March 23, 2022 - Kaweah Oaks

 

Title: March 23, 2022 - Kaweah Oaks

Hike Info : Description   Flowers and Plants

Hike Info:

Type: Hiking

Trail head: Kaweah Oaks Preserve Parking area

Trails: Wild Rose Trail, Cottonwood Fitness Trail (Partial), Sycamore Trail, Elderberry Trail 

Distance:  3.42 miles

Start Time: 9:41

End Time:   1:51

Travel Time:  3:15  (1.05 mph)

Moving Time: 1:51   (1.85 mph)

Elevation Rise: 214'

Descent: 215‘

Maximum Elevation: 398'

GPS Tracks

Description:

Two things which I have not done for quite awhile: First hiked with the Central Valley Hiking Group, and second, it was pre-pandemic the last time I was at Kaweah Oaks Preserve. I will be glad to hike again with the group.

Line of Hikers

The Sierra between two burnt trees

 

Blackened log

I arrived at Eddie’s Bakery right at 8:15-I meant to get here a few minutes earlier, but we are having tree trimmers and I got delayed a little bit. As soon as I arrived, we took off to go to the Preserve. It is just under an hour drive. I am going alone since COVID may still be present, even though all are vaccinated. I want to lessen the chances of catching it and spreading it to Sherri after her surgery.

We get to Kaweah Oaks Preserve around 9:30, filling up the parking lot. A few of us parked along the road shoulder outside the lot. Once we got all together and greeted each other, John called us to gather together. With the size of our group, John splits us into two groups: John heading up one group and his wife Cathey the other. John calls me over to join his group. So off we go.

Crossing a flow control area

While Cathey’s group goes off on the Buttonwillow trail, we head straight up the road, about a quarter mile. There are some bathrooms there which we stop at briefly. Then we head north to get to the Sycamore Trail. I am towards the back with John leading the charge. Robert and I talk for a while. He spends his summer in Yellowstone working. Sherri and I were there in September, but our paths did not cross.

Back to the trail. The trail loops around. About six years ago, a fire burnt through this area, so there are a collection of blackened trees. While that can be depressing, there is something about the starkness of these trunks against a blue sky or the background of the Sierra Nevada. Unfortunately, there is not much in the way of wildflowers. We at the back, having gotten lapped before we go through the cattle gate, denoting the end of the loop.

 

 

 

 

 

Johnson Slough

But this is where John calls me forward and has me go ahead find the shortcut over to the Cottonwood Fitness Trail. This is a bit of a “well duh” time as the shortcut is more of a lightly used road than a trail. This is a straight shot to the west, Somehow, I end up towards the back again. But this allows me to see a Great Blue Heron flapping across in front of us, about 20; off the ground.

When we get to another gate, John has me go ahead. We pass through more downed trees and see some elderberries away from the trail. We walk beside a creek. The good thing about these loops is each has its own characteristic. Wild Rose’s is how overgrown it is with vines and berry plants. The Sycamore Loop we have talked about already. The Elderberry Trail, which we are about to go on and there are elderberries on it, just coming out with little white blossoms. 

 

 

Vines on trees

And we come to another gate and head east. There is one more loop for us to do-the Wild Rose Loop, mentioned before. There is another loop right by the Wild Rose, the Grapevine, but it appears to be closed today. But back to the Wild Rose loop. We cross over a couple flow control dams and then onto the trail proper. At certain times of the day, earlier than we are walking it today, the area has made me think of how the earth must have looked a few days after it was created. This happens when the early morning sun filters through the hanging vines. But today, we are closing in on noon and there is the brightness and definition which comes with it. But there are also a few berry flowers which grace the floor around our feet.

 

 

Crossing a flow control

We make our way across the couple of locks, which we suppose should be directing the flowing water, but the dry gravel does not seem to be flowing, so there is no action to observe. We just gingerly walk across the tops of them and then back to where the bathrooms are.

Close to the bathrooms are a set of picnic tables. And since the time is closing in on noon, we break out the food and enjoy a bit of after hike companionship. Then as the air is heating up and people have things to do this afternoon, we breakup after having a good hike. Before I go, I talk with Ken from Three Rivers a bit. He used to be a docent here. I think he is a bit like me in that he accumulates tidbits of information. Not only am I interested in hearing a bit more about Kaweah Oaks, but if he has knowledge of the flume which is to the south of Ash Mountain. He has hiked it recently and says the flume is good, but the KNP Complex fire has done a number on anything wood. So there are places to scramble up and down now. The flume itself is filled with mud in spots. But the trail going along the flume is being rebuilt even now. That is good news.

Ken and I are the last to leave the parking area. It is 1pm and I have a 45 minute drive back to Fresno. When I get back around 2pm, our tree trimmers are just finishing up, so I get to talk a bit with Alan. And now to rest for the rest of the day.

