Trail Heads, we have a co-host!

Rebecca Andrade

Welcome, Rebecca Andrade, our new co-host! Rebecca's family roots began in Tuolumne County five generations ago. She finds that living and working in the wilderness areas of the Sierra Nevada for the past decade provides a deep sense of freedom and connection which allows for a lifestyle of service to the community and environment of Tuolumne County. Her joys are building trails, restoring native habitat, surveying high alpine meadows and providing wilderness education. Rebecca's developed a deep appreciation "for the opportunities to connect with people, in these rare and beautiful environments, while improving conditions for all generations to enjoy. It’s an honor to be a part of TCT, and I'm looking forward to enjoying new adventures together!"

TCT #13 --2019 Wish List & Post-Wildfire Recreation Discussion

Welcome to our second season of Tuolumne County Trailhead!

Wendy's Wish List, p.2

Wendy's Wish List, p.1

The Trail Heads discovered the chaw-se (grinding rock) at Bell Meadow.

We have gained a co-host: Rebecca Andrade!  Rebecca carpooled with me on the second TCT hike of 2018, the Red Hills hike (now legendary for it's huge turnout of over 70 people).  As we chatted en route to Chinese Camp, I learned of her wilderness credentials (ranger, Native Plant Society, Master Gardeners, Stanislaus Wilderness Volunteers, naturalist).  I recognized a resource and kindred spirit, and a few months later, Rebecca was our interview subject for TCT #9.  She talked about the Leave No Trace wilderness ethic; the Emigrant, Carson-Iceberg, and Mokelumne wilderness; and the Stanislaus Wilderness Volunteers. Gob-smacked by this articulate, accomplished outdoorswoman, I hatched my plan for a co-host and set my sights on Rebecca.  And, Trail Heads, she said YES!

So, now I have a partner on the trail and on the radio, and we're going to keep up with our First Saturday hikes.  Mark your calendars now!  And watch out for bonus hikes, too; I'm training for a backpack trip this summer -- 100 miles on the Continental Divide Trail near Yellowstone -- and can use all the trail time I can get!

  

Shelly Davis-King

Episode 13 features:

• Feedback from our Native American Heritage Month hike
• A conversation with fire fighter Molly Day and soil scientist Curtis Kvamme -- both of the Stanislaus National Forest -- about safety and best practices when hiking in a fire scar and the Donnell Fire in particular
• Your TCT co-hosts' extensive hiking wish lists for 2019, and beyond (from the looks of it)!

Trip Report - Wolf Creek Lake (9/16/18) & Cleo's Bath (10/6/18)

Trail Heads at 10,000'+

Wolf Creek Lake

We had our issues getting into the high country this summer.  First, the Donnell Fire (started August 1) spread wildly necessitating the closure of Highway 108 for about two weeks.  Then the Boot Fire (near Bridgeport) shut the pass down for another few days.  By mid-September the fires let up and we happily scampered up the hill for a bonus hike to Wolf Creek Lake (elevation approx. 9800') in the Carson Iceberg Wilderness.  It's about an 8.25 mile round trip out-and-back hike north on the Pacific Crest Trail from the Sonora Pass Trailhead.  For the first (and last) couple of miles, you walk among volcanic outcroppings and get views mainly to the south (and, oddly, of Highway 108).  As the trail winds around the east flank of Sonora Peak, civilization fades away, and you feel you've truly gotten away from it all.  You're almost certain to encounter PCT hikers attempting a through-hike (doing the entire 2653 mile length in one season) or section hikers filling in the gaps.  Say "Hi" and ask their trail names.

Lunch on the slick rock

Water remained in a deep pool

Where' the H2O?

