April 9, 2014 - Rim Trail and Back to Foresta

Title: April 9, 2014 - Rim Trail and Back to Foresta

Trail head: Cascade Creek

Hike Info:

Type:  Hiking

Trail: Old Big Oak Flat Road and the North Rim Trail

Destination: El Capitan

Actual Destination: Ribbon Meadow

Distance: 7.54 miles

Start Time:  8:08

End Time:   1:21

Travel Time: 5:12 (1.45 mph)

Moving Time: 4:25 (1.71 mph)

Elevation Rise: 2,256'

Maximum Elevation: 7,791'

Cascade Creek

Description:

At end of Trip

I woke up cold and I had slept cold last night. But I do not think it got too much below freezing. Usually I sleep pretty snug, but last night with my new sleeping bag, I definitely did not sleep well. So when it became somewhat light, I got up and just walked around a bit. Went up and down the Old Big Oak Flat Road. Not very far either way. The snow where we walked yesterday on the other side of the bridge had refrozen and the melted snow on the bridge had frozen. But on our side of the bridge, there was water trickling down from melted snow.

After awhile Andrea got up. We had our breakfast of oatmeal and stuff. Then off we went after telling Sherri, who was still warm in her bag that we were gone, and me going back to get fresh batteries for the GPS and camera. Oh yeah, the camera, had to go back and get that as well. Andrea could have committed me to an institution dealing with memory issues then.

Andrea's Good Side

But despite my mental capabilities, Andrea and I start off on our trek to El Capitan. If we make it, it will be a 16 mile day with our return trip to Foresta. The first half of a mile is down the Old Big Oak Flat Road until we hit the trail junction for the Rim Trail at Gentry Station, not that Gentry Station is there anymore, but it was at the site. Actually, looking at some old books, I think this is where a toll station for gentry's was.

  

Snow and Andrea

Anyway, we start up on the Rim Trail. The first quarter of a mile, not too bad. And then it goes up and up and up. Looked like in places there is a 24% grade. It is still cool, but we start to shed our outerwear. Glad I did not bring my jacket along. Even so, Andrea eventually puts my stuff into her pack. At 6,000' we start to hit patchy snow, mostly in the shade. We also get some views of the Cascade Creek drainage. 

I quickly realize that with Sherri not being with us, I am the weakest link. Not so much in being able to keep up the pace, but in being able to take a breath.  But I still do pretty well and Andrea patiently slows down for an old man. Early I had mentioned that I thought at 7,000' we would hit snow pretty continuously, and we do. Not deep, maybe about a foot or so, maybe two feet in the shade. Just enough to make us work at it. We cross the ridge at the top of our climb, about 500' above El Capitan.

Andrea at Ribbon Mdw

But it is getting to be elevenish an we still have over two miles to go. We get to Ribbon Meadow and see nothing but a field of snow. With our trip back, we decide that it is time to turn around and head back to camp. But first, we rest and take in some energy bars at Ribbon Meadow. The sun feels good enough to stay here for a long time, which we do. But reluctantly we get up and head back down the trail we came up.

Andrea and Gary on morning hike

Our trip back to camp is a lot quicker and easier--most of it downhill. But we do realize how steep we came up as we walk down. My legs are starting to feel the deadness which the climb induced. Andrea, who did a half-marathon a couple of weeks again, still looks strong. Even with the faster pace, there is delight in looking around and seeing the west end of Yosemite Valley and Cascade Creek area. I will say the last little bit from Gentry's to our camp showed how much the climb took out of me. Even though we go up maybe 150', the legs were aching. I was glad to get back to camp and sit for a bit. Also having lunch there was not bad either.

Hike Info:

Type:  Backpacking

Trail:  Foresta to Cascade Creek

Destination: Foresta

Distance: 4.00 miles

Start Time:  2:28

End Time:   5:00

Travel Time: 2:31 (1.59 mph)

Moving Time: 1:55 (2.09  mph)

Elevation Rise: 363'

Maximum Elevation: 6,149'

Description:
After lunch, we retrace our steps from yesterday. We are returning back to the car. Seems a bit cooler than yesterday-whether it is an illusion or reality, I am not too concerned with. We will be going through the part where we felt it was hot yesterday.

Stream Crossing

We pretty much walked the trail non-stop, with the exception of the Tamarack Creek crossing. Sherri and I took off our boots, while Andrea decided to do some gymnastics with a log and some rocks and made it across--even with her pack on today.

