Gary-Summer: March 30, 2022 - Million Dollar Mile

Wednesday, March 30, 2022

March 30, 2022 - Million Dollar Mile

Title: March 30, 2022 - Million Dollar Mile
Hike Info : Description : Extra Photo's : Flowers and Plants

Hike Info:

Type: Hiking

Trail head: Italian Bar Road

Trail: Million Dollar Mile

Destination: Stevenson Falls

Distance: 6.90 miles 1

Start Time: 10:40

End Time: 2:36

Travel Time: 3:45 (1.84 mph)

Moving Time: 3:15 (2.16 mph)

Elevation Rise: 988' 2

Descent: 837‘

Maximum Elevation: 2,337'

GPS Tracks

¹I was late turning on the GPS, so it missed maybe the first eight to a quarter mile of our route-basically the part going down to Jose Creek from where we parked.

²The elevation rise and descent is from what was plotted on my GPS. My Google Earth had 1,497’ and 1,397’. Previous hikes had 900-1200’.

Description:

I am keeping up my streak of going on a meetup hike-second week in a row. The rest of the group is going to the Center of California, but Betty and I will go directly to the trailhead on Italian Bar Road, The fortunate thing is we can leave later, well at least I can. Betty had a 45 minute drive to get to my place. Sherri is still recovering from her surgery so she is not going.

Jose Creek

On the way up, we pass by McKenzie Preserve. We see a group gathering for some activity and I wonder about seeing a blonde-a friend of mine is a docent there. Turns out my friend is not there, but Betty and I have a discussion about my first infatuation with a blonde-Mary Travers who once put her head on my shoulder (be still my beating heart).

After stopping in Prather at a public bathroom, we go on to the trailhead. I had thought we would be about 15 minutes early, but I miscalculated. It was 40 minutes before anybody showed up and about 15 minutes before our fearless leaders, John and Cathey, showed up.

The Million Dollar Mile Road is a private, paved road, owned by Southern California Edison (you can read about it in the link). It was created in the 1920’s as part of the Big Creek Project. SCE allows pedestrians and non-motorized vehicles on the road, but no private cars. When a bunch of us get to the gate, two SCE trucks have it opened, so we slip in, rather than do the more common, allowable, short scramble down and around the gate.

Redinger Lake

John and Cathey are starting a bit slow, so they tell us to go ahead and stop at the bridge. We stopped at the Jose Creek bridge, but they meant the bridge 3+ miles ahead at Stevenson Creek. Oh well, it gives me a chance to slip to the back of the pack and walk with my friends Cathey and John,

A couple of days ago, a good rain came through, clearing the air and washing away the accumulated dust from plants and rocks. This has brought out a bounty of flowers. The purple of lupine, the yellow of common madia, orange from the California golden poppies and whites from the miners lettuce, to name a few of the flowers, creating a collage of color. In the past after a rain, we have seen the walls of the canyon glistening with water and it falling down the steep sides of the gorge which the San Joaquin River has carved out. But I think the ground being so dry, there was no excess water to put on this show. So we are content with the flowers.

I forgot to mention the helicopter-I think there were two of them, but we only saw one at a time. I think SCE was doing some work in the area. This helicopter carried a long pole up the canyon. We kept on hearing them throughout the day, but only that once carrying a pole.

Even though we are going up the canyon, there is a place where the road has a long descent into Stevenson Creek. I have been apprehensive about this. Not to go down, but the obvious situation where I have to come back up it. For the past three years, my stamina has not been good-so the concern is real. Before that time, while the climb is wearing, it was more of an inconvenience. We will see how I will do. But John and Cathey decide this is a good turn around point. They tell me to continue on and let the others know they have turned back. I guess I have no choice now :-).

Initial view of Stevenson

Down the road Terry and I go. At last, rounding a ridge, we see the falls-having done this road several times, I knew it was coming. The falls look like they are a bit on the weak side of moderate. But they still rate in my mind worthy of what one website said: it is one of the ten best waterfalls in California.

We are the last to arrive. I talk with those around, we will be going back up in 10-15 minutes, after we have had a chance to eat lunch and get a few minutes of rest off of our feet. In the meantime, like anytime you hike with people, a discussion can take place. Such as, what is above Stevenson Falls? I know from previously looking at maps, we are only seeing about a quarter of the falls. But it looks like from down here there may be a pool or something above the part we can see. (Looking at Google Earth, it is only a rock slab up there). There is a road at the top, but the falls would be hard to access from the top.

Spot above the falls from Google Maps

To fill in a bit of time, the conversation turns to snakes. Not that we have seen any on this trip. But just various reports of snakes. Such as a boa constrictor squeezing a handler or a snake trying to swallow a child or a house with a den of rattlers under it. You know fun stuff like that.

Pretty dry San Joaquin River

Terry has been busily taping up her foot-maybe blisters. And now she is ready to go. The group have been dribbling out and there is a small group of us who are the last to leave. I still spend a few minutes getting pictures of the falls from the bridge. When I look up the road, everybody is pretty far up it. This does not look promising.Like I said, it is a long uphill journey. But my body surprises me. I am going up this slope at a pretty good pace and not being winded. Not sure why, but I will take it. Close to the top, I catch up to the tail end of the group and do not have to stop to catch my breath!

Last helicopter sighting

The rest of the way I am feeling much more confident now. I stop occasionally to take a picture. Then I am able to catch up pretty nicely. Maybe it is the weather-not hot, not cold, just right to walk. A beautiful day! I still have sweat on the band of my hat, but it is not dripping down my face. When we go past a little adit, nobody takes me up on the offer to see it. I think they want to get back to the cars. I still get to explain what an adit is and the relationship to penstocks are. I think I am in my element, just blabbering away.

When we come around the final turn to go down into Jose Creek, I spot a helicopter over the SCE yard below us. He just seems to hover there, almost motionless, except for its rotary blades. And then I spotted people making their way up out of Jose Creek. We are not that far behind them! Amazing. By the time they get to the gate, so do we.

And now for the drive home again. The rest of the group will stop in Prather for food. But Betty and I will continue on back to Fresno. Because we came down this way, John suggests (directs?) that we take the lead to get them out of here. It can be confusing, but having traveled it many times, I have confidence, we will not get lost. In Prather, we see them turn off for food. And another 45 minutes Betty and I are in front of my house, getting in around 4:00pm. I am glad for today. It turned out so much better than I was expecting.