March 7, 2015 - Million Dollar Mile to Stevenson Falls and Beyond

Title: March 7, 2015 - Million Dollar Mile to Stevenson Falls and Beyond

Trail head: Italian Bar Road

Hike Info:

Type:  Hiking

Trail: Million Dollar Mile Road

Destination: End of the Road

Distance: 14.73 miles

Start Time: 8:52

End Time: 2:33

Travel Time: 5:40 (2.60 mph)

Moving Time: 4:45   (3.10 mph)

Elevation Rise: 1,663

Maximum Elevation: 2,514'

Description:
This will be the last serious push to get ready for our half marathon in a week. So we have put it up on our meetup hike. We did this road to Stevenson Falls last month, but it is a good place to go beyond the Falls and up the road. We will see what we can see then. It is a timed walk so at a particular point, we will turn around and come back.

We meet at Kohls at 7:00 and are on our way with 24 of our best friends-at least for the day. We will also meet some new canine friends as well-all well-behaved. A good many people will join us in Prather or at the trail head. LaTanya is riding with us, along with Steven, our son. We get to Prather a bit earlier than I anticipated-about 7:50 and wait for Betty-I had told her 8am is when we would get there. Then it is off to the trail head on Italian Bar road.

Stevenson Falls

Just before 9, we gathered together and I gave the ground rules for today. This is not a destination hike, but a timed hike. We will hike for 2 1/2 hours and stop, enjoy a break or lunch, then hike back. We should all get back around 2:15. After taking a group picture, we head out at a pretty reasonable pace. I walk with Von and Don, in shorts and a T-shirt. While cool, in a short time I am starting to sweat from our walking.

In just over an hour, we reach Stevenson Falls. This is where we have reached before and stopped. Stevenson is worthwhile stopping for. One of those hidden gems. The flow is variable, based upon how much water is being released from Shaver Lake. We stop for awhile before moving on.

Road above Stevenson Creek

When we do move on, it is time to go to parts unknown, at least for me. Looking forward to seeing what is here. Like the more westward portion of the river, this part of the San Joaquin River has formed a deep gorge, cutting through slabs of granite. We are walking over 200' above the river. In one place, there is a steps which lead down to the water, but none of us go down-maybe we know that the rest of the hike will be hard enough on us without adding a climb back up.

Dam #6

As we look up the gorge, we see a dam. I am not familiar with the landmarks of the area, but after consulting a topo map for the area, I realize this is Dam #6. This is close to the end of the road which we are following. I think we have made a lot better time than what I anticipated!

End of the line

Sure enough. We come around a corner and there is Liane, Lee, Donna, Steven, LaTanya, Karen, Joe, Gary F, Don and several other people sitting, enjoying some shade under a couple penstocks, at the end of the road! Here we break out lunch and enjoy a break. My legs are just starting to feel a bit tired, so getting the weight off of them is good.

Penstocks at the end

Judy went down a ways and found a small waterfall. But the only taker she found on a return engagement was Jerry J and Liane. The rest of us were content to munch on lunch an enjoy the shade.

Dripping rocks

Deadly Lizard Face

Adit

At 11:50, we started to break up and be on our way back. While the road was much the same, except reversing the ups and downs, it did give me time look around a bit more. Such as examining some water coming down the face of a rock or looking in at one of the adit's coming out of the side of a mountain. These adits were used to provide access to the bigger tunnels being drilled through the mountain from Shaver lake, according to The Clovis News. We even found a lizard enjoying himself on the pavement.

Stevenson Falls

I had walked with Steven for a ways. he was being slowed up due to some blisters on his feet. At the halfway back mark, I caught up with Sherri at Stevenson Falls, There Steven caught up with us and Sherri administered some of her Second Skin magic. Liane and Gary F offered assistance which Steven declined, saying he thought he would be ok.

From there, it was anti-climatic getting back to the car. I walked with Steven as he hobbled along. We got back in at 2:30, slightly behind schedule. The last of our friends came in a few minutes after that. From there, many of us retired to Velesco's in Prather for a good and well deserved after hike meal. Liane has gotten Donna a pre-birthday cake which we all enjoy before our meal. Then it is time to return to Fresno.


