Type: Hiking
Trail head: Buck Ridge Trailhead
Trail: East side of Hensley Lake
Destination: Loop
Distance: 5.50 miles 1
Start Time: 8:58
End Time: 1:25
Travel Time: 4:27 (1.24 mph)
Moving Time: 3:19 (1.66 mph)
Elevation Rise: 1,305'
Descent: 1,307‘
Maximum Elevation: 740'
1Jerry, our hike organizer, says that other GPS’ have come back as 6.5 miles. Google Earth shows 5.5 miles for the distance. The elevation gain on Google Earth shows slightly less at 1,249’. There is an article in Sierra News Online which has this trail at 6.95 miles. While the Hiking Project as the mileage at 5.9 miles and 570’ gain. AllTrails shows a route which stops about a half a mile short of where we did. That route is 4.7 miles and 505’. I think that elevation gain is low.Today is New Years Day. Sherri and I many times will go for a hike, ski or snowshoe on this day as there are not too many people up and about on this day, making it a good time for an outing. Today, I alone have signed up for a Central Valley Hiking Group Meetup hike. It is the first Meetup hike which I have done in five years-as you can see on my blog, I have been hiking many times in the last five years. Sherri did not seem too interested in going on this hike, so it is just me.
When I woke up, a little after 6, there was a pretty good rain coming down. I had my breakfast. Then made sure that my rain gear was in tack-actually, but on my rain rain jacket and pants over my hiking clothes. Then it is off to the Sportsman’s parking lot. I arrived around 7:45. There were some vehicles without people in the parking lot. Shortly afterwards, there is a woman came over and asked if I am part of the Meetup group-yep. I invited her into the car while we waited. Pretty soon Jerry, our hike organizer, comes over. We. talk a few minutes and decide to take my car up as there are no other ducks in the parking lot who are ready to hike.
It is about a 45 minute drive up to Hensley Lake’s Buck Ridge trail head from Fresno. We arrived a little before 9. There we meet Mario. That makes four of us on this adventure: Jerry, Mario, Tau and myself. At the start of the hike, the rain is still falling, but not like it was in Fresno. So I leave on my rain clothes to start with.
Jerry talked about this being a conditioning hike. I quickly see what he is talking about. The trail goes up and over ridges. I would have thought that a more enlightened trailbuilder might have put in the extra effort by gently rounding around ridges where possible. Still, this will get a person’s legs and lungs into shape if they keep at it.
The issue is that there is not just three or four of ground oscillations, rather what seems like an endless series of increasing undulations. Jerry thinks there are about 30 of these humps to cross on our trip today. Later on I counted 18 distinct rises on my graph from the GPS. Each one seems like it rises more than the previous-at least on the trip out.
About a third of a mile before the farthest point out, I ask, are we coming back this same way? Jerry reinforces that this is a loop. I can take the hint. But I do recognize that when the others drop about 50’ off the trail for lunch, it is better for me to stay on the trail. This is where we meet the Fresno River, making it at 11:45. I enjoy 15-20 minutes of being alone while the others are below. While eating lunch I text Sherri to say that I have the car and am having lunch at the far end of the loop. I noticed then that my phone screen has a crack on it. Not sure when this happened as I do not remember whacking any rocks. First time I cracked a screen in about ten years..
Earlier I had shed my rain jacket since the rain had stopped. During the lunch break, off came the rain pants as well. The rain had stopped about 20 minutes after we started our hike, so there was no sense hiking in a sweat box. As the day continued, we got a bit more sun, so it was time to shed some of my layers.
On the return trip, we take a lower route than the trip in. The rises are not as steep or high as going in. But by this time, it does not take much for the lungs to need replenishing. Also the legs are starting to feel any climb. At least downhills and levels are gentle to all parts of my body and I can do a little catching up.
I have not said too much about the scenery. Hensley Lake is mostly in the distance. It also has not filled up from the Winter’s storms. So it is not the main attraction. What holds my eyes is the vibrant greenery of the Winter grasses with the outlines of the dormant oak trees. At this time of year, I would come again-hopefully in a lot better shape.
The trip back does not have the steep hills as going over had. But I am lagging further and further behind. Jerry and gang stop for me at the top of each rise. I catch my breath and continue on. I am glad when we reach the trail we came in on. The car is less than a quarter of a mile further. We got back to the car a little before 1:30.
Then it is time to drive back to the Sportman’s parking area to drop off Jerry and Tau. We all agree it has been a good day, even if I did not have the stamina for it. After dropping off the two, I go to Office Max to recycle some ink cartridges. Then it is back home. I arrived home about 3:00. I think Sherri sees how tired I am, takes pity and sends me off to rest.
Background
More of an FYI. There are several reasons why I was struggling going uphills. There was the traditional reason: just being out of condition. But there were a couple medical reasons. Several years ago, I had a couple bouts of an unexplained illness which I was totally fatigued. Each time I partially recovered. Then two years ago I got struck with long COVID. After each of these I have worked to gain some semblance of endurance. I guess that is what I need to work on this year again.
