April 19, 2022 - North Grove and Dead Giant Loops

 

Title: April 19, 2022 - North Grove and Dead Giant Loops

Hike Info : Description :  Extra Photo's

Hike Info:

Type: Hiking

Trail head: General Grant Tree Parking Area

Trail: North Grove and Dead Giant Loops

Destination: North Grove Loop

Distance:  3.23 miles

Start Time: 11:57

End Time:    2:53

Travel Time: 2:55  (1.11 mph)

Moving Time: 2:21   (1.37 mph)

Elevation Rise:  661'

Descent: 660‘

Maximum Elevation: 6,327'

GPS Tracks

 

 

Gary with the Sequoias

Description:

We were going to go to Yosemite today with Jessi, but the weather forecast scared us off. On the other hand, the rain was not forecasted to get as far down as Grant Grove. So Sherri and I decided to go up there for a day.

There was no hurry to get up there, so we managed to leave around 10:20. The trip up is uneventful and takes a little bit more than an hour to get to the Grant Grove parking area. By this time it is 11:45. It still takes us about 25 minutes to get our boots moving towards the trailhead.

Lately when I have been hiking, I have gone down to my T-shirt and shorts. But today is a bit cool, actually pretty cool. So long pants and a long sleeve shirt are in order for me-Sherri is even a bit more bundled up. 

 

 

Looking up the trunks of Sequoias

Our route takes us down an old road which is the start of the North Grove Loop. Usually we go clockwise, but to be different, it is a counter-clockwise day. The first quarter mile is pretty level, but then it drops. We are too busy gawking at the Sequoias really to pay too much attention to the road as it starts its descents. I have always been enamored by a couple of Sequoias at the top of this descent. They do not seem as imposing as when you come from the bottom. The little meadow right afterwards is still recovering from the Winter. We will see more of it again later in the season.

Forest being rejuvinated

All of which I can say is: there are more Sequoias. It is hard to look at other things when you walk through these tall and big trees. Your heart can only rise try to meet the heights of these trees. If only I could reach to the heavens like these trees do.

Scorched trees

 

 

 

 

 

 

We now come to the west end of the loop and the scenery changes. The change is that six and a half years ago the Rough Fire stormed up through this part of the ridge. We see the forest being rejuvenated where it was not badly burnt. There is low level green sprouting up. But then a hundred yards later, there is nothing but blackened forests.Reminds me of blackened matchsticks. We quickly go through this section, saying “hi” to a few folks who are coming clockwise. 

Gary looking at Lake Sequoia

 

When we come to the junction with the Dead Giant Trail, we have a decision to make: have we had enough for today or go and do the Dead Tree Trail? We decide to do more-sort of our modus operandi. But first, let's find a log and have lunch.

After lunch, we continued down the road for a quarter mile or so, rounding a meadow with an unnamed creek draining into it. Sort of a quiet space so close to the hustle and bustle of the General Grant Tree. A long dead Sequoia lays across it, even in its mortality it attests to its inherit majesty.

 

 

Life on top of the Dead Giant

When we get to the loop, we go clockwise, which is contrary to our normal way. It is pleasant walking along and in a few minutes, we get to an overlook to Sequoia Lake. A really peaceful look. We then go on around the loop, to the Dead Giant. It is an imposing tree-I wonder what it looked like in its prime. While taking a picture, I noticed a twig with some pine needles on the top of it. Even in death, these giants give life.

A few steps later, we encountered three girls, they are young to me, probably in their 20’s.. Turns out they are from Nashville. I give them a few pointers-I guess I fall into the tour guide mode naturally. Nashville is where Rachel will be this weekend, to run a race. Coincidence? I wonder.

 

 

Downed Giant Sequoia

 

 

We now make our trip back up the slope to the parking area. It's a bit harder going up than down. Still it is a good walk. Just before we get to the parking area, we fall into a conversation with another older couple. A long conversation about all the good things there is to experience we have each done in our retirement.

 

 

 

Looking down into Redwood Canyon

And then it is back to the car. We go on, but I am wondering if Burton Road is open. So we get to Quail Flat. Nope, Burton Road is still closed. On the way back, we stopped at an overlook and looked into the destruction which the KNP Complex did in Redwood Canyon. So sad. We then go on back down to Fresno, getting back just before 5pm.

