January 27, 2023 - Indian Basin Loop Snowshoe

 

Title:  January 27, 2023 - Indian Basin Loop Snowshoe

Hike Info : Description :  Extra Photo's 

Hike Info:

Type: Snowshoeing

Trail head: Princess Campground Entrance on Highway 180 

Trail: Indian Basin Loop

Destination: Loop

Distance:  1.67 miles

Start Time: 1:29

End Time:  3:32

Travel Time:  2:03 (0.82 mph)

Moving Time:  1:26  (1.17 mph)

Elevation Rise: 231'

Descent: 246‘

Maximum Elevation: 5,968'

GPS Tracks

Description:

Today Steven has off, so we will go up to the snow. I am thinking of going towards Big Meadows or Woodward Creek. Both Steven and Sherri are onboard with this-Steven independently suggested it as well.

Steven

Sherri

I got up at my usual time and did a few things. This will not be an intense day, so it is OK to get a late start. And that is what we did. We left about Fresno 11:40-I love that we are that close to my playgrounds. When we got to the Wye, I saw a wall of snow with only a narrow gap, space enough for one car. The gate is closed, so Big Meadow is out of the picture for today. There are several other places we can go, with Korra. We thought about Converse Basin or the Thorpe area. But we decided to see what Indian Basin looked like. We had heard that earlier in the rain storms it had flooded out.

 

 

The road down is snow bounded with walls up to six feet high. Parts of the road had snow on it and a little bit of it had ice. Fortunately we have AWD with snow tires so we hold the road pretty well. When we get to the Princess Campground entrance, it is about 1:15. The snow is only about three feet above the roadway. Also it looks pretty good. So we decided to walk the Indian Basin Loop.

Indian Basin Meadow

Korra, the snow dog

Sherri and I will be on snowshoes while Steven decided to slide along on his cross-country skis. And then there is Korra with her snow paws. Already there is a big doggie smile on her face as she gets out into the snow. About 50’ in, there is a gate across the road, but that is nearly buried. Of course, that does not stop us. We continue on down the road, making a left turn to the Indian Basin trailhead. There is an outhouse as well as some semi-buried picnic tables. We have our lunch there.

Sherri navigating the unsnow

And then we are off on the loop. I have done this loop twice in the snow and several times walking it during the last year. So it is a route pretty familiar to me. Still with all of the snow, there are places it is hard to pick out where the path goes. And then again, all through our route, there are places where water has cut through the snow, leaving the bare ground. Go figure. It is just enjoyable being on this path. Plus, it is pretty level. So we walk pretty well, with no issue, except for Steven who has to occasionally unclip and walk across bare spots.

One of the pleasures of this trail is the wide and long meadow. We can look down it, and across the Kings to the snow covered Wren Peak. Such a great sight. While the temp is cool, we are either moving enough or in the sun so we feel warm-not warm enough for shorts and a T-shirt, but feeling comfortable.

Before we know it, we are back at the trailhead. Steven ski’s on with Korra, while Sherri and I plod on our snowshoes. We considered going up into the campsites, but decided to save it for another time. By the time we get back to the car, it is 3:30. A good, but short time in the snow.

We travel directly back to Fresno getting back a bit after 5pm, in the rush hour traffic.

Extra Photo's

Korra, the snow dog

Snow covered bridge

Ice

January 24, 2023 - Mariposa Grove

 

Title: January 24, 2023 - Mariposa Grove

Hike Info : Description : Extra Photo's

Hike Info:

Type: Snowshoeing 

Trail head: Mariposa Grove Plaza Parking Lot

Trail: Washburn Trail, Shuttle Road

Destination: Grove Arrival Area

Distance:  4.24 miles

Start Time: 12:02

End Time:    4:06

Travel Time: 4:04  (1.04 mph)

Moving Time:  2:55  (1.45 mph)

Elevation Rise: 761'

Descent: 758‘

Maximum Elevation: 5,655'

GPS Tracks

Description:

Sherri

Last week we did the first snowshoe walk of the season at Big Stump. It was a mile long walk. For today’s walk Sherri suggested something a bit more-walking up to Mariposa Grove with our snowshoes. We have allocated 2-3 hour. We will see how we do.

Gary

I got up a bit late, around 7:30. I start to drain the rainwater out of the bed of my truck. But only moderately successful. There is a sheet of ice. There is always tomorrow to finish this task. I listen to my weekly weather webcast-nothing which caught my attention. But then I took care of a couple financial things, including reporting a fake PayPal invoice.

 

 

 

 

 

Sherri after lunch

By this time it is a bit after 10:00. We are able to get the car moving by 10:30. We make it to Oakhurst by 11:15. To my surprise, Sherri wants to stop at Judy’s Donuts for coffee and a donut. She even picks up a donut for me. And then we are off to Yosemite. We get into the Mariposa Grove Plaza Parking lot. The facilities are used and we get our equipment together. At least some of it. I discovered I forgot my sunglasses. Sherri has a cheap pair which fits over my glasses.

