Gary-Summer: Hitchcock

Showing posts with label Hitchcock. Show all posts

Monday, September 2, 2024

September 2, 2024 - Park Ridge Lookout and Hitchcock Meadow

Title: September 2, 2024 - Park Ridge Lookout and Hitchcock Meadow
Hike Info : Description : Extra Photo's : Flowers and Plants

Hike Info:

Type: Hiking : Lookout

Trail head: Big Stump Parking Area

Trail: Hitchcock Meadows Loop

Destination: Hitchcock Meadow

Actual Destination: Kings Canyon Park/Sequoia National Forest border

Distance: 1.58 miles 1

Elevation Rise: 285 '

Descent: 285‘

Maximum Elevation: 6,322'

GPS Tracks

¹I did not turn on the GPS. The distance and elevation data is gathered by plotting it on Google Earth.


CoffeePot Fire

Description:

My blood sugar alarm went off last night interrupting a good night's sleep. Turns out it was a false alarm. I managed to wake up at 0600 when Sherri got up. Sort of amazing that Sherri wakes me up instead of the other way around. The task this morning is to get everything down to the car as we will leave after our relief shows up. We get all of this stuff done by 0800-of course we do not have a lot as this is only a couple of steps above backpacking as we have to lug everything up 20’. And today, we lug everything down the 20’.

We go in service at 0800 with Buck Rock following us a few minutes later. Then we settle down for the next hour or so, doing our lookout thing. Sherri gives the cab a good cleaning. I did not get to clean the windows. Maybe I was too busy admiring hawks and being impressed by the CoffeePot Fire.

We stayed overnight last night to provide coverage on Labor Day demo 0800 till our relief arrived-also I just enjoy being up here. Before 0900, our relief arrived in the form of Terry. We met Terry last Labor Day for the first time. We also found out then that Terry and us have something else in common-we go to the same church. We talked about what had happened during the last couple of days-not much. But also some chit-chat about various topics.

Trail to Hitchcock Meadow

We left Terry. Originally we thought of hiking Park Ridge over to Panoramic Point. But even though the smoke is clearing, it still is there. So we decided not to. We head back down the road to the Visitor Center. As we got close to Big Stump, we decided that we could go on a short hike-if it is too smokey we can turn back.

Instead of doing the Big Stump loop, we will go the other way to Hitchcock Meadow. Down the trail we go-down being the way we start off. The Meadow is not too far away from the very popular Big Stump area. But we are alone on it. We usually hike with our poles, but today, we left them in the car. While the trail is a bit uneven, it is not too bad.

The thing about this trail is that there are Sequoia stumps and towering trees. A reminder of what we lost and an appreciation of what we have. Light filters through the canopy. And I wonder if this is what Adam and Eve enjoyed in the Garden.

Hitchcock Meadow

After walking about 20 minutes, we ended up at Hitchcock Meadow. What makes this meadow such an attractive place is the Sequoias guarding the area and the pleasant greeness underfoot. We cross over a small pool of water and walk over to a dirt road on the other side.

I thought that pretty close to here is the Park boundary, but it's not. We walk a ways down this road. Nothing fabulous, but something to explore. The road gets to a place where it dips down into the Forest.We decide to return after looking down into the area.

As we start back, a young man comes down the road we just came down. We talked with him for a bit. He has a cabin down in the area. I had seen him jogging by Wilsonian when we drove by.

We just reversed our trip out, enjoying these last moments here. I linger back, enjoying how the light filters through the trees. It is a good way to go out. We get back to the car and leave. It is uneventful back to Fresno. After we unpack and shower, we decide to go out to eat. Steven and Korra are on the coast, so it is just the two of us. The Old Spaghetti Factory sounds like it will be good for us. After eating, we just relax for the rest of the day.