Extra Photo's

Nicely shaped Giant Sequoia

Sherri approaching the Dead Giant

Delilah Lookout

Sherri on the prowl

A couple of Sequoias growing together

Gary looking up a couple of Sequoias

May 11, 2016 - North Boundary, North Grove and Dead Giant Loop Trails

Title: May 11, 2016 - North Boundary, North Grove and Dead Giant Loop Trails
Hike Info : Description : Background : Extra Photo's : Animals : Flowers and Plants

Trail head: General Grant Tree Parking Lot

Hike Info:

Type:  Hiking

Trail: North Boundary, North Grove and Dead Giant Loops

Destination:North Boundary Loop

Distance: 2.83 miles

Start Time:  10:52

End Time:    12:47

Travel Time:  1:55 (1.44 mph)

Moving Time: 1:34 (1.80 mph)

Elevation Rise: 561'

Maximum Elevation: 6,630'

Destination:North Grove and Dead Giant Loop

Distance:   2.78 miles ¹

Start Time:  1:16

North Boundary Loop

End Time:    3:05

Travel Time: 1:49 (1.53 mph)

Moving Time: 1:18 (2.14 mph)

Elevation Rise: 479'

Maximum Elevation: 6,291'
  ¹We actually did not finish the North Boundary trail, but went on a connector trail which is used by the horses. Between the two, I had turned off the GPS. It is about a quarter of a mile which did not get counted in the two sets of

North Grove Loop

data. It is the dotted area on the map.

Description:
We want to hike and take a look at some of the effects of the Rough Fire. So we are looking at the North Boundary trail to hike while our son is taking care of my Mom. Also we are somewhat scouting out a hike for our Meetup group, to be part of a series called  The Destruction Hikes. These hikes will be focused on showing the effects of this large and intense fire. We are expecting somewhat of a short to moderate hike.

It is a pleasant day, even though we got a later start than a "normal" hiking day. So we get up to Grant Grove for the facilities. While there, I went into the Visitor Center and talked with the information person and explained what I was interested in and what I was going to do. He suggested adding in the North Grove loop as well. So that's what we did.

Not the General Grant

We started out by going up the trail out of the General Grant Parking Lot, up towards the  Visitor Center, but we go up a couple hundred yards up a little used trail. But there is a cut off over to the General Grant Tree. We have been here so many times, this tree is just part of the backdrop to us. But then again, what a backdrop. So many big trees and this is the king of the area.


It looked like in back of the General Grant there is a trail up to the North Boundary Trail, so we follow it up. But this was probably a social trail because it sort of petered out and we scrambled up to the trail. This is not how we will take the Meetup group-better way is via Gamlin Cabin and the normal connector trail.

The first part of the North Boundary Trail starts going up. We walk by the Sequoia's and marvel at them. How many times have we seen these giants and still are in awe-well maybe the General Grant is the exception. Still appreciate it though. After a ways, we take the leg of the trail up to the stables and look around. To my eye, the Rough Fire did not touch it. But this is not part of our trail, so we backtrack about 150 yards to the junction and head north. So far we see signs of a prescribed fire from a few years ago, but not the big fire.

Where the prescribed burn stopped the fire

But that changes once we top a ridge. This is where the firefighters made one of their stands and where the prescribed burn stopped the fire by depriving it of fuel. Still the north side of the ridge is scorched, but not devastated. We marvel at the scene and continue to walk.

But then we turn and head back to the south and west and the scene is one of ash. A ravine the trail goes down looks like the fire was pretty intense when it went up it. Makes you appreciate all of these firefighters which stopped the fire before it reached the grove. But surprisingly there are a few bushes which somehow survived the infernal.

Below is Abbott Creek

There was a few glimpses into Abbott Creek drainage where you could see the vastness of the fire. We continue around the towards the Grove area seeing the remains of the fire until we hit a rise looking down on the parking lot. Here we see a little connector trail-actually, it is the trail the horses use to the North Grove. We stop at the top and rest and eat for a little while. Not a great view point, still it is away from all of the people by Grant Grove.

Sequoia totally burnt.

Using the connector trail, we hit the North Grove Loop, just above where the loop comes back together again. We take the steeper, north side trail. That is steeper down. But it contains some of my favorite parts of this trail. There are a couple young Sequoia;s guarding the trail, or should I say road, as this loop used to be a road and drivable.  But when we get there, we can tell how far the Rough Fire moved through this area, right to the edge of these trees. Along the ridge above, the area is a combination of black burnt trees with the whiteness of ash on the ground.  This is an area which felt the brunt of the fire.

