January 24, 2023 - Mariposa Grove

 

Title: January 24, 2023 - Mariposa Grove

Hike Info : Description : Extra Photo's

Hike Info:

Type: Snowshoeing 

Trail head: Mariposa Grove Plaza Parking Lot

Trail: Washburn Trail, Shuttle Road

Destination: Grove Arrival Area

Distance:  4.24 miles

Start Time: 12:02

End Time:    4:06

Travel Time: 4:04  (1.04 mph)

Moving Time:  2:55  (1.45 mph)

Elevation Rise: 761'

Descent: 758‘

Maximum Elevation: 5,655'

GPS Tracks

Description:

Sherri

Last week we did the first snowshoe walk of the season at Big Stump. It was a mile long walk. For today’s walk Sherri suggested something a bit more-walking up to Mariposa Grove with our snowshoes. We have allocated 2-3 hour. We will see how we do.

Gary

I got up a bit late, around 7:30. I start to drain the rainwater out of the bed of my truck. But only moderately successful. There is a sheet of ice. There is always tomorrow to finish this task. I listen to my weekly weather webcast-nothing which caught my attention. But then I took care of a couple financial things, including reporting a fake PayPal invoice.

 

 

 

 

 

Sherri after lunch

By this time it is a bit after 10:00. We are able to get the car moving by 10:30. We make it to Oakhurst by 11:15. To my surprise, Sherri wants to stop at Judy’s Donuts for coffee and a donut. She even picks up a donut for me. And then we are off to Yosemite. We get into the Mariposa Grove Plaza Parking lot. The facilities are used and we get our equipment together. At least some of it. I discovered I forgot my sunglasses. Sherri has a cheap pair which fits over my glasses.

We strap on our snowshoes and hit the Washburn Trail. Admittedly, I am slightly confused. I thought this was the shuttle road and the trail was down a little lower. But Sherri called it correctly about it being the trail. Start of it is slippery, not icey. We are glad to have the snowshoes on, but I suspect that microspikes would do just as well. The whole path is pretty well packed. So we do not sink.

Our path goes this way

A good thing is that there are not that many people out on this trail. We may be the one of the few adventurers out there, or it could be just a Tuesday and the weekend crowds are not there. Either way, just the quietness of a forest with the snow blanketing the floor and the lack of people gives the sense of tranquility.

 

Snow and Water

The first mile is a pretty good uphill. Even on this uphill, I manage to trip over my snowshoes and fall-but no injury, except to my pride. So when we get to a spot of sunshine, we stop for lunch, around 12”45. It is good to rest and get recharged. Sherri is also refreshed and does well. A couple come up at the junction which goes up to the road. The woman seems to want reassurance about where they are going; the guy seems to want to tell us where we should go. Oh well. They pass by and we continue on our plodding pace.

We are mesmerized by the snow surrounding a few creeks. Or maybe I just wanted to rest my legs a few times. Either way. These little little things on our walk makes these outings so worthwhile. As we get close to the Arrival Area at Mariposa Grove, we see the results of last Summer’s Washburn Fire. In some obtuse way, the burnt trees form a stark setting of beauty with the snow surrounding them.

And this gets us to the Grove Arrival Area. I visit the facilities upon arrival and then we have a snack. Shortly afterwards, a German couple and their baby arrive. We talked for a while. They even snap our picture. Without people up here, the area takes on a whole new look. Not quite natural, but definitely not touristy. I think I like it this way.

And now it is time to go down. We decided to try the road. It has taken us two and a half hours to get up here. So much for 2-3 hours. The road should be faster, plus being able to see things differently. And there are differences. I have always enjoyed the Sequoias by the entrance to the Grove. They remind me of guardians. And then there are places to enjoy looking out over the drainage of the South Fork of the Merced.

You know those loaner sunglasses? I cracked the frame. We had gone through a long stretch of shade, so I took them off. I then fell a second time. In getting up, I heard a crack-yep cracked the frame. There are a few patchy places as the snow is a foot deep at its deepest. A snow cat comes up. Looks like it is a service vehicle for Verizon. This starts a discussion about how the snow is being removed from the road and why there are patchy places. My legs are getting a bit tired. Sherri seems to be in the EverReady Bunny mode. But around 4pm, we get down to the Plaza and the car.