We strap on our snowshoes and hit the Washburn Trail. Admittedly, I am slightly confused. I thought this was the shuttle road and the trail was down a little lower. But Sherri called it correctly about it being the trail. Start of it is slippery, not icey. We are glad to have the snowshoes on, but I suspect that microspikes would do just as well. The whole path is pretty well packed. So we do not sink.

Our path goes this way

A good thing is that there are not that many people out on this trail. We may be the one of the few adventurers out there, or it could be just a Tuesday and the weekend crowds are not there. Either way, just the quietness of a forest with the snow blanketing the floor and the lack of people gives the sense of tranquility.

 

Snow and Water

The first mile is a pretty good uphill. Even on this uphill, I manage to trip over my snowshoes and fall-but no injury, except to my pride. So when we get to a spot of sunshine, we stop for lunch, around 12”45. It is good to rest and get recharged. Sherri is also refreshed and does well. A couple come up at the junction which goes up to the road. The woman seems to want reassurance about where they are going; the guy seems to want to tell us where we should go. Oh well. They pass by and we continue on our plodding pace.

We are mesmerized by the snow surrounding a few creeks. Or maybe I just wanted to rest my legs a few times. Either way. These little little things on our walk makes these outings so worthwhile. As we get close to the Arrival Area at Mariposa Grove, we see the results of last Summer’s Washburn Fire. In some obtuse way, the burnt trees form a stark setting of beauty with the snow surrounding them.

And this gets us to the Grove Arrival Area. I visit the facilities upon arrival and then we have a snack. Shortly afterwards, a German couple and their baby arrive. We talked for a while. They even snap our picture. Without people up here, the area takes on a whole new look. Not quite natural, but definitely not touristy. I think I like it this way.

And now it is time to go down. We decided to try the road. It has taken us two and a half hours to get up here. So much for 2-3 hours. The road should be faster, plus being able to see things differently. And there are differences. I have always enjoyed the Sequoias by the entrance to the Grove. They remind me of guardians. And then there are places to enjoy looking out over the drainage of the South Fork of the Merced.

You know those loaner sunglasses? I cracked the frame. We had gone through a long stretch of shade, so I took them off. I then fell a second time. In getting up, I heard a crack-yep cracked the frame. There are a few patchy places as the snow is a foot deep at its deepest. A snow cat comes up. Looks like it is a service vehicle for Verizon. This starts a discussion about how the snow is being removed from the road and why there are patchy places. My legs are getting a bit tired. Sherri seems to be in the EverReady Bunny mode. But around 4pm, we get down to the Plaza and the car.

 

 
Extra Photo's

Snow, Rock and setting sun

Looking up the South Fork of the Merced

Snow and Shadow

Devil's Peak

Mt Savage

Sherri's Selfie

January 20, 2023 - Big Stump

Title: January 20, 2023 - Big Stump
Hike Info : Description :   Extra Photo's

Hike Info:

Type: Snowshoeing 

Trail head: Big Stump Parking Lot

Trail: Big Stump Trail

Destination: None-only going to go for an hour

Actual Destination: Big Stump Meadow

Distance:  0.85 miles

Start Time: 2:47

End Time:  3:56

Travel Time: 1:08  (0.75 mph)

Moving Time:  0:45  (1.14 mph)

Elevation Rise:  276'

Descent: 194‘

Maximum Elevation: 6,326'

GPS Tracks

 

Description:

Gary's new snowshoes

I got up at 7 and am hoping that I can go on a brief snowshoe walk sometime today. It will depend on the weather-not so much will there be rain, but how icy will the roads be?. I have not been up this season, so I am interested in doing two things: just getting snow under my feet and getting the snowshoes my children gave me on top of some snow.

Sherri following Gary's tracks

I spent the morning just doing this and that, Then had lunch. By 1pm, Sherri and I are off, I am hoping to go up Millwood Road and meet enough snow to walk on, The drive past Dunlap is uneventful. Millwood is in pretty good condition, even when it turns into a dirt road. But when we come to Mike’s house, the road is covered with snow, but not deep enough to put snowshoes on for. So we turn around and head towards Big Stump.

 

 

 

Gary

 

 

 

 

 

The Path

As we get close to the Park, the road is covered in places with snow. There was a sign saying chains required, except if you have 4-Wheel Drive. I hope this included All Wheel Drive, because we continue on without chaining up. When we reach the entry station, the ranger does ask and I say yes to having AWD and he is satisfied. On we go to Big Stump.

I had thought about taking our third trip to Hitchcock Meadow in a year, but there is 4’ of snow to scramble over before we can hit the trail. Instead we decided to go down the Big Stump Trail. A word about my new MSR snowshoes. They are a dream to put on. The straps are easily adjusted and the snowshoe is snug, but comfortable on the boot. It only took a couple of minutes from the time I started to put on the snowshoe till I was ready to go. I think I am going to love these snowshoes.