Extra Photo's

A Glorious Morning has broken

Initial tint of the rising sun

Sherri walking back to the parking area

More morning breaking

Sequoia along the trail

Sequoia guarding the meadow

Hitchcock Meadow

Flowers and Plants

Blue Elderberry

California Lilac

Friday, January 20, 2023

January 20, 2023 - Big Stump

Title: January 20, 2023 - Big Stump
Hike Info : Description : Extra Photo's

Hike Info:

Type: Snowshoeing

Trail head: Big Stump Parking Lot

Trail: Big Stump Trail

Destination: None-only going to go for an hour

Actual Destination: Big Stump Meadow

Distance: 0.85 miles

Start Time: 2:47

End Time: 3:56

Travel Time: 1:08 (0.75 mph)

Moving Time: 0:45 (1.14 mph)

Elevation Rise: 276'

Descent: 194‘

Maximum Elevation: 6,326'

GPS Tracks

Description:

Gary's new snowshoes

I got up at 7 and am hoping that I can go on a brief snowshoe walk sometime today. It will depend on the weather-not so much will there be rain, but how icy will the roads be?. I have not been up this season, so I am interested in doing two things: just getting snow under my feet and getting the snowshoes my children gave me on top of some snow.

Sherri following Gary's tracks

I spent the morning just doing this and that, Then had lunch. By 1pm, Sherri and I are off, I am hoping to go up Millwood Road and meet enough snow to walk on, The drive past Dunlap is uneventful. Millwood is in pretty good condition, even when it turns into a dirt road. But when we come to Mike’s house, the road is covered with snow, but not deep enough to put snowshoes on for. So we turn around and head towards Big Stump.


Gary

The Path

As we get close to the Park, the road is covered in places with snow. There was a sign saying chains required, except if you have 4-Wheel Drive. I hope this included All Wheel Drive, because we continue on without chaining up. When we reach the entry station, the ranger does ask and I say yes to having AWD and he is satisfied. On we go to Big Stump.

I had thought about taking our third trip to Hitchcock Meadow in a year, but there is 4’ of snow to scramble over before we can hit the trail. Instead we decided to go down the Big Stump Trail. A word about my new MSR snowshoes. They are a dream to put on. The straps are easily adjusted and the snowshoe is snug, but comfortable on the boot. It only took a couple of minutes from the time I started to put on the snowshoe till I was ready to go. I think I am going to love these snowshoes.

Snow Covered Stump

When Sherri got ready, we cut over to the trail. It is a trail we have walked many a time but on dirt and a few on snow. But going over with the snow is something magical. While there are footprints, the rest of the snow is untouched. Snow is still on the trees-this leads to the only little bit of unpleasantness. While not warm,, the snow in the trees is melting, splattering down on those of us passing under it. And I forgot my hat!

Sherri and Gary

Still I love this Winter scene. I had us only going for an hour. So at the half an hour mark we turn around. By now, it is 3:30. We made it to the meadow area. There is a nice fog, or cloud enveloping us. It gives the Sequoias a quality of being silent guardians of the forest, loaming dark against the white. It says to me, when do I come back again? And if I have anything to do with it, we will.

We get back to the car about 4 and are able to take off soon afterwards. By 5:15, we are back home. I am pretty satisfied with the day. I love my snowshoes. They are highly maneuverable-I did step on them three times, but did not fall. And as easy as they were putting on, they were even easier to take off.

Extra Photo's

Our path and some Sequoias

Sun coming through the mist and Sherri

Mist covering the Sequoias

Mist on Meadow

Sequoia

Gary and a snow covered bush

Icicles

Saturday, November 26, 2022

November 26, 2022 - Hitchcock Meadows

Title: November 26, 2022 - Hitchcock Meadows
Hike Info : Description : Extra Photo's

Hike Info:

Type: Hiking

Trail head: Big Stump Parking Lot

Trail: Hitchcock Meadow Trail, Sunset Trail

Destination: Hitchcock Meadow

Actual Destination: Beyond to a ridge above Sequoia Creek

Distance: 2.53 miles

Start Time: 9:55

End Time: 1:10

Travel Time: 3:14 (0.78 mph)

Moving Time: 2:25 (1.05 mph)