Trail Lesson:

Life is for Living. - courtesy of Sandra S

San Joaquin River

Dam #6

February 5, 2014 - Million Dollar Mile

Title: February 5, 2014 - Million Dollar Mile

Trail head: Italian Bar Road, Audberry

Hike Info:

Trail:       Million Dollar Mile

Destination:  Stevenson Creek Falls

Distance:  7.26 miles

Start Time:  9:54am

End Time:  1:09pm

Travel Time: 3:15 (2.23 mph)
Moving Time: 2:39 (2.74 mph)

Elevation Rise: 1,046'

Maximum Elevation: 2,355'

  
Description:

Unlike some of the other mid-week meetup group hikes, this one actually allowed us to sleep to a somewhat a normal time. We gathered at Kohls at 8:00am for a trip to a local trailhead just outside of Prather. Even with it being local, it took us to just before 10am to get there. But the road was fun. Bill rode with us and we picked up Betty in Prather, so we had a merry carful.

Power Lines

The Million Dollar Mile is something which we walked on last year with the meetup group it was a new experience for us, not so much from the adventure of walking it, but that it actually existed so close to us without us knowing it. This is a discovery which opened our eyes to other wonders close to our home-beauty does not always need to be far away, but can exist in you own backyard.

San Joaquin River

The morning was cool-in the mid-40's. But I quickly shed one of the layers of shirts I was wearing. There were 30-35 people on this hike, a larger number than usual. Usually the locality will limit the hikers allowed. Also, this was a dog friendly walk, so we got to see several hounds enjoying themselves--they were very well behaved. 

A little ways in, a Southern Cal Edison truck passed us. Were were able to talk with the driver and found out a few things, such as when Stevenson Creek Falls is fully flowing, do not go over the bridge-SCE had some trucks damaged by the force of the water.

Stevenson Creek Falls

The walk is along pavement, there is no traffic, except for an occasional SCE truck. There are some nice uphill climbs, but not strenuous, just a bit long at times. If the sun is out from behind the stop slope to our southeast, the walking is enjoyable while basking in its warmth. But when the sun hides itself, it is time to bundle up some. 

I walk with Bill, John, Jerry and a few others on the way in. Enjoyed the walk. Nat pointed out where the Aspen fire was last summer. That hillside is scorched. But beyond that is more concern-the mountains should be white with snow. But you can see that the snow is barely covering the highest peaks. What a dry year.

Meetup Lunch

We get to the Stevenson Creek Falls around 11:30am where we find some boulders in the sun. We enjoy our lunch and the conversations around us. That is until the shadows bring back the coolness. At that point, John rounds us up and we head off back to the car, the same way we came.

Adit Tunnel

On the way out,  I walked with Nat. We discussed some of the history of the Big Creek project-we can see some of the history around us. We had lunch by a large adit tunnel-a tunnel which allowed access to the main water pipes going through the mountain. We see tailings at another place and soon find a second adit, as well as the large pipe bringing water to the Powerhouse #3 station. An enjoyable conversation.

We get back to the cars a little after 1. Several of us decide to go to Velasco's Mexican restaurant in Prather. Good food and good company. Made it back to Fresno just before 4pm. A pretty good day, if I say so myself.


References:

• March 13, 2013 - Million Dollar Mile hike
• 
  

March 13, 2013 - Million Dollar Road

Title: March 13, 2013

Trail head: Jose Basin Road, Million Dollar Road

Hike Info:

Trail: Million Dollar Road

Destination:Stevenson Creek

Distance:  7.7

Travel Time: 3:41 (2.09 mph)

Moving Time: 2:55 (2.64 mph)

Elevation Rise: 940'

Maximum Elevation: 2,338'

 Description:

We met up with our group at the Park and Ride in Clovis. Probably about 25 of us, with John and Cathey leading us. Headed out a little after 8 in the morning for the Million Dollar Road, our trail for today. We have Bill and Debbie with us--Steven has gone with us as well. Got up there around 9:45.



This road was cut by SCE in the 1920's as part of the hydro-electric project, which created Shaver Lake. The road itself did not cost a million dollars, but there were water tunnels which did cost that much to bore through the granite. This is a road still in use, but is considered restricted to only SCE vehicles, bikes, and walkers--we being the later in this category.

We parked the cars at the lower end of the Million Dollar Road, on Italian Bar Road. We crossed a locked gate and started our hike. The road is paved, so most of us did not take poles, but was evenly divided between boots and tennis shoes. A couple of hundred yards gets us to Mill Creek, which we cross on a grated bridge. Mill Creek gives us a taste of what is to come. This whole road is carved out of the side of a steep 2000' tall hill. So any creeks coming down, come down fast and abrupt. Mill Creek is not an exception, except for the pond under the bridge.