The difference between yesterday and today is that we have a perspective of traveling in reverse. Instead of heading towards the Valley, we get to see the burn area in front of us. There is a sense of ghostly beauty to it. The burnt out hulks of trees standing upright; the shrubs just starting to come back again. The demarcation after Wildcat between burn and green is startling-where before it was going from the heat to refreshment; today it is going from a friendly world to something of a deadscape-but not quite dead.

Andrea

We are glad to get back to the car. After discussing plans, we realize that we all are tired. Andrea has a three hour drive back to the Bay Area; we have two and half hours. So we part ways. It has been a joy to hike with Andrea this past couple of days. We stop at Todd's in Oakhurst before reaching home around 8pm.

Bridalveil

Gary and Andrea hiking

Ragwort?

The Dance Hall

Snow Plant

Sherri and Andrea

April 8, 2014 - Cascade Creek

Title: April 8,2014 - Cascade Creek

Trail head: Foresta

Hike Info:

Type:  /Backpacking

Trail: Parts of Rim Trail

Destination: Cascade Creek

Distance:  4.65 miles

Start Time:  11:31

End Time:     3:46

Travel Time: 4:14 (1.10 mph)

Moving Time: 2:50 (1.64 mph)

Elevation Rise:  1,709'

Maximum Elevation: 6,144'

Description:

We started out planning this hike to take people who have not been backpacking before. But things did not work out, so the remaining sojourners are Andrea, Sherri, and myself. But that is good too because we get to spend time with our daughter.  The other change in plans was the location. Almost no snow all winter. But last week a couple of feet dumped in the Sierra's-which is a good thing. But our original destination up Alder Creek has more snow than I want to camp in. For years I had been eyeballing a trail out of Foresta. This is not a summer-time trail as there is a lot of exposure to a sun. Even today with it being 90 in Fresno, it will be warm on the first part.

On the way up to meet Andrea, we had an incident. We stopped in Oakhurst to pick up a Subway sandwich, which by the way, we have had good success in stopping here. This time is no different. But when I open up the bear canister to put the sandwiches in, a strong scent of wine, along with a bit of light purple appeared. Our wine bag had sprung a leak. Lots of stuff in the canister was wet and some of it leaked onto my shirt and pack. After using the Subway bathroom to clean up the mess-thanks Subway-we were able to leave. At the entrance station we examined the pack. We just needed to clean up a bit more, but most everything, except for the pack had not been affected. So we are off to meet Andrea.

We got to the trail-head a little after 11, over an hour late. Andrea had gotten here at 9, so she has had a long wait. The first order of business is to repack my backpack after making sure there was nothing affected by the wine flood of 2014. Then we are off, around 11:30.

Dead Forest

Tamarack Falls

After crossing the road, we started our climb. While today is warm, this trail could have been a lot hotter. We sweat a lot-some of it gets into my eyes. But we continue on up this initial climb. The A-Rock fire¹ of 1990 came through this area and the area is still recovering (since writing this, I found out that a fire came through in 2009). For the first miles, there are only burnt tree trunks still standing. There is old dried up manzanita bushes which show some signs of life-that is besides the grasses and a few wildflowers. Maybe as compensation, we see some falls by Tamarack Creek in the distance.

After a mile and a half of this, being under the noon sun, we see the first signs of forests, firs it looked like with some incense cedars. Wildcat Creek is close by. We see the Dance Hall and the Devil's Dance Floor at the end of Wildcat. Now this trail is looking a bit more like a Sierra trail. After crossing Wildcat Creek, we stop for lunch. Not too bad of a place, just enjoying the mountain air to enjoy our Subway sandwiches.

Andrea&Gary after Tamarack Creek

Tamarack Creek

Enjoying the hike

But now it is onward. We have down the major part of our climb so it is more of a relaxed pace. With us being under the trees, the walking is nice, the uphill is moderate, conversation flows freely, but being the afternoon, we are a bit warm. But that changes in a few minutes. Except for the slope of the hillside, you would not realize you are just a quarter-mile above some of the falls of Yosemite-not the famous ones, but the ones Wildcat, Tamarack and Cascade Creeks create.

Sherri

But this comes to an end-not the conversation or steep hillside, but the warmth. We need to cross Tamarack Creek. As much as we scout around for a place to cross, Andrea only finds a suitable place to cross-without her pack. Sherri and I take off our boots and wade across. That snow-fed creek is COLD! Certainly no thought about how warm the air is. We get dried off and start on our way again. Now it is less than a mile to Cascade Creek. I am a bit concerned about crossing this creek, just because of its size and I think I have read in a blog how this guy had to travel a ways to find a way around it.

