee

By this time, it is about 1:00pm and we have about an hour more before we need to turn around. I am feeling it is a bit warm-the ladies do not seem to be affected. We start hitting more poppy fields which mesmerizes the eyes and lifts one's heart.

It does not look like we will make it as far as Railroad Flat. But I know that is where the truly amazing poppy fields are, even though these are pretty good. So a plan is forming in my mind. I suggested that I go back and bring back our car, they can continue to walk down the road and hopefully see the poppy fields. After considering it, they accepted.

Merced River from another view

I start back while Rose, Betty and Sherri continue on down the road. While I am going uphill, the rising is really gradual. Something about seeing things in reverse, you pick up things which the eyes in the back of your head missed. While I stop occasionally, not nearly as much as when we came down. There is enough there to have me stop and take some pictures

Halls Gulch

By the time I got back to the car, it was 3:40. The drive down was a bit slow. The only hurry on my part is to be able to be in our regular 6:30 family Zoom. It took me about 25 minutes to drive the dirt road, dodging a few hikers and on-coming cars. The ladies were walking back up the road after having a great walk about a mile or so beyond Halls Gulch.

House along trail below Railroad Flat

By the time we got to Briceburg, it was 4:30. Then the discouraging incident which marred the day. Somebody had tried to break into Betty’s car, really messing up the handle on the passenger side. By the time we leave, it is closing in on 5:00pm. Sherri and I stop at Burger King in Mariposa-an OK place to eat. We arrived back home about 6:40, joining our Zoom meeting a bit late.

Merced River Trail

To fill you in on the ladies part of the trip, Sherri will tell us about that portion of the trip:

Gary graciously said He would go get the car so we can continue on our trek. We continued to enjoy the many flowers also the way as we came to Willow Placer Campground. We were figuring out where each of us would have our campground. Lots of shade at this campground. We continued on another half a mile to the Railroad Flat Campground. Again where do we want to camp? So on to crossing the bridge but first we explored the small waterfalls by the bridge. The poppies become even more expansive. The trail went right through the middle of the field. We came upon a house. It looks like it may have a stop on the railroad line but the house is updated for the current residents. It did have some amazing rock rolls by the house. There was also what looked like it may have been a coal chute. The road finally turned into the Merced River Trail. Our discussion here was what were those very green cedar doing here? They really seemed out of place. We wanted to go further but our turnaround time had come. We need to come back and go further on the trail. But as we turn around the poppies seem to explode with color. What an amazing place to be.