On we walk, on the shady side of the hill, up a mild, but consistent grade.It really does not seem much. I alternate talking with some of my fellow flanerie's: John, Cathy, Sherri, Betty, and Debbie. Part of the fun of walking on this road, with lots of people. Sort of a traveling carnival of conversation.

The one consistent sight for us is the San Joaquin River canyon. Here, of all places, I see it as a gorge, cutting through rock. Now mostly a few pools, with trickles running down into Redinger Reservoir. Most of the vegetation is manzanita with some brush, oaks, a few pines--maybe digger pines. We see fiddlersticks, with poppies, some lupine and other wildflowers.

We reach the top and turn a ridge and start our descent into Stevenson Creek. But we do not get to the full beauty of the creek, until we are a couple hundred yards from the creek, when the falls pop into view. This is what I have envisioned some of the falls around Hetch-Hetchy to be. Water falling down a slick rock surface, down to a pool which empties under our bridge. This is the end point of our walk.

We gather and have lunch--us, the standard peanut butter and nutella sandwich. But as we look around, we see there is more to the falls, than what you see at the start. Above us, hidden by a rock cropping is another set of falls, and then another at the very top. Just spectacular! Also there is a cave/tunnel which was part of the original project. It is sealed off by cement and a welded in plate over a four foot pipe.

After lunch, we return the way we came. The only difference is that the shadow of the hill has receded, leaving us in the sun. A sun which is in the 70's now--not bad by Fresno standards, still pretty warm.

We get back to the car about 1:30. Everybody lingers around and we enjoy several mini-conversations before everyone leaves. At Prather, we have a late lunch, early dinner at Velasco's. Not bad--we will be adding it into our list of restaurants to go to when we go up to Shaver Lake area. We return back to the Park and Ride, dumping off Bill and Debbie before heading home, to recuperate.

Place: CA-Stevenson Creek

Mount Stevenson-6,368' (Shaver Lake)  (37.1241139, -119.3281819)
North Fork Stevenson Creek-5,381' (Musick Mountain)  (37.1305022,  -119.2620676)
Stevenson Creek-1,640' (Musick Mountain)  (37.1696691,  -119.3604059)

Description:
In the World's Waterfall database, Stevenson Creek has the third best waterfall in the state. It truly is the highlight of the walk down the Million Dollar Mile. The creek empties from Shaver Lake

In talking with a retired SCE engineer, he was saying that about 30 yards below the bridge across Stevenson Falls, there is a small name which is a replica of the one at Shaver Lake.

According to GNIS:

• Stevenson Creek is 12 miles long. Heads 3.2 km (2 mi) north of Bald Mountain, flows southwest to Shaver Lake where it continues northwest through Shaver Lake to join the San Joaquin River just north of mile marker 309. (US-T121). Also Called:
•  Stevens
• Stevensons Creek

Trips:

• February 5, 2014 - Meetup walk to Stevenson Creek
• March 13, 2013 - Meetup walk to Stevenson Creek
• November 19, 2014 - Meetup hike to Stevenson Creek and Ely Mountain
•  February 4, 2015 - Million Dollar Mile/Stevenson Creek meetup hike
• March 7, 2015 - Meetup walk completing the Million Dollar Mile
•  January 6, 2016 - Meetup hike in the rain to Stevenson Creek
• March 19, 2016 - Sherri and Gary  walking beyond Stevenson Creek
• March 18, 2017 - Meetup hike along Million Dollar Mile
• December 7, 2017 - Sherri and Gary walked to Stevenson Falls and back
• March 17, 2018 - Meetup hike to Stevenson Falls and Beyond
• March 13, 2019 - Meetup Hike to Stevenson Falls along the Million Dollar Mile
• January 22, 2020 - Meetup hike to to Stevenson Falls along the Million Dollar Mile
• April 14, 2021 - Hike to Stevenson falls with Sherri, Gary and Carol.
• March 30, 2022 - Meetup hike to Stevenson Falls
• January 3, 2025 - Sherri and Gary hike the Million Dollar Mile Road to Stevenson Falls
• April 7, 2025 - Day hike to Stevenson Falls with Steven, Korra, Sherri and Gary
  

References:

•  World's Waterfalls Database
• Youtube Video
• Tony Krizan's article in Sierra Star Online, Feb 26, 2015
• 
  

Pictures:

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