November 8, 2025 - Giant Forest

 

Title: November 8, 2025 - Giant Forest
Hike Info : Description :   Flowers and Plants

Hike Info:

Type: Hiking 

Trail head: Giant Forest Parking Lot

Trail:  Moro Rock, Soldier, Alta Trails

Destination: Loop

Distance:  3.63 miles

Start Time: 11:53

End Time:     3:21 

Travel Time: 3:27  (1.05 mph)

Moving Time: 2:35   (1.41 mph)

Elevation Rise:  767'

Descent: 740‘

Maximum Elevation: 6,774'

GPS Tracks

Description:

Today it is just Sherri and I who will be hiking.While I do enjoy hiking with my children, there is something which is good to hike with my wife. As often as I have done that, it does not get old doing that-it is something special to have a wife who is not only willing to hike, but enjoys it.

 

Sherri on Moro Rock Trail

We leave the house at 9:30 with Sherri driving. As we go down Highway 180, I casually ask Sherri how much gas is left-less than half a tank. This calls for a gas stop at the Valero at the corner of Academy and Kings Canyon. I put in five gallons, even to give us a comfort level today. Turns out gas is a little bit cheaper up the road in the foothills.

We stopped at Big Stump for a pit stop. I take over driving down the General’s Highway. We get to Giant Forest at 11:40. Our boots hit the ground a few minutes before noon on the Moro Rock Trail.

Just a note, we have done this route several times before. I noticed that the Moro Rock Trail at times I have called it the RimRock Trail. Later today day, I noticed a sign with RimRock on a different trail. There seems to be more people on this trail than what I have seen before. Still, it is not a congo line of people, so the walk is still enjoyable. 

At the start, we get a view of Deer Ridge which seems like it should have more of a name since it is so prominent. This area got burnt in 2021 with the KNP Complex Fire. so the trees are sparse. We quickly get into the land of the Sequoias. Also there are several broadleaf trees which are in various stages of being deleafed. What leaves remain show color.

We get to where the trail turns towards Moro Rock, but that is not our route today. There is a large Sequoia where the various roads come together. About 1, we eat our lunch by this tree. Several groups go by us, looking us over-I do not think they were jealous of our peanut butter and Nutella sandwiches.

We temporarily leave our trail and walk about a third of a mile along the road to Crescent Meadows. At the Buttress root system, I play photographer and take pictures for a couple of groups before we move on. Before the Tunnel Log, we turn off of the road and onto the Soldier Trail. There we stop for a few minutes. Sherri’s phone will do satellite messaging. She wants to make sure she can use it, so I find a log while she plays with her phone.

Usually the Soldier Trail has maybe two or three people on it. While I am sitting there, at least two groups go by. When a third couple -a father and daughter I think-goes by, I make a comment about my private trail. They stop and we have a friendly talk. By this time, Sherri had joined me. I found out that they are from Minnesota where Sherri and I are going in June. Naturally we asked about what they think we should see. Turns out that Alice works at the aquarium in Duluth where Rachel will run her half-marathon on. Alice gives us some places to go:

• Devil's Kettle
•  Generally, the North Shore of Lake Superior
• Grand Marias

Alta Trail

They take off and we take off shortly after them-we will not be catching up-they look like they can travel. When we traveled the Soldier trail in November, it has been a week earlier. There usually is a brightness of red and yellow leaves, offsetting the red bark of Sequoia Gigantia. Today the deciduous shrubs and trees are mostly bare. Still, walking this area is usually peaceful. Today, there are more people than we usually see. It still has a sense of peace about it. I guess this is what Randy White, in his book Consummation! calls a vigorous peace.

We stop for a few minutes at the top of a 6800’ ridge to eat an energy bar. The rest of our trip will be downhill. The part off of the ridge is a step 200’ When we descend this slope, we come to a trail junction. It is starting to get dark, so we elect to go down the Alta Trail rather than head over our traditional route to Bear Hill. The Alta Trail takes us down another 200’, but a bit less steep. We stop occasionally to see light streaming through the trees and the few remaining Fall leaves.

The trail wraps around to the Giant Forest Museum. There we crossed the highway to the parking lot and our car. We could have probably made it to Bear Hill as it is 3:30 when we got back to the car. We are content with what we did today.

By the time we get back to Fresno it is dark and we are hungry. DiCicco’s on Kings Canyon sounds like it is a good place to fill our stomachs. Steven joins us about ten minutes after we get seated. We are content.