Cascade Creek

But we come to Cascade and find a bridge, and snow. It is getting later in the afternoon. A bit too soon to stop. But looking at the map the next water is four miles away after a pretty good climb. Also this snow is spooking me so I think it is better to camp here. There is a nice spot to stay, with a good fire pit, close to the creek. So camp we do.

Wanderings

After pitching the tent and looking around a bit, we go for a short wander up towards Tamarack Flat along an old road. It turns out this is part of the historic Old Big Oak Flat Road. We do not get very far, maybe a third of a mile when we are stopped once again by Tamarack Creek. With snow all around it, we decide to cross it, but to head a bit towards Cascade Creek on our way down. Just wandering, nothing spectacular.

Sherri, Andrea, Gary enjoying the fires

Dinner is the other half of our Subway sandwich. Andrea brings along split pea soup, which tastes good warm. A fire is started and the evening air turns chilly with the setting of the sun. We wait until we can see stars--well I do not wait, but fall asleep while seated by the fire. But it is nice just being here, enjoying the companionship of wife and daughter.

Hike Info:

Type:  Hiking

Trail: Tamarack Flat Road and wandering

Destination: Cascade Creek

Distance: 1.12 miles

Start Time:   4:46

End Time:    5:39

Travel Time: 0:52 (1.29 mph)

Moving Time: 0:41 (1.64 mph)

Elevation Rise: 265'

Maximum Elevation: 6,261'

 ¹There are several interesting references to this fire. It appears that not only did A-Rock fire burn this area in 1990, but also the Big Meadow controlled burn in 2009. For more references, see the following links:

• Southern California Public Radio
• NPS Big Meadow Fire site
• New York Times article

• 

  Tributary

  

  Falls along tributary

  
  

March 29, 2014 - Marble Falls

 

Title: March 29, 2014 - Marble Falls

Trail head: Potwisha Campground

Hike Info:

Type:  Hiking

Trail: Marble Falls

Destination: Marble Falls

Distance:  6.75 miles

Start Time:  9:28

End Time:   3:00*

Travel Time: 5:31* (1.22 mph)

Moving Time: 4:37* (1.46 mph)

Elevation Rise: 1,583'

Maximum Elevation: 3,810'

*My GPS batteries died about a third of the way on the return trip. The mileage and elevation should be close, but the time is off.

Description:

We arrive at Kohl's at 7 and it is another long drive to Three Rivers. Like our two previous hikes, this destination is a first for us. So with that in mind, Nat and Jeffery pile into our car and we start out with about 18 other intrepid hikers for a location just outside of Ash Mountain. We stop in Farmersville for a break and hit Potwisha a little after 9.

Canal

The trail head is on the far side of the Potwisha Campground. The first part of the trail is a dirt road which goes besides a canal. Where this canal goes, John's conjecture is to Kaweah Reservoir. And that is a good guess. looking at a topo map, the canal skirts the campground, then crosses the road and the Middle Fork of the Kaweah. From there it meets up with a flume and heads towards the reservoir. Someplace in this area is a Parshall Flume. This may be to measure the river flow.  You can see pictures from 1955 at the Huntington Digital Library showing this flume. Now, what the use is it? I do not know. My speculation is it might be used for water for the campground and visitor center.  

Up the Marble Fork

About a quarter mile up the road is the official start of the trail. You make a right turn and start heading up a short series of steep switchbacks. This gets us up our first 150' and steps the tone for the next two miles. Fortunately, there are many places for the more thoughtful and philosophical minded person to stop and ponder what he sees-not being sexist here, just I am a he. "Shes" have equal opportunity to take advantage of being thoughtful and ponder any philosophical implications of this trail.

Back towards Three Rivers

Yucca Plant

Sherri and Admiration Point

While this is not a wildflower year, there are some redbuds out, along with the miner's lettuce sprouting their petite white flowers. Oh yes, and how can I forget the yucca plants, one of which is just about ready to bloom and stood higher than me! These are a pleasure to observe as we walk along. Today I pretty much stick with Sherri on the way up. And up we continue on, climbing pretty far above the Marble Fork of the Kaweah. The canyon this water is cutting is a steep V. On the other side of the canyon is Panorama Peak. Jerry K says that he and John want to take us-the group--up to another point, Admiration Point. This Point towers above Marble Falls with Switchback Peak between them on our side of the river. The trail calms down and continue a climb which does not seem as steep. But we may have just gotten used it. About 2/3's of a mile from the end of the trail, a couple of people have had enough and will wait until people start returning.