Snow Covered Stump

When Sherri got ready, we cut over to the trail. It is a trail we have walked many a time but on dirt and a few on snow. But going over with the snow is something magical. While there are footprints, the rest of the snow is untouched. Snow is still on the trees-this leads to the only little bit of unpleasantness. While not warm,, the snow in the trees is melting, splattering down on those of us passing under it. And I forgot my hat!

Sherri and Gary

Still I love this Winter scene. I had us only going for an hour. So at the half an hour mark we turn around. By now, it is 3:30. We made it to the meadow area. There is a nice fog, or cloud enveloping us. It gives the Sequoias a quality of being silent guardians of the forest, loaming dark against the white. It says to me, when do I come back again? And if I have anything to do with it, we will.

We get back to the car about 4 and are able to take off soon afterwards. By 5:15, we are back home. I am pretty satisfied with the day. I love my snowshoes. They are highly maneuverable-I did step on them three times, but did not fall. And as easy as they were putting on, they were even easier to take off.

 

Extra Photo's

Our path and some Sequoias

Sun coming through the mist and Sherri

Mist covering the Sequoias

Mist on Meadow

 

Sequoia

Gary and a snow covered bush

Icicles

January 17, 2023 - Salem and Back Home

 

Title: January 17, 2023 - Salem and Back Home
Hike Info : Description : Extra Photo's

Hike Info:

Type: Walk

Trail head: Andrea’s House

Trail: Mission St, Church St, State St

Destination: Bush Pasture Park and the Hallie Ford Museum of Art

Distance:  3.30 miles

Start Time:  11:44

End Time:     1:53

Travel Time:  2:09 (1.54 mph)

Moving Time:  1:36  (2.06 mph)

Elevation Rise:  393'

Descent: 298‘

Maximum Elevation: 158'

Description:

I woke up when Andrea got ready for work, but I stayed pretty snuggled in bed. Then when Lawrence got ready for work, once again I was cognizant of the activity. It was only after he left did I wiggle out of the bed and had my breakfast. To top off my meal, I had some of Andrea’s tasty homemade bread. Then I waited for Sherri and Steven to get up.

Deepwood

It was a slow morning. But neither did it need to be one of frantic activity. Still, we are a slow moving bunch. Eventually we decided to go for a walk to Bush Pasture Park and then to the Hallie Ford Art Museum.The latter has free entry on Tuesdays, and guess what? Today is Tuesday.

 

 

 

Honors pioneer children

We begin our walk by going down Mission St. There is an overpass with the railroad tracks under it. Little did we know that this was a demarcation of sorts. As we go over it, the area becomes more trash ridden. There are a few tents on the wide walkway. We also see a tent village beneath us. I feel a bit uncomfortable, but there was not really any contact to feel this way. A pathway leads us under Mission and to the south side.

Once we leave that particular section, we cross 12th St. Immediately we come across the Deepwood Mansion, now a museum. I think technically it is outside of the park, just adjacent to it. It is on my bucket list for Salem and now I can see it should not just be a checkmark.

Steven and Sherri in Bush Park

A short way further is an entrance to the Bush Pasture Park. Seems like a strange name for a park. Evidently this was the Bush family’s land which they used for, you guessed it, pasturing livestock. At the northeast end of the park is their house. But the part we are initially walking around is some of the playing fields for Willamette University. Looks like there is at least a football field, a field and track area and a baseball diamond. Looks pretty clean and well kept up.

 

One of the umbrella trees

We continue on to the center of the park after going over a large berm. Very pleasant area. Our path continues to the north and east to the Bush House. The hot house is closed, even though there is a sign which says it is open. But we wander around the area, admiring the trees. Salem seems to have an affinity for pruning their trees into shapes, particularly like umbrellas. They are pleasant to look at.

We cross Mission St again and head down Church St. Salem, for the most part, presents itself as being a clean city. There is a playground with new equipment, children enjoying themselves. Then we pass by Pringle Park, where there is a sense of wholeness to it, even if it is pretty small, some of the cement work looks old. When we get to State St, we take a right and go a block to the Hallie.

Hallie Ford Art Museum is part of Willamette University. Today is a free day, so we just say where we are from and go in. I am getting a bit tired as it is after 1pm. The general exhibit is on the first floor. We spent about 45 minutes there. I am getting more and more convinced that for the most part, artwork after 1900 is not what I appreciate. But that is just me and my sense of taste. Too much abstraction and not enough to touch my soul.

I am also getting hungry, so we leave and walk back to Andrea and Lawrence’s place where we have lunch. On the way in, a train passes us, which gets me excited. Then we spend the rest of the afternoon packing up, getting ready to leave and resting. Andrea came home a little after 4pm. Shortly afterwards, we left for Portland and the airport. A bit of traffic, but not bad. We waved goodbye to Lawrence as we saw him a few streets over. Andrea only has time to drop us off for us to eat and catch the flight. Steve found Andrea’s restaurant, Mo’s, and ordered from there. The flight back to Fresno is direct and with no real issues. We get in a little after 9pm. Peter picks us up and drops us off. I think the three of us are happy to be back in our own beds.

Extra Photo's

Special tree

Steven and Gary by the Bush House

Bush House