 

 

Flowers and Plants

 

November 5, 2025 - Search for the Muir Snag

 

Title: November 5, 2025 - Search for the Muir Snag

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

Hike Info:

Type: Hiking 

Trail head:  Gate on road 13S50

Trail: SQF Road 13S50 and a segment of 13S31

Destination: Junction with 13S07

Actual Destination:  Beyond the junction and onto 13S31

Distance:  3.43 miles

Start Time: 11:37

End Time:    2:48

Travel Time:  3:10  (1.08 mph)

Moving Time:  2:09  (1.59 mph)

Elevation Rise:  516'

Descent: 551‘

Maximum Elevation: 6,277'

GPS Tracks

Description:

Sequoia and Gary

I get up at 6:30, not knowing what we will be doing today. We had talked about hiking a couple of days ago, but there was no decision. Also there was nothing about going with dogs or no dogs. When Sherri gets up, that is the question. After talking, we decided to go hiking. With the last minute decision, Rachel cannot go, but Steven can. Korra also agrees to go.

When we pile into the car, we have no idea where we are going, we just want to go. Going north is out because of the rain which is going to occur just north of Fresno. So we head east. Three weeks ago, we wanted to look for the Muir Snag, but were stymied by it being hunters being in season. But today there should be little which stops us.

I start driving at 10. We only stop at Big Stump. Then off to the road to the Muir Snag area. We get there about 11:25 and start walking at 11:45. We will be walking along road 13S50 which is just east of Converse Mtn.

 

 I had not found a definitive location for the Snag, but from the description, I am thinking it is about ¾ of a mile up this road. Even if we do not find it, this is a pleasant day to walk this road. The storm to the north has us with clouds overhead, but not much of a breeze. So while not hot, the day is not cold. Just right for walking.

The road goes up, but for the most part, the grade is not bad. I suspect Sherri and I are just out of shape. There are a few divots to allow water runoff which runs across the road. They are easy to cross on foot, but I am sure our Highlander would scrape bottom on some of them.

Steven and I trade leads, as we look high and low for the large, dead Sequoia which Muir found. We see many young living Sequoias, some stumps, but no snag. I made it to the junction with Forest Service road 13S07-Sherri and I hiked that road a couple of years ago, through the Indian Basin Grove.

I wait there for about 10 minutes.Sherri and Steven do not show up, but Korra comes along to check on me. So I head back. I find Steven looking down into where a dry unnamed creek is. When I get to Steven, I see the object of his interest-his Mom. She is about 50’ below the road. She is exploring, looking for the Snag. Steven goes down to join her and I follow a few minutes later. We searched in the area, but no success. 

 

 

 

We wander our way back up, with me about five minutes behind. Once we get to the road, we travel on to the junction. I noted that it looked like if we went around the bend in the road, we might be able to have a better view and that is what we do. While there is a good view, there are some trees which hamper it from being a great view.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We find a log and have our lunch at 1:10. I am thinking if I follow this road a little ways further, I might have a better view of Kings Canyon and across the way to Spanish Mountain.. But the road starts to go more on the south side of the ridge instead of the north. I realize that I am walking on road 13S31 which will eventually bring me back to Highway 180. When the road started to drop sharply, I decided I would turn back. Korra has been racing back and forth. I did notice a place which looked like an old road, but it was pretty dug up with logs having fallen across it. Still no great view.

So I make my way back to where Steven and Sherri are waiting. Sherri has noticed a mound beyond Rodgers Ridge. I think it is part of Patterson Mountain. We started back and I noticed a different peak behind the upper part of the ridge. At first I thought it was Kaiser Peak, but after consulting PeakFinder, it looks like it is Eagle Peak.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We walk back down the road, eyeballing everyplace where Sequoias are, but there is no sign of a massive dead Sequoia. Steven goes down one place, but no joy.Either we are blind or the Muir Snag is someplace else. Still it is a good walk.

A couple of things which we did see. First there was a puffball fungus. These are always interesting. Then there is a little vole right in the middle of the road. A pretty cute little thing.

 

By 2:45 we got back to the car. Steven takes over the driving responsibility. We all are in agreement that stopping at Bear Mountain Pizza is a good idea. We get home at 4:30.

Trail Lesson: Research out where you think you are going to go. Even prepared there are usually surprises.

Background

After we did this hike, Gary went through some files and found a reference that the Muir Snag is on Road 13S55 road, around 6400' elevation.