First Falls

But we continue on. I will say this trail is not one of NPS' better maintained trails. One place your get the fun of clinging to a rock and going from one ledge to another-this is not as bad as it sounds. Still for a popular trail, I am a bit surprised. At the end of the trail is another opportunity to climb up a rock about 5'. Here, you find a marble rock bowl which eon's of water has scoured out and is still working on. Several places around the falls have these scooped out bowls.

Middle Falls

Marble Falls themselves are really three sets of drops. The first is down the river about half of a mile and we saw them coming in. Then we are sitting on top of the middle set. Then according to the map, the falls actually labeled Marble Falls is about a third of mile and 400' up from where we are. 



We sit on top for about an hour, soaking in the sun and fellowship. I pass out some of my cookies. And this is where, as John and Cathey say, it is not a hike without a fall happens. I was really hoping the Falls would suffice for a fall. but alas, it was not meant to be. As I was sitting down on what I thought was flat rock, I rolled backwards. Legs going up, camera knocking off my glasses and my pride bruised. But everything else, including the cookies were intact. 

We then start back along the same trail, after all this is an in-and-out type of a hike. I manage to go out without falling. Someplace along the return trip, the batteries in my GPS gives out-I have extrapolated our mileage and elevation from our incoming trip. A bonus is that one of the new people in our group is starting to train to climb Mt Whitney this summer. I talked with her for a most of the way down. At least on my end, it was a pleasant conversation and it made the walk back go fast. She actually did pretty good coming back and we got to wait about 15 minutes for the rest of the group to catch up with us.

Gary, the hiker

Our post hike meal was in Three Rivers at the Pizza Factory. Still enjoyable. Got back to Fresno before 6.

March 28, 2014 - Alder Falls

Title: March 28, 2014 - Alder Falls

Trail head: Mosquito Creek

Hike Info:

Type:  Hiking

Trail: Alder Creek

Destination: Alder Falls

Distance: 7.88

Start Time:  8:48

End Time:   2:15

Travel Time: 5:27 (1.45 mph)

Moving Time: 4:14 (1.86 mph)

Elevation Rise: 1,514'

Maximum Elevation: 5,813'

Description:
Just a small group of people whom we have hiked with before-Dana, Jerry J, and Matt G.  Sherri, Steven and I had breakfast at the Train Depot. Very filling. The group, sans our son, met at Kohl's at 7 and made our way to Mosquito Creek. Matt drove us. Saw snow on the way in, but none at the trail head.

Alder Creek is a hike which Sherri and I fell in love with several years ago upon a recommendation by an elderly volunteer at the Wawona Ranger station. It sounded interesting so we went. We got more than we expected. We are just glad to share it with others.

Alder Creek area

We take off from Mosquito Creek and climb up through the shrubbery left from a fire several years back(Ann Marie Brown in her Cailfornia Waterfalls books says it was a control burn in 2008). At the start, many trees are down, forcing us to climb over logs. But nothing too difficult for us, at least for me, even with my 35 pound training pack on. For awhile on the climb, I am breathing a bit hard. But once I get a rhythm going, the breathing comes around and I can start enjoying the hike. 

Burnt Forest

Each year when we go through the burnt section, we see change, a bit more brush, startings of new trees, and old burnt ones falling. The cycle of the forest taking place in front of our eyes. While I do enjoy the pine and cedar forests I walk through, I am starting to understand and see with new eyes the beauty there can be in this cycle of change.  I sometimes wonder if I will be able to walk this trail when the cycle has come full circle and what will it be like to say to the trees I knew you when you were young?

Manzanita Flower

Snow Plant

But onwards we go. I can see I am not the only one breathing a bit hard. In front, Jerry says that he saw a deer scampering through the forest.  We get to the junction with the trail from Wawona. Now the trail does a gentler, rolling climb. And we start hitting patches of snow. nothing very deep. But still the frozen water crunches under our feet. The covering of snow is one of the things I like about the Alder Creek trail. Each time I travel it, the scenery changes. Sometimes it is the Fall, other times the Spring. We have hiked it in deep snow and now in a light covering. This trail continues to amaze my senses.

