Gary-Summer: July 28, 2021 - Crescent Meadow

Wednesday, July 28, 2021

July 28, 2021 - Crescent Meadow

Title: July 28, 2021 - Crescent Meadow
Hike Info : Description : Menu : Extra Photo's : Flowers and Plants

Hike Info:

Type: Hiking
Trail: High Sierra, Trail of the Sequoia, Circle Meadow
Destination: Wander
Distance: 5.87 miles 1
Start Time: 11:40
End Time: 5:02
Travel Time: 3:47 (1.29 mph)
Moving Time: 3:16 (1.49 mph)
Elevation Rise: 968'
Descent: 945‘
Maximum Elevation: 7,328'

GPS Tracks
¹I did not turn on the GPS until we had gone a mile. The distance includes a calculated mileage. The Start Time is from my notes. The rest of the data is only from the GPS.

Description:

I get up a few minutes later than yesterday. Instead of making my morning trip to the Grant Grove Visitor Center, I checked to see if there was any lightning yesterday-no. So I just read and wrote this morning until Sherri got up. Breakfast was oatmeal. Then we dilly-dallied around camp for a while. By the time we left, it was 10:30

Sherri drives down to Giant Forest-a decidedly easier drive than yesterdays. We get to the parking lot at 11:20. We get on a shuttle to Crescent Meadow. When we get off, we talk with a couple of Park people who are with SAR. Last week when we were at Park Ridge Lookout, we heard of a couple people who were lost. One of them on the High Sierra Trail. That is what these people are here to make us aware of. A bit more information is that he was with a group. He got sick and decided to head to Crescent Meadow. That was the last heard from him. We will keep our eyes out for him-not that we are traveling very far on the HST.

Clouds over Sawtooth

A few minutes of taking care of ourselves and off we go. The first stop is Eagle View along the High Sierra Trail. It is about a mile away and we have been there several times, so it is nothing new. Except is is a grand view without the crowds of Moro Rock. Along the way up to it, we talk for awhile with a hiker. He is interested in going backpacking, but not sure how to stop. So we fill him in on some of the basics. He seems to be ready to take the next step in his adventure.

When we get to Eagle View, the sun is beating down on us. But on the Kern-Kaweah Divide clouds are gathering-looks like there will be some activity on my lightning report tomorrow. But today, there is just a sense of awe and majesty. You can see why the Psalmist would say that He parted the heavens and came down; dark clouds were under his feet.

We go back to the junction where the High Sierra Trail and the Trail of the Sequoias come together. We take one of our favorite trails, The Trail of the Sequoias. This trail is usually a trail less traveled. Today is no different-we will see only one couple over the three miles we travel. This means the trail is quiet. You get to hear birds chirping and the rustle of the breeze. Occasionally, but not today, we will spot a bear. But the main attraction are the Sequoias. You get to look up at them, see them in the middle and look down. There is a sense of peace and majesty everywhere you look.

But there is also a reminder of a falleness, both literally and spiritually. Even the mighty Sequoias do fall and destroy everything in its path. But there is growth as they decay. You find bushes and trees gain nutrients from the monarch of the forest. There are also signs of living in a fallen world. There is hardly a Sequoia not scorched by fire or at least having a bruise by some other living creature. Of course, we humans leave our marks as well-the most visible evidence is litter. We occasionally find small bits of liter, which we try to pick up as we go. Paul states this so well, the creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the freedom and glory of the children of God.

Chief Sequyah Tree

About half way along the trail, we have lunch. Nice ambiance-quiet, cool with Sequoias in view. Then we continued on. By the time we headed down to the Congress area, my legs were starting to tire. There we met the Chief Sequyah tree. Also there is a bench close by to enjoy the view. It would be dis-courtious not to take advantage of the bench. While there a family comes by and we assist in their tourist persona by taking family pictures. Then Sherri acts as tour guide and shows them the Chief Sequyah tree.

Sherri admiring Circle meadow

We take off through The Senate group to Circle Meadow. It is a pretty walk around the meadow, but the trail does nothing for my tired legs-there is a series of ups and downs. The meadow does offer some solace with several good views, but not that “picture-perfect” one with a Sequoia in the background-too many trees get in the way.

Circle Meadow

We finally drop into Crescent Meadow and hike around it. Also a pleasant sight, even with the body starting to wear-down. When we get back to the tram stop, the SAR people are still there. Still no success. After talking with them-they do back-country maintenance, not trail work, but taking care of the ranger buildings and such, the tram comes and we end up at our car.

Sunset from our campsite

I drive back to camp, an uneventful journey. Sherri gets our dinner ready-a grilled cheese and tri-tip sandwich. Pretty good. During dinner, it is time for our family Zoom call. The normal chit-chat and family enjoyment. By the time it ends, it is starting to get dark. I am tired and I think Sherri is pretty close to that. So off to bed we go.

Breakfast	Lunch	Dinner	Snacks
Oatmeal and add-ins, such as dried peaches, strawberries, nuts, granola. Tang.	Peanut Butter and Nutella Sandwich	Hot grilled tri-tip and cheese sandwich.	Clif Bar, GORP,, Jelly Belly