Gary-Summer: Millerton

Showing posts with label Millerton. Show all posts

Tuesday, November 21, 2023

November 21, 2023 - Pincushion

Title: November 21, 2023 - Pincushion
Hike Info : Description : Extra Photo's : Animals

Hike Info:

Type: Hiking

Trail head: Finegold Area

Trail: San Joaquin River Trail, Pincushion Trail

Destination: Pincushion

Actual Destination: Above a hundred yards from the top and 150 feet below.

Distance: 2.62 miles

Start Time: 11:43

End Time: 2:58

Travel Time: 3:15 (0.81 mph)

Moving Time: 2:21 (1.12 mph)

Elevation Rise: 1,045'

Descent: 1033‘

Maximum Elevation: 1.492'

GPS Tracks

Description:

Sherri on path, climbing

What are we going to do today? Confession: I slept past 7 this morning. It was not until Sherri was getting her breakfast ready did we agree upon a hike: Pincushion. Pincushion is a local peak near Millerton Lake.

Sherri and I started from our house a little after 10. Table Mountain Casino has expanded since the last time I was here-I had a bit of trouble finding the right road to go up. So it took me a few tries to find Sky Harbor. Even with the detour, we got to the Finegold area of Millerton State Park by 11:15. The gate was closed-we would not be going in anyway as we have not bought a pass. But we did find a place to park on Sky Harbor.

Yes, it was that steep

By the time we started walking it was 11:45. It was less than a quarter mile into the trailhead and outhouse. The trail starts off by going up a pretty good slope. Having been on this trail several times, this is not unexpected. Sherri is keeping up a steady pace; I am doing OK, but I can tell that we are ascending. After traveling ¾ of a mile, Sherri comes across three people who wonder how much further it is to Pincushion? We say they are about a third of the way there, but the majority of the climb is ahead. This suitably discourages them.

50 yards further, the trail to Pincushion splits off of the San Joaquin River Trail. Actually, the real trail is about a quarter mile further, but this is the one commonly used. Now the climb really starts. The trail is badly rutted. It is wide, so it is possible to avoid the worst of the issues. No matter how you work it, this is steep-overall about a thousand feet in just a bit over a mile.

Gary having climbed up rocks

As we work our way up the slope, it just gets steeper. It is not because my legs and lungs are getting a workout that I think this, but just looking up the trail, it is steeper! But taking it one step at a time gets us up the hill.

There is a shelf about 150’ below the top of Pincushion. This is a bit of a rocky area which we climb up. I feel a bit uncertain about going to the top-maybe it is old age, a bit of arthritis, or just the legs feel out of shape. Whatever it is, I am content with stopping on this shelf and looking out over the area. I do not think it took too much to convince Sherri to stay here either.

From the log we are sitting on, we can see Spanish Mountain, Mt Brewer, Mitchell Peak and a whole bunch of other mountains we can see from our lookouts. Always interesting getting a different perspective. We also have lunch here while we enjoy the sight and sun. It has been a perfect day weather-wise. Sherri gets a call from Verizon-Rachel is trying to add a connection to the account and Verizon needs Sherri’s permission, which is given.

Peaks seen from Pincushion from the PeakFinder application

Sherri descending

And now we start back down. I think that old thing makes me more conscious that if I fall, I will break something and it will take a long while to mend. So I pick my way down carefully-even dragging my rear on occasion. Once we get down so we can walk, it is just a long steep downhill where we pick our route carefully-remember the old remark.

Not much is different on the return trip, except it is a lot easier on the lungs. We made it back to the car by 3:00pm. It has been a good hike, even if it has left me a bit rubber legged. It is one which I need to do to rebuild strength.

One thing I do when we get back home is to look up getting a State Park Pass for Seniors and 2024. Looks like I can apply only after Thanksgiving. Time to put that on the calendar.

Extra Photo's

Millerton

Tree and Sun Glow

Sherri coming down rocky section

Spanish Mountain

Scene from Pincushion

Animals

West Coast Lady

Ant Hole

Thursday, March 3, 2022

March 3, 2022 - South Shore Trail

Title: March 3, 2022 - South Shore Trail
Hike Info : Description : Extra Photo's : Animals : Flowers and Plants

Hike Info:

Type: Hiking

Trail head: South Shore Parking area

Trail: South Shore Trail (also called the Winchell Cove Trail and is part of the Blue Oak Trail)

Destination: Winchell Cove

Distance: 3.40 miles

Start Time: 3:01

End Time: 5:15

Travel Time: 2:14 (1.52 mph)

Moving Time: 1:43 (1.98 mph)

Elevation Rise: 351'

Descent: 329‘

Maximum Elevation:617 '

GPS Tracks

Description:

Turkey Vulture

Sort of the same situation as yesterday. I was busy doing grocery shopping at Costco. Then did an OSHER class on the Glories of Spain-about the art of Spain in the 1600 and 1700’s. So we do not get off until after lunch, more particularly after 2pm.

But that is OK. We are only going a short distance up to Millerton State Park and doing the South Shore Trail. It gives us the first opportunity for us to use our State Parks Annual Pass. Only one more use to pay for it. We fill out the envelope and go to the end of the road. We do the usual getting ready.