Extra Photo's

Spanish Mountain

Landslide Prescribed Burn

Steven

Sherri

Landslide Prescribed Burn

Colorful Leaves, Watercolor style

Autumn Leaves

Spanish Mountain

Garlic and Rough Spur

Spur off of Converse Mountain

Burnt trees from the Rough Fire

Steven coming up with Korra and Sherri watching

Steven

Old Sequoia

Animals

Vole

Vole

 

Flowers and Plants

 

Puffball

October 25, 2025 - Birthday Hike on the Wawona Meadow Loop

 

Title: October 25, 2025 - Birthday Hike on the Wawona Meadow Loop

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

Hike Info:

Type: Hiking

Trail head: Wawona Visitor Center Parking

Trail: Wawaona Meadow Loop

Destination: Loop

Distance:  3.81 miles

Start Time:  11:58

End Time:      2:33

Travel Time: 2:34  (1.48 mph)

Moving Time: 1:57   (1.95 mph)

Elevation Rise:  388'

Descent: 410‘

Maximum Elevation:  4,271'

GPS Tracks

Description:

I slept in until a little after 7. Today marks the celebration of the Earth surviving 72 times around the Sun with me on it. Sherri is planning out this day. But first she needs to go to the Vineyard Farmer’s Market for some stuff for a party next week.

Rachel comes over a little before 9. By 9:40 we are all in the car-Steven, Rachel, Sherri, Korra, Friday and myself. We have been trying to avoid going into the National Parks during the shutdown. But we have decided to go to Wawona in Yosemite National Park today and hike around the Meadow there.

Autumn Leaves in Wawona

But first, there is some interest in retracing the route I went on Thursday. These were various historical places in the foothills of Madera County. Now mind you, we will not hit all the historic places, probably not even a third of them.

We start by heading north on 41, then head West at Four Corners. Then we turn off to go towards Henley Lake and Raymond. Along this road, I start telling about the various places I learned about: the Adobe Ranch, Minarets/Media, Raymond, the Summit House and the Black Kid monument. Someplace after Raymond, we got off the route I thought we were on and hit 41 again at Corsegold.

That is just as well as I think the others were maybe at the limits of their tolerance for this tour. We went through Oakhurst and then Fish Camp. There is a line at the Park’s entry station. But there is nobody collecting entry fees, so we just chose a station which does not have anybody in it. Rachel drives us over to Wawona where we park, take care of business, and get our packs on.

Wawona in Red

Sherri picked the trail around Wawona Meadow for several reasons. We have not done much hiking lately and this is a nice, scenic walk. Also, the dogs are allowed on it. As an added bonus, even during busy times, this trail has a tendency to be one where you can enjoy a measure of solitude.

Given that, we start our walk. The sky is overcast and the temperature is in the last 60’s. Perfect for hiking. Even Friday is up to walking, or in her case, her little legs are trotting. One of the defining aspects of this day is the Autumn colors. It is that time of year where this area simply shines. The yellows and reds are everywhere. The trail seems like a tunnel through this cave of leaves. It fills you with wonder and awe and reverence for the bit of creation we are walking through.

Gary, Steven and Rachel walking the trail

It is always good to walk with my family on my birthday-yes, I do miss having Andrea with us, but I have a great deal of gratitude that Steven and Rachel make the effort to be with me. I am not forgetting Sherri as I have taken her places which she may have wished she stayed home. We have gone to those places and experienced the awe of seeing the best of this world.

 

 

Gary the Photographer

At the far end of the meadow, a bit short of two miles we stop and have lunch. We enjoy the break, not so much needing a rest, but just a break. Even Korra and Friday seem to enjoy this break. Then it is off for the remainder of the trail.

 

Gary, the birthday boy

 

 

 

This trail is not built for excitement, but for contemplation and discussion. One of the discussions we had was about me hiking solo. Since last May when I fainted, I have been careful about not going out on my own. Even though 7 out of 8 days in the Lookout I was alone. I pondered the wisdom of venturing out solo. Rachel volunteers to go with me whenever I would want to go. To me this is not the reason to hike alone. There is a sense of freedom walking by yourself. A sense of isolation just me and my God. Everyone needs those times and places like that.

Fall Color on Mt Savage

There is no conclusion to this discussion. No yes or no But there is the recommendation that I do things like stretches and things which will improve my balance. Rachel suggested chair yoga.

Wawona, when we get back, is pretty vacant. We have only met about five groups of people on the trail. We load up and head on back home. As we approach Oakhurst, the question is, should we stop for ice cream at Reimers. Unless there is a reason not too, the answer will almost always be yes. Reimers has a new flavor, Ooey Gooey. Most of us have a scoop of this flavor. Pretty good.

Then we get back home. Not sure if it is age or birthday expectations, but I am content to become one with the couch. Steven is making a stuffed pizza for my birthday. Pretty tasty. Then a relaxing shower to end a good day out.

Extra Photo'

Gary, Steven and Rachel in Autumn Colors

Korra, Steven and Rachel

Sherri walking through a tunnel of color

Friday, Korra, Steven, Rachel and Gary

Rachel and Friday

Mt Savage

Wawona Meadow

Wawona Meadow

Rachel

 
Flowers and Plants