We go down and there is more destruction.At the bottom, when the trail makes a left to the south, there is a total lake of green, except at a little bit of water crossing the trail. In a short ways further, there is a Sequoia totally burnt. I thought the these trees were almost immune to that kind of destruction. That tells me how intense this fire was.

Sequoia Lake Overlook

Sherri ending a loop

A little ways beyond this we decide to hike over to the Dead Giant. The Dead Giant died many years ago and was not a victim of the Rough Fire. We proceed on this short loop, almost oblivious to where the fire was, until we come to the Sequoia Lake overlook. The Lake looks no worse for the fire, even though I know it came close, very close.

It is now time to return back to the car. But we do stop at Bear Mountain Pizza in Squaw Valley. We make it back to Fresno around 5pm.

Background

• The Rough Fire started on July 31, 2016 from a lightening storm. Originally it was called the Garlic Fire because it was misplaced as being on garlic Ridge-the spotting was done in the twilight. It is the 13th largest fire in California's recorded history, burning 151,623 acres with 3,741 firefighters, 345 engines, 19 helicopters and 45 bulldozers used.
• Prescribed burns is used to remove fuels from an area. allowing for more vegetation to grow.
• Wikipedia
• Smokey the Bear
• NPS policy concerning fire. 
• Fire is needed for Sequoia seeds to be able to grow.

Extra Photo's

North Boundary Trail with Sherri

Trail Through Destruction

Trail Thru Destruction

Trail through Destruction

Animals

Hoffman Checkerspot

Hoffman Checkerspot

Hoffman Checkerspot

Hoffman Checkerspot

Flowers and Plants

August 30, 2014 - North Grove Loop and Dead Giant Loop

Title: August 30, 2014 - North Grove Loop and Dead Giant Loop

Trail head: General Grant Tree parking lot

Hike Info:

Type:  Hiking

Trail: North Grove Loop and Dead Giant Loop

Distance:  2.91 miles

Start Time:  4:55pm

End Time:   6:10pm

Travel Time: 1:14 (2.36 mph)

Moving Time: 1:11 (2.46 mph)

Elevation Rise:  622'

Maximum Elevation: 6,288'

Description:
We are getting a late start and I am getting a bit frustrated. But we do get up to Grant Grove and meet Fritz around 4:20. Fritz is a person who we met on the JMT last year and have kept in contact with. A very knowledgeable guy about the hiking trails in California. I suspect he has read, if not owns, all trail books ever written about our area.

Fritz and Gary

We decide to do a couple short trails. The first is a loop out of the General Grant Tree parking lot, called the North Grove Loop. We have hiked it several times and have even skied it as well.  It is a pleasant walk among the elder trees, the Sequoia's. We go counter-clockwise and start our descent. For such a simple trail, it seems like it descends so steeply. During the Spring it is reviving to me seeing all the green. But now the Fall is close by, the plant life is preparing to go dormant. Still the Sequoia's reign tall and allows me to ponder outside my narrow confines of thought.

Dead Giant

As we round the lower western edge of the loop, we enjoy the leveling of the trail. Here the trail shows signs that the road this once was is fading away. So it is of all things mankind makes. It is only dust in the wind. That is the works of man. But man is more than his works and so will work out his mortality with the Creator of all.

As we come to the end of is section, we start on the second trail-The Dead Giant. For this trail we hike about a quarter mile to the start of its loop. We take the loop clockwise. A pleasant walk and we soon get to the overlook of Sequoia Lake. Enjoyable view. Way off in the distance we think we see Delilah lookout, where Sherri and I have volunteered at. Then off we go to finish our hike. We pass the Dead Giant and return back to the North Grove Loop trail. A short time later we are back to the cars.

A log I have always liked

Once in the cars, we go down to Cedar Grove with Fritz. We get into the lodge-thanks Fritz! Then go down  and get a tri-tip dinner. Then it's time to discuss tomorrow's plans and hen off to bed.

Place: CA-Dead Giant

Dead Giant (quad)   
(long, lat)

Description:


Trips:

• August 30, 2014 - Short hike with Fritz
• May 11, 2016 - Day hike with Sherri and Gary, including the North Boundary, Nort Grove and Dead Giant Loops
• April 19, 2022 - Hiked the North Grove and Dead Giant Loops

References:

•  Hike Speak
• 
  

Pictures:

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