The snow is nothing which inhibits our walk. But the covering produces another world of brightened light, creating vivid greens and earthly browns. These are good views as we climb up to the old railroad bed-we understand that this railroad bed may have been from an old logging rail, maybe the Sugar Pine railroad?

On top of Alder Falls

We take a little break before hiking the rest of the mile before the falls. I think the group was a little surprised when I said something about time to progress on to the main event. So along the railroad bed we walked-a lot easier walking on this, even though it is completely snow covered. Nothing exciting, just a general sense of this is good. Then comes the surprise when we round a ridge. Alder Falls is there, showing herself off, maybe not in full splendor, but with enough beauty to dazzle both those who are seeing it for its first time and those who have come to re-acquaint themselves with her. 

Alder Falls

 





After being properly awed, we go to the top of the falls and have lunch. (To clarify, the base of the falls i about 300' below us and would be a very difficult climb down to it. The top of the falls is a ways off the trail and about 50' below us as well, but it can be easier to do, but we do not do so.) The sun beaming down, nice rock to sit on and so much eye-candy to gaze upon. Did I mention pleasant people to share this with? What a place for lunch.

Lunch

While the others sit for awhile, I go up a little ways further along Alder Creek. There were many sights and sounds which gave a sense of serenity and peace. Snow and being alone will do that too you. We have not seen any other people today and that is enjoyable not having the crowds of Yosemite and still enjoying a fall which has such beauty. But I can either stay here and abandon the others or come back. Getting lost in beauty is a wonderful thing. But eventually, you really should be found. This is not the only thing in the world.

Trail above the Falls

Branches of Alder Creek

Alder Creek

 We start back and make good time. The real notable thing for us on the return trip is that much of the snow we walked over on the way up has disappeared. In places it is only our foot path which now is a streak of mud and dirt. In other places whole patches has evaporated. We get down to Matt's vehicle and start our way down. We stop in Oakhurst for our obligatory homage to Todd's. Then it is back to Kohl's and home. a good day.

March 21, 2014 - Pig Pond/Tunnel Monement Loop

Title: March 21, 2014 - Pig Pond/Tunnel Monument Loop

Trail head: Parking Lot at Pacheco State Park

Hike Info:

Type:  Hiking

Trail: Pig Pond/Tunnel Monument/Spikes Peak

Destination:  Tunnel Monument

Distance:  3.67 miles

Start Time:   11:41

End Time:      1:27

Travel Time: 1:45 (2.10 mph)

Moving Time: 1.29 (2.47 mph)

Elevation Rise:  966'

Maximum Elevation:   1,823

Start of Trail to Pig Pond

Description:
Once again we are on our way over to my parents in Mountain View. Pacheco State Park is turning out to be a great place to go for a mid-trip hike. We get to Pacheco around 11:30 and take off to Pig Pond. Previous hikers had not closed gates, but we leave them closed.

Climbing out of Pig Pond

Pig Pond is a familiar route-we have done this several times. While Pig Pond will never be a destination spot, it is a close one mile walk from the car. We travel beyond this, up the hill to a picnic table. This would be a great place to eat, with shade and views of Salt Creek, windmills and even Fremont Peak.

Fremont Peak

But we do not have lunch with us, so on we go, but just a little ways to the Tunnel Monument trail junction. We make a right turn onto the Tunnel Monument Trail and start a training hike up. This is really a steep climb. Glad it is not hot, but it is windy, which cools us a bit. The climb seems to be never ending, but in reality, it is only 500' up! Just straight up.

Tunnel Monument

But at the top you see back towards San Luis Reservoir, then down the west side of Pacheco. Nice, as long as the wind does not blow my hat off too many times. We hunt around for the Tunnel Monument, but do not find it. But we go down the trail thirty yards, and there it is. The monument is only a benchmark which says there is a tunnel below us from San Luis Reservoir to the creek on the west side of Pacheco. But you do enjoy thinking about all the engineering of those who bore through the Coastal Range to make this happen.

Spikes Road Trail

We continue our walk, starting on the return trip. As steep as it was coming up, it us at least as steep going down Spikes  Road. But we rejoin the Pig Pond trail, where it flattens out. From there it is a short walk back to the car. Then off to Gilroy and Subway for lunch-a Chicken Enchilada Melt if you must know.

Trail Lesson:

Say,     do you have any grey pig pond?  (Probably one of those things where you had to be there, but try saying it slightly slurred)