Elevation Rise: 516'

Descent: 500‘

Maximum Elevation: 6,349'

GPS Tracks

Description:

Carol, Emily and Sherri on trail

In October I was talking with Carol at a potluck. She mentioned she and Emily liked to go for a hike around Thanksgiving day. I indicated I would like to tag along. When Sherri talked with her in November, they planned to go out on the Saturday after Thanksgiving. We went to Hitchcock Meadow in September. Evidently this trip stuck with Sherri,because that is where the women planned on going

More of Emily, Carol and Sherri

Sherri and I left our house at 8 and picked up Emily and Carol about 8:30. Then it is off to Big Stump. I asked if anybody wanted to stop at Clingman’s Junction for coffee. Evidently that was not a winner of a suggestion. But right after we pass by, I see Micah running along 180. Micah is one of our fellow fire lookouts.

Surprisingly the Big Stump Parking Lott is not very full. But there is something which I did not think about: snow covers our trail. I asked if anybody is concerned about this? Not unless the snow is deep. I love these women! We get ready and start walking a few minutes before 10.

Our first obstacle is right after we leave the parking lot. The trail drops by ten feet on very packed snow/ice, making things potentially slippery. We all make it down and start our walk. I am not sure why, but I start us off down the trail. It is relatively easy to see where we are going-people have already trampled down the trail. The operative word here is down. The trail leads us down. We stop occasionally just to admire what we are walking through. Big Stump does not have a monopoly on large stumps. We pass by some, too many when you consider how majestic they must have been 150 years ago.

Gary and Emily

I do watch my step. Even though the footing is solid I know it would be easy to slip. We come to Hitchcock Meadow, which is also covered by snow. There is a sense of plainness to this view, which is also pleasant to the eye. There is a pool and a stump, along with a few Sequoias scattered around. We gaze at this view for a while before deciding what to do next. We have three choices. First, just go back to the car. Second, continue on with this trail, and lastly cross the meadow and pick up the Forest Service road on the other side of the meadow. We decided to continue on this trail since we are energetic.

Bearing Sign

This is the Sunset Trail and eventually it would end up at Grant Grove. I do not think we will be traveling that far today. But the sun is out, the trail is obvious and the company is enjoyable-at least I enjoy them.

Reflection in pool: Hitchcock Mdw

We follow the trail, sometimes snow covered, other times we walk on bare ground. The trail rolls along with the terrain. One of our stops is a trail back up to the General’s Highway. It will meet with a road to the Needle Dump and then continue up to Park Ridge as the Azalea Trail. A fragrant trail in late June, early July.

When we stop for a few minutes, we spot a sign in the distance. Too far away to read, but too close to ignore.I satisfy my curiosity by taking off to figure out why they posted this sign so far off the trail. What does the sign say? Do not disturb the bearing tree I look around, wondering what they were taking a bearing off of. And there it is, about 20 yards away. What is it? Just an old style legal marking. I go around and meet the trail up there.

On our return

After circling around and meeting the trail, I consult with my fellow travelers. I saw a rock outcropping along the ridge we are on. Looks like a good place to eat lunch. From here, we can look west and northward. It is a good view. We see where the trail would descend down into Sequoia Creek and Ella Falls, but we do not see the water from the creek, nor the white tumbling of foam from a fall.

After a satisfying lunch break, we decided to head back. It is pretty much the same going as well as coming. I can tell my boots are getting a bit old, and maybe I am as well. I can definitely feel the cold of the snow and am wondering if the wetness from the snow is seeping through-it wasn’t, at least when we got back to the car my socks were dry.

We stopped by Hitchcock Meadow. I noticed the pool was very reflective. I tried to get some reflections of a big stump and some Sequoias. I was only moderately successful.

And then it was back to the car. An enjoyable hike with enjoyable people, even though there was more snow on the ground than what I expected. I am glad we came up today, even though it meant a day away from slaving away on our front yard. We dropped Carol and Emily off and made it home a little after 3.