 

 
Extra Photo's

Snow, Rock and setting sun

Looking up the South Fork of the Merced

Snow and Shadow

Devil's Peak

Mt Savage

Sherri's Selfie

February 16, 2022 - Miami Mountain

 

 

Title: February 16, 2022 - Miami Mountain

Hike Info : Description :   Extra Photo's 

Hike Info:

Type: Hiking

Trail head: Miami Mtn Road

Trail: Miami Mtn Road

Destination: Miami Lookout

Distance:  4.22 miles 

Start Time: 9:45

End Time:  1:06

Travel Time:  3:21 (1.26 mph)

Moving Time:   2:08 (1.98 mph)

Elevation Rise:  1,078'

Descent: 1,061‘

Maximum Elevation:4,336 '

GPS Tracks

Description:

Start of the road up

The goal today is to hike up to Miami Mountain Lookout with our friends Betty and Rose. Woke up unaided at 6:30, my normal time. The big question is will Sherri feel like going this morning. She was a bit under the weather last night. By 8:00, I pretty much had the answer since she did not get up. 8:30 comes and so does Betty who rings the doorbell. We leave in separate cars. We come to the El Meso and 41 off-ramp and find Rose there. After exchanging greetings, I give directions on getting to the trailhead. This is one of those don’t blink, you will miss it turn offs. But we all make it by 9:40. By 9:55, or boots are starting to kick up dust.

Rose and Betty almost to the top

 

 

This route up Miami Mountain is a dirt road, some of it being through private property which allows access to the Miami Mountain Lookout. I have done this several times and know that it is a pretty good haul up the mountain, but doable. It will test how good of shape I am in, also if my lungs will hold out.

The first small section is by the home of the person with private property. A dog comes out to greet us and perform guard duty. The person I have heard is heavily involved in keeping the lookout open. Sounds like a win-win.

The air is cool, but even so, I take off my long-sleeve shirt and feel comfortable walking in the sun. A lot of times when I have done Miami Mtn, it has been 10-20 degrees warmer and there is cause to sweat heavily.

Signal Lookout

I will not say the walk is boring for two reasons. The first is because when you are walking up this road, you are surrounded by oaks and manzanita (or is there some madrone mixed in?), and other shrubbery. Lots there to keep you going. By the way, we do not see much in the realm of wildlife: a few birds and some tracks. Secondly because when you are walking with friends, there is a lot of goodness to everyday conversation: how was Hawaii? Where are you going to celebrate a birthday? How is the ranch doing? And so on. All part of friendship. So good to walk this way.

As we have been climbing for awhile, Betty makes a comment that we seem to be circling around the mountain. And yes we are. Shortly afterwards, we turn and are on the final leg of approach to the top of the mountain and the lookout. The top of Miami is fairly mild, it is a long slightly rounded top with the two story lookout sitting on its crown. There is new construction going on with the telecommunications system. The top is acquired around 11:20.

 

 

Prescribed Burn

There are several smokes showing towards the east, particularly. These are from fireplaces burning to keep the house warm. We see them all the way over to the foot of Shuteye Peak. Also, we can barely make out the lookout on top of that peak. But Signal Lookout on top of Devil’s Peak is fairly evident to the northwest of us. This is a good place to have lunch.

When we were seeing the various chimney smokes, it looked like there was one out of the ordinary to the north. After lunch, when I glanced over there, the smoke had gotten bigger and did not act as a single column, more like a wildland fire. But was Sierra NF doing a prescribed burn? Looking at Facebook, the Forest had an entry saying that starting Tuesday they would be doing a prescribed burn in the Lewis Creek drainage. . Bingo. That is where the smoke is going from. Also judging from the location I think it is in the Miami OHV area close to 41.

 

 

On the Way Down

Our trip down the mountain is much like the trip up it. Low mountain vegetation, views of snow in the high mountains and good conversation. That would be also without the huffing and puffing I experienced on the way up. We arrived back at the car by 1pm without incident and by 1:20, our cars touched pavement. The drive home was relaxed, as was I. It did feel good to park the car in our garage. I touched base with Sherri-she is feeling better. Then laid down for a little while.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
Extra Photo's

Merced Peak, Triple Divide Peak and Mount Raymond

Looking West

Panorama looking east

Little Shuteye and Shuteye

Places: CA-Devils Peak

 
Devils Peak-6,975' (Wawona) (37.5292392, -119.7403731)
Legal: T5S, R20E, Sec 1
Signal Peak Lookout-6,965' (Wawona) (37.5291027, -119.7404406)
Legal: T5S, R20E, Sec 1

	Deg	Min	Vertical Deg	Min	Distance	Visible
Delilah
Park Ridge
Buck Rock

Description : Trips : References : Pictures 


Description:

From GNIS:

• In the Chowchilla Mountains, 2.4 km (1.5 mi) north of Crow Peak and 3.2 km (2 mi) south of Granite Creek Saddle. (US-T121)
•  Also called:
• Devil's Peak
• Devils Peak
• Signal Peak

Trips:

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References:

• Fire Lookouts
• Yosemite.com
• California Lookouts
• 
  

Pictures:

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