Gary-Summer: December 26, 2024

Thursday, December 26, 2024

December 26, 2024 - Dorrington

Title: December 26, 2024 - Dorrington, Arnold Rim Trail
Hike Info : Description : Extra Photo's : Flowers and Plants

Hike Info:

Type: Hiking

Trail head: Top of the World Trailhead-Fairway Dr

Trail: Arnold Rim Trail and Its Alternative

Destination: Top of the World Point

Actual Destination: Top of the World Point, Manuel Peak, San Antonio Falls Overlook Trail Junction

Distance: 4.05 miles

Start Time: 11:58

End Time: 3:45

Travel Time: 3:47 (1.07 mph)

Moving Time: 2:41 (1.51 mph)

Elevation Rise: 1,264'

Descent: 999‘

Maximum Elevation: 4,447'

GPS Tracks

Breakfast

Description:

It is the day after Christmas, or in Christian parlance, the Second Day of Christmas. I woke up early, but did not want to get up. So I managed to lay in bed thinking about various things like how to better manage my financial accounts or transfer the lightning report to Google. But even these dull things did not put me back to sleep. I noticed Sherri was looking at her phone about 6:30.

When I got up at 7:30, my youngest eager beaver Rachel was making breakfast. David returned from his walk shortly afterwards. The breakfast today is pancakes with whatever you would like on them-I opt for the standard peanut butter and Nutella. But others have an assortment of berries and nuts and toppings. Also Rachel fries some eggs for our consumption.

Walking to the Arnold Rim Trail

We spent a bit of time discussing where we wanted to go. Since this afternoon does not appear to have precip in its forecast, we decided on the Arnold Rim Trail. Rachel and Friday stay home as they need to actually work, unlike the rest of us. We leave about 11:15 for our 20 minute drive to one of the trailheads.

It does not take us long to get out of the car and into our boots. Sherri’s a bit put out because she forgot her hiking socks and water bottle. I partially remedy one of the situations by taking one of the car’s Smart Water bottles. But I can not do much about the socks.

Cheesy Andrea!

The trail, actually a fire road, is Forest Service Road 14E06-I think-to the Arnold Rim Trail (ART). This lead in trail sort of rolls over several hills. The trees are well spaced, so we can see off the distance the pine covered mountains. We head north and a couple other trails interest ours. We briefly get on an Alternate Arnold Rim Trail (AART) which brings us up to the base of Manual Peak.

We go west to the Top of the World. This takes us down off the ridge of Manual Peak before rising up to the Top. The Top of the World is a bit of let down. I am not sure if it is the overcast day which limits the view and maybe subdues the view-in a blog it saws that on a clear day, you can see Mt Diablo. There are several smokes rising across the San Antonio Creek and some ridges beyond. There is still a sense of quiet in the hills around us.

View from the Top of the World

We are a bit lost about if this is really the spot for the Top of The World-there is a sign post saying it is. So we break for lunch. We compare maps and GPS locations and decide this is really the spot. Our solitude is broken by a family also arriving. It is good to hear a family in the outdoors.

Gary on Top

We decided that we still had a bit of hiking in us, so we returned to Manual Peak. It is rated steep and not suitable for horses. There is a small steep, rocky section which would be a bit tough, but not bad. We have gone over worse. The view from the top is of bushes. But Andrea, David and Steven have found a cliff nearby which gives a wide expanse to the north.

I am confessing. I am turned around in my directions here. I am not sure where this happened, but I am thinking my north is south and vice versa. Am I getting disoriented in my old age? Or is this a one off? Time will tell.

Smoke

On top of Manual Peak

Sherri and I come off of the Peak a bit gingerish, taking our time and getting low to the ground to go over that rocky section. We then decided to go a bit farther on the ART, heading east and north-which in my disoriented state I am thinking more southerly. We head towards the San Antonio Falls Overlook area. We go on a rise for aways. We get to a place where we rest for ten minutes and wonder if we should go back. When I, the disoriented one, look at a map, I make a comment that we are at a place where it is almost equal distance in each direction.

After due examination, it was agreed to go forward towards the Overlook. From this point, there is a steep downhill full of switchbacks. Sherri was given a walking stick back on Manual and now Andrea is trying to give me one. Being a stubborn old man, I say I do not need it. The tricky thing about this downhill is that there is a layer of leaves covering the trail which both can hide the trail and at times can be slick. But we all make it down to the Overlook junction without incident.

Andrea, Steven, Korra, Gary

At the junction, we debate going to the Overlook or just return to the car. Like the Aesop fable, we decided that with the amount of water in the area, the Falls are probably dry, so let's just go back to the car. We are at the start of the AART. It rises up over a ridge, a steep rise, leaving me huffing and puffing a bit. But then it is down to the junction of the fire road we came in on.

We take a left, with Steven and David and Korra going ahead. Sherri and I lag behind with Andrea making sure we do not get lost. We get back to the car about 3:45. There are a lot more people here than when we came in. I drove back to the cabin.

The light is fading and we comment that it was good that we did not go to the Overlook. Rachel is already starting with dinner. Tonight it is fondue. Lots of things to cut and the cheese to melt. It is good, even if the fondue gets somewhat burnt at the end.

This evening we watched the Christmas edition of the Great British Baking Show. Then a Harry Potter baking program. The former is interesting. The latter seems like there is a lot of talent but the show is cheesy. That brings to 10pm and bed.