Back to our first Saturday schedule, we had a splendid fall hike to Cleo's Bath on October 6.  Cleo's Bath is a popular swimming hole on the South Fork Stanislaus River near where it flows into Pinecrest Lake.  At just over 6 miles round trip, this is a relatively easy hike with a DIFFICULT short section of low-level rock climbing on the final approach to Bath-level.  At first you walk the pleasant trail around the south end of the lake.  You'll share the trail with trail-runners and walkers young and old. You'll hear the lapping of water as canoes and kayaks ply the water.  You'll smell breakfast cooking in the nearby cabins.  After a mile or so, you'll head east up an seasonal stream bed and gain a little elevation. 
You'll come upon an interpretive exhibit with a steam donkey and a panel describing early water diversion efforts that resulted in three crib dams: Lake Edna, Lake Eleanor, and Lake Gertrude.  Lake Edna has become Pinecrest Lake, Lake Gertrude is vanished, but a little ways from the interpretive spot, you'll find the remains of Lake Eleanor.  Eventually the trail will cross large expanses of granite and will become hard to spot.  Watch for cairns/ducks (rock piles) and
blue spray-painted arrows to find your way.  Arriving at the Baths is breathtaking, and not because you've just hauled butt up a short 400' incline.  The river makes that same drop you just climbed but first creating a network of several levels of slick rock, deep pools that are nothing less than awesome.  There was water in the larger pools but, so late in the season, no flow down to the lake.

Distant Pinecrest

The trailhead for Cleo's Bath is at Pinecrest Lake in the southwest area, just past the amphitheatre and the accessible fishing platform).  There are plentiful bathrooms all along the approach to the trailhead.  Be aware, at certain times of the year, dogs aren't allowed on certain sections of the trail around the lake.  Also, we don't recommend the Cleo's Bath hike for dogs, unless you're able to hoist your pooch over sizable boulders!

Thank you, Sue Fristad, for the excellent photos of Cleo's Bath!

TCT #10 -- Cleo's Bath

TCT #10 is an "All Trail Head Episode."  We start with our Pinecrest Peak three T's; then move into a "Remote Possibility" trip report from Robert Swift and Deverie Voral's hike on Mt. Tallac in Lake Tahoe (interviewed in the middle of Cooper Meadow); finally, we preview our next hike to Cleo's Bath with audio from a reconnaissance hike I took with Patricia Harrelson.

Trip Report - Pinecrest Peak, 9/1/18

Pinecrest Peak is the hike to take when you want a challenge but you don't want to drive a half-a-day to the high, high, high country. The trail starts at 6,441' and over 3.3 miles you steadily climb almost 1,600' to the 8,033' summit. Avoid the temptation to drive to the summit! The views and the satisfaction of achievement are the major rewards of this hike.

Pinecrest Lake and "pancake rock"

On the way up you get views of Pinecrest Lake and cruise past lots of "pancake rocks," the results of exfoliation. Per geologist Glen White, exfoliation is what "gives Yosemite its domes and that onion peel feature. The molten rock that would eventually cool to become granitic rock were several miles underground and under tremendous pressure. Enough pressure so that the very structure of the atoms were slightly compressed. As weathering and erosion removed the overlying rocks, isostatic rebound (a fancy couple of words that describe why the top of an ice cube will always remain above the surface of water as it melts) lifted the cooling granitic rocks closer to the surface.  Eventually, they were exposed to the elements of weathering.  Also, the release of that overlying pressure allowed the atoms to push outward to regain their natural size. Depending on the mineral makeup of the rock, when enough stress has accumulated, the rock fractures. These fractures often form parallel sheets, similar to the layers of an onion, The fractures allow water in, which when it freezes can expand and force the cracks open further. Over time, the dome structure will emerge. The term "exfoliation" comes from the layers that leaves make on the ground in the fall. Foliage that has fallen is now ex-foliage. At least that's an easy way to remember it!" Speaking of domes, about 2.8 miles into the hike, to the left there's a faint trail to an overlook of Herring Dome and the Trail of the Gargoyles.

