Hike Info:
Type: Snowshoeing
Trail head: Cherry Gap
Trail: 13S77
Destination: About a mile or maybe a bit more.
Actual Destination: Close to the top of the hump on Hoist RidgeDistance: 2.61 miles
Start Time: 10:45
End Time: 1:26
Travel Time: 2:40 (0.98 mph)
Moving Time: 1:41 (1.55 mph)
Elevation Rise: 541'
Descent: 338‘
Maximum Elevation: 7,094'
GPS Tracks
Description:
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Start of our walk
|
It has been awhile since we
have been out with Betty. Really looking forward to it. And then a
new addition to our group, Laura. She is part of a book group I am
involved with. None of us, except for Steven will be going very far
today.
 |
| Korra |
We will be meeting Betty at
Big
Stump.
We do not have enough space in the car for Laura so she will need to
drive up there. At 8:45 she comes to our house for a 9:00am
departure. Sherri goes with Laura to use her pass to get into the
Park. Steven, Korra and I are the last ones to get to Big Stump.
Laura and Betty have already been introduced, so we are all ready to
start our snowshoe adventure.
 |
Spanish Mountain
|
We move over to Cherry
Gap.
Instead of going west towards Converse
Basin,
we are going east along Forest Service Road 13S77. We used to do
this road with cross-country skis. Today for the first time we will
do it with snowshoes. That is except for Steven who will be on skis
and Korra with her paws. This is also Laura’s second time on
snowshoes-we will see if she goes again with us.
 |
Top of Park Ridge
|
We got to Cherry Gap about
10:20. Then spend some time getting ready. Our shoes hit the snow at
10:45. The first hundred yards is a bit bumpy, but then the snow
levels out and we just need to contend with the upward trajectory of
the road. Mind you, it is not a steep climb, but enough of one that I
felt the drag of going uphill..
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The Hill
|
We get our first views of
Spanish
Mountain
across the Kings.
It is spectacular. But this view goes away as we turn a corner and
are masked by pine and fir trees, I am feeling pretty good, with
only a bit of shortness of breath. Laura calls my attention that
Sherri and Betty are falling further behind. I guess I am doing
better than I expected.
 |
Steven, te skier
|
Steven is far ahead with
Korra. The sun keeps hiding behind the clouds, poking out
occasionally. It is warm enough that we start shedding some of the
outer clothes and gloves. A good day for snowshoeing.
I can tell that we are
starting to tire out. I have set in my mind a goal of two hours of
moving. Since we are going uphill, I figure we will do about 75
minutes in and 45 back. I am asked how much longer: about 15-20
minutes. And then magically we come to the top of Park
Ridge-I
was mistaken at the time as I thought at this end it would be Hoist
Ridge,
but Hoist is to the west of us and Park Ridge curves around a bit.
The ladies are a bit tired,
but I am interested in a hill to the north of us, Hill 7124. So I
started up it. I see Korra coming down it and I see ski tracks. I
thought Steven was going to the south. Then Steven comes down. He
says there is a really good view from the east side of the hill. So I
go on up and he goes down.
 |
Hume Lake and beyond
|
He is so right! It makes the
trip pretty much worthwhile. While I am gawking, Steven comes back
up. And then I see Betty and Sherri coming up. Laura’s hips are
starting to ache, so she is staying down in the flat. Steven gets a
picture of us. From this vantage point, we can see up the Middle
Fork of the Kings, the Monarch
Range
and then eastward to the Crest of the Sierra. University
Peak,
near Forrester
Pass is viewable as well. Then looking a bit southeast is Buck
Rock and
Shell
Mountain.
Pretty grand.
 |
Buck Rock
|
And now we start our trip
back. Steven, on skis will make better time, so he decides to do a
bit more exploring up the road and over the hill. Poor Korra, she is
confused. She starts back with us and realizes that Steven is not
with us and heads back. But I do not think she can find him and we
lose track of her. About halfway down, she comes bounding along,
without Steven.
Peaks seen from Hill 7124 from the PeakFinder application
Going back down is easier than
going up. Laura and I discuss the advisability and practicality of
always hiking going up as you go in and down on the way out. I try to
do that, but there are times that it is not a good plan.
Surprisingly, I am doing well. After my January COVID it seemed like
whenever I exert myself, I would tire pretty easily. Today, I'm doing
well.
 |
Korra, waiting for us
|
As we approach the cars,
Steven comes up behind us. Korra seems happy to have him back. We get
back to the cars at about 1:30. It is close to the time I was
thinking it would be. We suggest stopping at Bear
Mountain Pizza
for some pizza-surprise. Betty and Laura are agreeable to this. So
off we go. We order the pizza at Big Stump and it is ready when we
get to the place. Here we split up and proceed to our separate homes.
A good and tiring day.
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Hume Lake and Beyond
|
 |
| Korra |
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Laura, Sherri and Betty
|
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Looking Northwest
|
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| Looking Northwest |
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| Looking East |
Animals
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