Gary-Summer: February 16, 2022

Wednesday, February 16, 2022

February 16, 2022 - Miami Mountain

Title: February 16, 2022 - Miami Mountain

Hike Info : Description : Extra Photo's

Hike Info:

Type: Hiking

Trail head: Miami Mtn Road

Trail: Miami Mtn Road

Destination: Miami Lookout

Distance: 4.22 miles

Start Time: 9:45

End Time: 1:06

Travel Time: 3:21 (1.26 mph)

Moving Time: 2:08 (1.98 mph)

Elevation Rise: 1,078'

Descent: 1,061‘

Maximum Elevation:4,336 '

GPS Tracks

Description:

Start of the road up

The goal today is to hike up to Miami Mountain Lookout with our friends Betty and Rose. Woke up unaided at 6:30, my normal time. The big question is will Sherri feel like going this morning. She was a bit under the weather last night. By 8:00, I pretty much had the answer since she did not get up. 8:30 comes and so does Betty who rings the doorbell. We leave in separate cars. We come to the El Meso and 41 off-ramp and find Rose there. After exchanging greetings, I give directions on getting to the trailhead. This is one of those don’t blink, you will miss it turn offs. But we all make it by 9:40. By 9:55, or boots are starting to kick up dust.

Rose and Betty almost to the top

This route up Miami Mountain is a dirt road, some of it being through private property which allows access to the Miami Mountain Lookout. I have done this several times and know that it is a pretty good haul up the mountain, but doable. It will test how good of shape I am in, also if my lungs will hold out.

The first small section is by the home of the person with private property. A dog comes out to greet us and perform guard duty. The person I have heard is heavily involved in keeping the lookout open. Sounds like a win-win.

The air is cool, but even so, I take off my long-sleeve shirt and feel comfortable walking in the sun. A lot of times when I have done Miami Mtn, it has been 10-20 degrees warmer and there is cause to sweat heavily.

Signal Lookout

I will not say the walk is boring for two reasons. The first is because when you are walking up this road, you are surrounded by oaks and manzanita (or is there some madrone mixed in?), and other shrubbery. Lots there to keep you going. By the way, we do not see much in the realm of wildlife: a few birds and some tracks. Secondly because when you are walking with friends, there is a lot of goodness to everyday conversation: how was Hawaii? Where are you going to celebrate a birthday? How is the ranch doing? And so on. All part of friendship. So good to walk this way.

As we have been climbing for awhile, Betty makes a comment that we seem to be circling around the mountain. And yes we are. Shortly afterwards, we turn and are on the final leg of approach to the top of the mountain and the lookout. The top of Miami is fairly mild, it is a long slightly rounded top with the two story lookout sitting on its crown. There is new construction going on with the telecommunications system. The top is acquired around 11:20.

Prescribed Burn

There are several smokes showing towards the east, particularly. These are from fireplaces burning to keep the house warm. We see them all the way over to the foot of Shuteye Peak. Also, we can barely make out the lookout on top of that peak. But Signal Lookout on top of Devil’s Peak is fairly evident to the northwest of us. This is a good place to have lunch.

When we were seeing the various chimney smokes, it looked like there was one out of the ordinary to the north. After lunch, when I glanced over there, the smoke had gotten bigger and did not act as a single column, more like a wildland fire. But was Sierra NF doing a prescribed burn? Looking at Facebook, the Forest had an entry saying that starting Tuesday they would be doing a prescribed burn in the Lewis Creek drainage. . Bingo. That is where the smoke is going from. Also judging from the location I think it is in the Miami OHV area close to 41.

On the Way Down

Our trip down the mountain is much like the trip up it. Low mountain vegetation, views of snow in the high mountains and good conversation. That would be also without the huffing and puffing I experienced on the way up. We arrived back at the car by 1pm without incident and by 1:20, our cars touched pavement. The drive home was relaxed, as was I. It did feel good to park the car in our garage. I touched base with Sherri-she is feeling better. Then laid down for a little while.