Gary-Summer: August 4, 2023 - Biledo Meadow, oops Upper Mariposa Grove

Friday, August 4, 2023

August 4, 2023 - Biledo Meadow, oops Upper Mariposa Grove

Title: August 4, 2023 - Biledo Meadow, oops Upper Mariposa Grove

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

Hike Info:

Type: Hiking

Trail head: 5S06

Trail: Perimeter/Outer Loop Trail, Mariposa Grove to Biledo Meadow

Destination: Biledo Meadow

Actual Destination: About half of a mile down the Mariposa Grove to Biledo Meadow Trail

Distance: 6.87 miles

Start Time: 9:40

End Time: 4:07

Travel Time: 6:27 (1.07 mph)

Moving Time: 4:40 (1.47 mph)

Elevation Rise: 1,380'

Descent: 1,380‘

Maximum Elevation: 6,917'

GPS Tracks

Description:

I have not been to Biledo Meadows, but I have heard a lot about it. Especially the wildflowers. Even though August is a bit late for medium level flowers, this has been a late season all the way around. So there is a lot of hope that the Meadows will still be alive with flowers.

Burnt logs from the Washburn Fire

Dried Flower

I got up at 6:15 and saw that there was still no lightning-a good thing. I had my quiet time and then breakfast. Sherri got up and we were in the car and moving by 8:10. It is a smooth drive. Even the usual Summer line to get into Yosemite is not backed up-at least not as far as we were when we turned off. That is we turned off at Goat Meadow, where we snowshoed last January. We then turned off on Road 5S06 We went up the road to Buffin Meadows, where we turned around on snowshoes.

New Sequoia on top of old

But we continue on. There is a sign saying go right for Long Meadows, but I want to progress to Biledo, so we go left, continuing on 5S06. This does not look good-water is running down the middle of the road, which has created a deep ravine. Not hard to avoid. And then the road gets bumpy. And this is to be the good part of the road. When we got to the little road going into Mariposa Grove, we decided to stop here.

Ours is the only car parked here. It is 9:30 and we take 20 minutes getting ready to go. We walk around the gate and are in the Park. It is about a third of a mile walking down a service road. The riot of flowers already has begun. We also see remnants of last year’s Washburn Fire.

After crossing an unnamed creek, we get to the Outer Loop Trail-which has been renamed the Perimeter Trail. This trail has been used, but not heavily. It is well defined; it even has old pavement on it for a short way. And the flowers keep coming.

Our new New York friends

The trail does start climbing a little ways into our walk along it. Lupine pops up and the trail meanders through it. Most of the trail has trees covering us, but when we see the sky clearing overhead, we can feel the heat which this day will bring.

By the time we get to the Upper Grove area, it is closing in on noon. Fortunately there is a good log in the shade for us to sit on. And about 50 yards beyond that is a restroom-awe the comforts of home with flush toilets. The cabin/museum looks closed, so we do not go there.

We are still feeling like going on, so we continue along the Perimeter Trail. Soon we get to the Telescope Tree. This is a living tree which has been hollowed out. I had been noticing a couple coming up another trail and when they got to me, they asked, “Where is the Telescope Tree?” I point to the tree which I am standing by, but they think I meant up the trail. By this time, Sherri has caught up to me and we stop them. We take pictures and when they ask questions about where else in California would be good to go.We rattle off places like Lassen and Redwood. They are tell us about Letchworth State Park in New York. Trading suggestions is good.

We go on. This end of the Upper Grove got scorched by the Washburn FIre. The Galen Clark tree did not get spared, but survived. The lower part of the tree is burnt pretty badly, but the top is still green and looks like it is thriving. Other trees were not as fortunate as they were pretty dead looking. Even the path is gray with old ash.

Galen Clark Tree

We head back along the Perimeter Trail and come across the trail to Biledo. We have about twenty more minutes which we can walk before we head back. After resting up for a few minutes, we headed along the trail. We do not expect to make it all the way, just enough to get a feel for the trail. After the initial rise, it levels off and we can easily walk.

But like many things, this walk comes to an end and we head back. We quickly found the Perimeter Trail. As we go on this, I look over and see a top of a mountain with some antennas. I think it is Miami Mountain. When I get home I figure out it probably is Speckerman Mountain. We get back to the Upper Grover area. We avail ourselves of the bathroom and then take a short rest.

Sherri on path

Then it is down the Perimeter Trail. While we are going down, it is much warmer. Still we make pretty good time-maybe it is because I am not stopping as much to take pictures. We get to the service road back to the car. Unlike this morning, there are groups of people who pass us up. I guess when you are approaching 70, this is to be expected. But we do make it back in a reasonable time, tired, but not exhausted.

After we load up, we make our way back to Fresno, Steven has bar-b-que chicken waiting for our hungry stomachs. This is a good way to end the day.

Background

From Wikipedia:

The Telescope tree: A giant sequoia tree that has become completely hollow from repeated fires through the decades. Despite that, the tree is still living, as giant sequoias do not require a whole trunk to survive. It is possible to walk inside the tree and, from there, see the sky. This condition leaves the tree weakened and makes it more difficult for it to withstand strong winds. This tree (and the Clothespin Tree) could topple at any time.
The Galen Clark tree: Of historical importance, as it is said to be the first tree seen by Galen Clark when he entered the grove, and inspired his love for the giant sequoias and struggle for setting aside the land for preservation, a new concept in the mid-19th century.