 
Flowers and Plants

October 30, 2019 - Kaweah Oaks

Title: October 30, 2019 - Kaweah Oaks
Hike Info : Description : Flowers and Plants

Trail head: Parking Lot

Hike Info:

Type: Hiking

Trail: Grapevine, Sycamore, Valley Oak, Dry Creek, Red Rose

Destination: Loops

Distance:  4.24 miles 1

Start Time: 8:40

End Time:   11:26  

Travel Time:  2:45 (1.54 mph)

Moving Time:  2:08 (1.99 mph)

Elevation Rise: 180 '

Descent: 190‘

Maximum Elevation: 388'

GPS Tracks

Description:

Sherri is sick today, so she will not be joining us on this Meetup hike. On the other hand, if she was not sick, we might either be in San Francisco or returning from the Bay Area and this blog entry would be different.

I got up at 5:30 and got ready. Left the house a few minutes later than I thought I would, but still got to the parking lot before 7. Today, I am being unsociable and will be returning right after the hike, before going to lunch or visiting the Exeter murals. So I will drive down-no one else is unsociable evidently. We get to the Preserve’s parking lot around 8:30.

Kaweah Oaks is a preserve of lands which resemble how the Valley in the area looked a hundred years ago. In some ways, it is unfair to expect a full blown Sierra hike. On the other hand, you can envision yourself being around where the early pioneers were. As was said, this is with the Meetup group. I have not hiked with them for over two months. Now that my parents' place is almost taken care of, I should be able to do more-probably not for another three weeks though.

Because of the shortness of this jont and how level it is, it is a good event for an out of shape person such as myself. The first loop is the Sycamore Trail, about a ¾ of a mile loop. I suspect the Fall is not a great time for this. The grasses are brown and everything is receding to stand against the Winter siege. But there are things of interest, such as the spindliness of the sycamores which have given up on life against the sky.

When we finish with the loop, we find that a new loop has been creaked called the Dry Creek Exercise Loop. Not sure what the exercise is, but it looks like a road which used to be used by the farm. So we go around that one as well. I walk with John, we do a bit of chit-chat stuff.

After completing that loop, we headed back to the bathrooms and go west, up the road to the Swamp Loop. It has been closed at times when we have gone up here, but today, it is open. So off we go on this 7/8th mile trail. During the Spring or after a rain, this can be a bit soggy. But like all of our walks today, it is dry. The trail meanders around a lot, so sometimes the front people have almost looped back to us back people. There is a reddish-purple plant which Karol identifies as Poke leaf, you know that 60’s song called Poke Salad Anne. The Preserve must be clearing out unwanted debris and plants as there is evidence of burnt stacks. 

 Our next, and last loop, was the Red Rose Loop-sometimes called the Wild Rose or just plain Rose trail. We were going to go on the Grapevine Trail, but it is closed today. This area is the more attractive part of the Preserve. It is lush, lots of green, with vines draping over the oaks and sycamores. At times when I have been here before, the light gets filtered through the towering leafy pillars. Today, I am settling just to be a bit awestruck by the sun streaming through unfiltered. It is a pleasant closing out of the days hike.

We regroup in the parking lot. Most of the rest of them are going to go into Exeter with Rebecca guiding the group through a tour of the town’s murals. It is well worth the small effort to go into town. It is even more special to have a knowledgeable native such as Rebecca to guide you. But today, I am going back after the hike. Having gotten in yesterday after five days away, I need to get a few things in order. So I say goodbye. It has been good seeing the good people who I hike with.

 

 
Flowers and Plants

Tobacco Weed

Poke Leaf

Jimson Weed

December 15, 2017 - Kaweah Oaks and Exeter

Title: December 15, 2017 - Kaweah Oaks and Exeter
Hike Info : Description : Trail Lessons : Background :: Extra Photo's : Animals : Flowers and Plants

Trail head: Kaweah Oaks Parking Lot

Hike Info:

Type: Hiking

Trail: Sycamore, Swamp, Wild Rose, Grapevine

Destination:  Loops

Distance:  3.59 miles

Start Time:  8:28

End Time:   10:59  

Travel Time:  2:31  (1.43 mph)

Moving Time:  2:20 (1.54 mph)

Elevation Rise:  289'

Maximum Elevation: 384'

GPS Tracks

Description:

Start of Walk

We got to Eddie’s Bakery at 7:00am.  From there we have one person going down with us to Exeter. But first it is a stop in Farmersville to get coffee and a restroom break. We get to Kaweah Oaks Preserve at 8:15 where we are met by about half the group.

 
We are going on four loops. Kaweah Oaks Preserve, which is part of the Sequoia Riverlands Trust,  is one of those places which looks ordinary. It is home to a herd of cows which spend their day munching on grass. Oaks and sycamore's  are prevalent throughout the landscape. Grasses grow some, but they are not tall right now-maybe because we are about to start Winter. I have heard that a few years ago, a prescribed burn got away and burnt some of the north side of the Preserve.  The trails are very level-no challenge here.

I think that each and everything was put in a place for a purpose. When we serve the purpose which God gives us, there is beauty. This is no difference here. One of the lessons which we have learnt by our hiking is that Beauty is there. Find It! That is the mission for the day. (Well, also enjoy the friendship of those around us.)

