Title: November 21, 2023 - Pincushion
Hike Info : Description : Extra Photo's : Animals
Type: Hiking
Trail head: Finegold Area
Trail: San Joaquin River Trail, Pincushion Trail
Destination: Pincushion
Actual Destination: Above a hundred yards from the top and 150 feet below.
Distance: 2.62 miles
Start Time: 11:43
End Time: 2:58
Travel Time: 3:15 (0.81 mph)
Moving Time: 2:21 (1.12 mph)
Elevation Rise: 1,045'
Descent: 1033‘
Maximum Elevation: 1.492'
What are we going to do today?
Confession: I slept past 7 this morning. It was not until Sherri was
getting her breakfast ready did we agree upon a hike: Pincushion.
Pincushion is a local peak near Millerton
Lake.
Sherri on path, climbing
Sherri and I started from our house a little after 10. Table Mountain Casino has expanded since the last time I was here-I had a bit of trouble finding the right road to go up. So it took me a few tries to find Sky Harbor. Even with the detour, we got to the Finegold area of Millerton State Park by 11:15. The gate was closed-we would not be going in anyway as we have not bought a pass. But we did find a place to park on Sky Harbor.
Yes, it was that steep
By the time we started walking
it was 11:45. It was less than a quarter mile into the trailhead and
outhouse. The trail starts off by going up a pretty good slope.
Having been on this trail several times, this is not unexpected.
Sherri is keeping up a steady pace; I am doing OK, but I can tell
that we are ascending. After traveling ¾ of a mile, Sherri comes
across three people who wonder how much further it is to Pincushion?
We say they are about a third of the way there, but the majority of
the climb is ahead. This suitably discourages them.
50 yards further, the trail to Pincushion splits off of the San Joaquin River Trail. Actually, the real trail is about a quarter mile further, but this is the one commonly used. Now the climb really starts. The trail is badly rutted. It is wide, so it is possible to avoid the worst of the issues. No matter how you work it, this is steep-overall about a thousand feet in just a bit over a mile.
Gary having climbed up rocks
As we work our way up the
slope, it just gets steeper. It is not because my legs and lungs are
getting a workout that I think this, but just looking up the trail,
it is steeper! But taking it one step at a time gets us up the hill.
There is a shelf about 150’ below the top of Pincushion. This is a bit of a rocky area which we climb up. I feel a bit uncertain about going to the top-maybe it is old age, a bit of arthritis, or just the legs feel out of shape. Whatever it is, I am content with stopping on this shelf and looking out over the area. I do not think it took too much to convince Sherri to stay here either.
From the log we are sitting on, we can see Spanish Mountain, Mt Brewer, Mitchell Peak and a whole bunch of other mountains we can see from our lookouts. Always interesting getting a different perspective. We also have lunch here while we enjoy the sight and sun. It has been a perfect day weather-wise. Sherri gets a call from Verizon-Rachel is trying to add a connection to the account and Verizon needs Sherri’s permission, which is given.
Peaks seen from Pincushion from the PeakFinder application
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| Sherri descending |
Not much is different on the
return trip, except it is a lot easier on the lungs. We made it back
to the car by 3:00pm. It has been a good hike, even if it has left me
a bit rubber legged. It is one which I need to do to rebuild
strength.
One thing I do when we get back home is to look up getting a State Park Pass for Seniors and 2024. Looks like I can apply only after Thanksgiving. Time to put that on the calendar.
Extra Photo's
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| Millerton |
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| Tree and Sun Glow |
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| Sherri coming down rocky section |
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| Spanish Mountain |
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| Scene from Pincushion |
Animals
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| West Coast Lady |
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| Ant Hole |
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