Our path through the flowers

But before we shove off, a big bird-not the Sesame Street type-but the turkey vulture type. Off we went, we rounded the first point and came across our first fellow traveler-a bicyclist. He passes by after we step aside. A little ways further, Sherri sees a couple of geese in the sand by the lake’s shore.

But we do not need birds to cause us to stop. There are plenty of flowers to tempt us to gaze at them. Some I know, such as fiddlenecks and miner’s lettuce, a few orchid looking flowers and a blue Dick. But there are others I do not know, it is enough just to admire and enjoy.

Gary on trail

After a mile and a bit more gazing, Sherri thinks she may have seen an eagle in a tree. I am too slow with the camera to take a picture as it flies off. Also another bicyclest comes by, must have disturbed the bird even more.

Then the highlight of the trip, at least my highlight. Sherri goes a little ways ahead, so she does not see what happens right above her. A hawk landed on a branch a few feet above her. She walks on; I only stand and gawk and take a lot of pictures. After about five minutes and me gradually getting closer, the hawk decides he is tired of being a photogenic object of my lens.

Eagle looking down on Sherri

And now I catch up to Sherri. The last part of the trail has a few rocky places-not bad, but Sherri has a tendency to pick her way through these. We stop for a few minutes about a quarter mile before the trail’s end to look over the lake. And then we go to the end of the trail.

There is a convenient outhouse at the end which we make use of before we head back down the trail. The wind has started blowing and we head towards the sun. So while we make good progress, it is against some slight resistance from the elements. A few walkers and cyclists pass us. We get back to the car around 5 and then head back home after a nice hike.

Extra Photo's

Sherri on path

Millerton Lake being low

Ducks

Oak Trees

Animals

Flowers and Plants

Tuesday, February 25, 2020

February 25, 2020 - Pincushion

Title: February 25, 2020 - Pincushion
Hike Info : Description : Extra Photo's : Animals : Flowers and Plants

Trail head: Fine Gold Parking Lot

Hike Info:

Type: Hiking

Trail: Pincushion

Destination: Pincushion

Distance: 2.41 miles

Start Time: 10:45

End Time: 1:42

Travel Time: 2:56 (0.82 mph)

Moving Time: 1:52 (1.29 mph)

Elevation Rise: 977'

Descent: 948‘

Maximum Elevation: 1,527'

GPS Tracks

Description:

This is the same hike we did in January, only this time we will try to make it to the top of Pincushion instead of the knoll before it. Also today we should be able to better see instead of the clouds and fog of last month. The other change is that not only Sherri and I are climbing up to Pincushion, but Steven our son is coming as well.

We leave our house a bit before 10. I have been dragging this morning. For the past several days, the back has been bothering me. But as I move, as in hiking, I usually feel better. It is about a 50-60 minutes drive, mostly the time, but not the miles are going down Sky Harbor Road. We get to the Fine Gold parking lot, within Millerton State Park. I love that we have an old-age pass which gets us in free to California state parks at certain times of the year.

Sherri on the trail

We start walking a little before 11. We already know this trail is nothing but up and up and up. Steven gets a little ahead of us and finds a cow and her calf blocking the way. So what do you do? You call in the person whose trail name is cow shouter to shoo away the bovine. As usual, she does a wonderful job.

Steven confronting a cow

Steven zooms ahead of us-it turns out he reaches the top about a half an hour in front of us. This leaves the old people to be huffing and puffing up the trail. A trio of females from Madera pass us. But we sort of go back and forth with them. We all stop and admire the surroundings from the hill we climbed before. Also see the last 180’ up to Pincushion.


Steven on top of Pincushion

This last 180’ is a bit more rugged going up, with many places to do a bit of minor rock holding. And yes our Madera friends pass us again. But we all gather in at the top. We have a 360^o view from up here. A bit of a hazy day, but enough clarity we can see the snow up at the 8,000’ level. We rest and devour an energy bar before heading back down.


Sherri Coming Down An Interesting Place

And now we go back. Sherri and I take our time going down. We take our time, making sure we have good footing. One time my foot slips, not badly, but enough to let me know that my back is still there.

Steven and Sherri going back the way we came up

When we get to the bottom of the hill, before the knoll, we decide to go around on a trail-it saves is from going up the 50’ and then back down. The other thing is that I see that this is not just a work around the knoll, but across from the path-road? which we came up. This is the path which we used to come up some years ago. I decide I will go down this way, while Sherri and Steven decide to go down the other. Mine is a single track, without signs of erosion. The other way can accommodate at least three across if not four, if that part of the path is not eroded. Also in most places it does not seem as steep, but that may be an illusion.

My path goes down and meets the San Joaquin River trail at a saddle. Then I go about a quarter mile before meeting up with Sherri and Steven. So it is longer, which in this case is a good thing. The longer the trail, the less of a grade, for the most part. We make it back to the car around 3. Then take off for pizza at Pieology. After eating, my back decides to act up and it takes me awhile to get up from my seat and get to the car. But we make it home OK. Now for a shower, some heat on the back and hopefully the pain will go away.