The first two loops, Sycamore and Swamp, were OK walks. But I will admit, I was not excited. very little caught my interest.  There was signs of the recent burn in the Sycamore Loop, more than a year ago. Several burnt trees. But more just walking, adding in miles.  We entered the Swamp Loop from the north end. Pretty quickly we started following an animal trail, rather than a human. Several trees were down, causing us to detour.  Sort of fun when you know you will not get lost-the whole Preserve is maybe a mile square. When we exited, we found a sign saying area was closed due to the previous year’s storm damage.

People's Ditch

Gate Crossing

Wild Rose Trail

But when we go over the gates controlling the water flow from the People’s Ditch and Johnson’s Slough, we enter another world. Two loops:  Wild Rose and Grapevine. I assume the vines we see clinging to the trees are grape vines. The foliage is denser, blocking some of the sunlight, causing shadows to play with our eyes. Because we are towards the end of Fall, the greens have been long gone, with the reds fading into yellows. Most of the leaves are still adhere to their stems. But the light which filters through is something which you think may have been seen in Eden.  The lesson for Gary is to keep my mind clear and the vision receptive to beauty around me.

Vine enshrouded tree

But it is nearing 11:00am. We have a lunch date at the Cafe Lafayette. So we hustle to the cars and take off to Exeter.

Trail head: E St & Pine St, Exeter

Hike Info:

Type: Hiking

Trail: Exeter Streets

Destination:  Murals

Distance:  1.34 miles

Start Time: 1:47

End Time:  3:37  

Travel Time: 1:50   (0.73 mph)

Moving Time: 1:33   (0.86 mph)

Elevation Rise:  63'

Maximum Elevation: 483'

GPS Tracks

Description:

After lunch at Cafe Lafayette, Rebecca and Keith led us around the murals of Exeter. While Sherri and I have done this walk two times previously (maybe a third), it is an enjoyable experience walking around the town, seeing a 1950’s like town in 2017. What’s more, the mural’s are a way which Exeter shows its civic pride.  Each mural depicts a theme which ties in current day Exeter with its past. Also each mural has hidden pictures which makes it a hunt to find the characters in the mural. For more on the murals, you can go to Exeter’s site where the mural tours is laid out for any who wants to go on it.

Trail Lesson: Keep my mind clear and the vision receptive to beauty around me.

Background: During our hike, there was a discussion of what a Preserve was. From my understanding, a Conservancy is an association of people who are working to preserve a set of lands. While a Preserve is a place, a refuge.  Preserves, like the Kaweah Oaks Preserve, are privately owned. My understanding in how this system works is that the Conservancy is a non-profit. As a non-profit, they can offer land owner’s a tax deduction when the owner gives their land to the Conservancy. Often the owner will stipulate certain usages which they can continue on the land, such as grazing of cattle. Typically the Conservancy will “un”develop the land, minimizing the land’s previous use. Preserves may be open to the public to all for certain uses such as hiking and other enjoyable activities. At least this is my understanding




Extra Photo's

Animals

 
Flowers and Plants

December 4, 2013 - Kaweah Oaks Preserve

1926 Map-look at red lower map

Title: December 4, 2013 - Kaweah Oaks Preserve

Trail head: Parking Lot of Kaweah Oaks Preserve

Hike Info:

Trail: Sycamore, Swamp, Wildrose, Grape Trails

Distance:  4.09 miles

Travel Time: 3:12 (1.28 mph)

Moving Time: 1:57 (2.10mph)

Elevation Rise:  214'

Maximum Elevation:  396'

1993 Map

 






Description:
It's another mid-week hike and it is cold, the coldest day of our winter so far. But that is not saying too much as we are just at the beginning of the cold season.today's hike takes place a little east of Visalia, close Exeter, at a place called Kaweah Oaks Preserve. It is an area which is like it was before Europeans came to the Valley.  There are four short trails we will be walking on today. All of the trails are essentially flat. But our group is built for enjoyment, not speed, so we spend a lot of time strolling, enjoying the sights. There are several geo-caching sites on the property.

The first is the Sycramore trail. This is loop to the north of the parking lot. It takes a road to the west, past a couple of portable outhouses. Then we take a right at a corral and walk along a fence. This look, as would be appropriate for its name, takes us past several sycramore trees. While the colors are slightly past their prime, there are still reds and yellows to admire.  One tree has fallen and sprouted new trees from its limbs which are vertical. We come across a wire fence which still has the cold dew drops on it, catching the morning light.

Being a dry year which not much rain so far, the next trail is sort of mis-named, "The Swamp". It heads out west from the corral, amongst a creek or canal bottom. I suppose when there is mosture, we would have mud on our boots. But today, it is more of just  leaves on the group, which some gentle rays of the sun, filtering through the trees, starting to provide some warmth.

The next two trails are each under half a mile, the Wild Rose and The Grape.  Wild grape vines  have managed to climb high into the trees, creating these alcoves of shelter. Several people remarked that it would be perfect for children of all ages to play in. I agree.

With the mountains of the Sierra's so close, we did get some enjoyable sights of them before heading back home. A lot of people stopped at Bravo Farms on the way home for lunch. But my card did a bee-line for for starting place at Kohl's. A good and pleasant day. Not strenuous by any imagination. But glad we came.