September 6, 2024 - Boole Tree Loop

 

Title: September 6, 2024 - Boole Tree Loop

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

Hike Info:

Type: Hiking 

Trail head:  Boole Tree Parking Lot

Trail: Boole Tree Loop

Destination:  Boole Tree

Distance: 2.39 miles

Start Time: 11:32

End Time:     3:14

Travel Time: 3:42  (0.65 mph)

Moving Time:  1:47  (1.34  mph)

Elevation Rise:  711'

Descent: 716‘

Maximum Elevation: 6,810'

GPS Tracks

Description:

Patterson Bluff

Last night my CGM woke me up with a low of 58. But all was well as my blood meter registered 40 points higher. I turned off the alarms for the CGM and slept soundly until 6:30. Today, I lounged in my bag, feeling very comfortable until the skies got a bit lighter. I then got up at 7:15.

Korra and I went for a walk to the interpretive trail. Along the way, Korra and a squirrel had a face off. I was not quick enough with a camera to capture this stare down. But the squirrel blinked and scampered away, dropping his prize pine comb. We continued on our way. I visited some relations along the trail. At this point, Korra insisted on going back, so we did.

Sherri was up and Steven followed soon afterwards. Soon afterwards, Sherri has French toast ready to eat in about 15 minutes. Steven and I enjoy the meal with Sherri following us. A good way to start off a trip. I get cleaned up and we get the camp organized. But we do not leave until after 11. We will pay for the late start.

We are going to the Boole Tree, just a few miles away. Sherri and I have been here before and enjoyed the hike. It is not a long one, but there is a good climb up to the tree. We get to the parking area about 11:20 and start walking a little after that. The drive in is not bad most of the way. That is until we pass the road to Converse Basin Grove (13S21). Then our road (13S55) passes Stump Meadow and starts a climb up to the parking lot. I noticed that there is a thick layer of dust and the car kicks into All-Wheel drive. We make it through OK. Before entering a second dusty area, I put the car into All-Wheel drive until we made it to the lot.

I thought we said we would be doing the loop counter-clockwise. This would give us the steepest, most direct route to the Boole Tree. Sherri and Steven are ready before I am, so they start in. When I start, I glance over at the trail we are going to come out and see Steven and Sherri walking westward on it. Not that it matters-it is the same distance and elevation gain. Still I could have been going a different way than they did.

That late start has me paying a price. I feel the sun beating down on me and my steps being sluggish, not that I am overheating, just sweating and drinking water a lot. I am also lagging behind Sherri and Steven, not badly, but this is unusual as I can keep up with Sherri. Maybe it is that I do stop to take pictures, but that is only a cover, I think.

Boole Tree

Even though the trail is hot and dusty, there is many places to enjoy views. Looking west, I see Patterson Bluff’s profile, unlike seeing it front on from Delilah. Then there is Rodgers Ridge. Speaking of Delilah, I look for it on the far westerly ridges, but I do not see it until we have almost gotten to the top of our climb, when it comes into view through the haze. Spanish Mountain is right across from us with all of the spurs which come off of it. Then we can see into the Middle Fork of the Kings. There is a lot redeeming about this trail, but maybe not so much today.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Tops of the trees

Gary in repose and Korra on guard duty

When we round hill 6872, there is a sudden cooling. We are no longer in direct sunlight and there is a bit of a breeze. So much better. Not that I feel totally refreshed or anything like that. Also the Boole Tree comes into sight. We start descending to the base of the tree and upon arrival, I lower myself to the ground and look up at the Tree. I tell Sherri that I am meditating on the tree, but it is more that I am just that tired. Tired enough that we just sat there, enjoying the tree for an hour before eating lunch of Ritz crackers, Nutella and peanut butter. The jelly belly bag had come open, so there is some consumption of them, even by Korra.

 

 

 

 We leave after 2:30, climbing the short distance out of the bowl where the Boole Tree is. Then it is close to a mile downhill back to the car. Even though there is a lot of direct sunlight, we are going downhill, so it is not very tiring. We got back to the car by 3:45, I noticed that the temperature was in the upper 80’s.

Sherri on path back to car

On the way back to the camp, I took a detour down the Hume Lake road. Last Saturday, there was a rescue of a lost person who got stuck about a thousand feet from the road on the west side of the road. I am interested in seeing what the terrain looks like. I can see why in certain places you could get stuck. What I am wondering about is that his mother also found him and got stuck.

We got back to the camp at 4:45 and just recuperated. Sherri fixed the chick garlic pasta dish. We all decided that we would wait until Sunday to go to a Dark Sky presentation at Big Stump-we should have gone, but you will need to read that post to find out why. So we just sat around until it got dark. Around 9, I said that I was going to bed. The others followed me. I read for half an hour and then fell asleep.

Extra Photo's

Patterson Bluffs

Morning at Indian Basin

Patterson Bluffs

Gary surveying the Kings

Looking towards Spanish Mountain

 

Steven on the return trip to the car

Converse Mountain Grove

Sherri patiently waiting

Steven reading by the Boole Tree

Boole Tree

Boole Tree

Top of Boole Tree

 Animals

 
Flowers and Plants