Robert and Deverie

There used to be a fire lookout tower at the summit of Pinecrest Peak.  All that remains now are bolts and footings.  There's also a legend that a lady used to hike the trail up from Pinecrest Lake to deliver pies to the lookout attendant.  When you're slogging the home stretch to the summit, keep that in mind as a feat to
match!  Also, the trail is popular with mountain bikers, so keep your head up and don't insist on your right-of-way.

Mountain bike trail marker and angel "geocache"

We took the approach from the trailhead off of Herring Creek Road, a few miles east of Strawberry.  Turn Right on Herring Creek Rd. and continue about 2.8 miles.  Turn Right on 4N27 (watch for the prominent "Message Board" sign) and continue about 1.3 miles to the camping area.  Park and cross the bridge.  There aren't a lot of signs marking the trail, but they're there when you need them.

September 1 -- Hike to Pinecrest Peak

When you plan a year in advance, you've gotta be ready for contingencies.  We are learning this in a big way this summer as our second hike in a row is being rerouted due to fire.  For our September 1 hike we were planning on heading up Clark Fork Rd. and taking the Disaster Creek trail into the Carson-Iceberg Wilderness up to the Pacific Crest Trail.  The Donnell Fire has changed all that.  We're relieved Highway 108 is open again to through traffic and that Kennedy Meadows is open for business.  We're heartbroken over the losses at Dardanelles and the vacation cabins.  We're ecstatic that beloved Baker Station and the Bennett Juniper were protected by brave, selfless fire fighters.  Thank you, thank you, thank you ALL who worked to keep us safe and informed!

For our September 1 hike, we'll be going up Pinecrest Peak for a different perspective on Pinecrest

Lake and Cleo's Bath (our October hike destination).  The rewards of this strenuous 6-mile trip include expansive vistas, gnarled trees, foundation remnants of a long-gone fire lookout, curious glacial erratics and curiouser stacked granite "pancake" boulders.

RSVP via email at the kaad-lp.org webpage or through the Tuolumne County Trailhead Facebook group.

TCT #9 -- Disaster Creek, Clark Fork Area

By the time episode 9 aired for the first time on 8/12/18, it became apparent that the Clark Fork Area, closed due to the Donnell Fire, would still be off limits for our Disaster Creek hike scheduled for September 1.  Instead, we'll hike to Pinecrest Peak (trailhead off of Herring Creek Rd.) for spectacular views down to Cleo's Bath (our October hike destination) and Pinecrest Lake.

TCT #9 features an interview with Rebecca Andrade, president of the Stanislaus Wilderness Volunteers.  Rebecca is a true Leave No Trace evangelist and shares how YOU can start making a difference now.  She also discusses the partnership between SWV and the Forest Service, trail maintenance and improvements, the 1964 Wilderness Act, the different focuses of Leave No Trace, and free LNT trainings available to members of the Stanislaus Wilderness Volunteers.  We talk a bit about the Bidwell-Bartleson party,
the first overland emigrants to California.  They chose to enter via the perilous West Walker Route and got lost in the rugged mountains and hills of Tuolumne, Alpine, and Calaveras counties roaming along what's now Clark Fork Rd., up to Big Trees, and into Sonora.  Finally, on Nov. 4, 1841, "destitute and almost naked," they arrived at Marsh's rancho at the base of Mt. Diablo.

The episode also includes Trail Heads' audio reviews of the Cooper Meadow hike, our Plan B instead of Wapama Falls (inaccessible due to closure of Hetch Hetchy and Yosemite Valley due to the Ferguson Fire.

Enjoy the show and be sure to take the Disaster Creek hike on your own one day after the area has recovered from the fire.

Trip Report - Cooper Meadow, 8/4/18

Meadows and lakes abound on this trail

Oh, my.  What a fire season this summer.  The Carr Fire and the Mendocino Complex in Northern California; the Ferguson Fire persisting in Yosemite, all deadly and awful.  Now the Donnell Fire up on Highway 108, horribly destructive but not deadly – so far.  Heartbreak over the loss at Dardanelles Resort.Hope, love, and admiration to the firefighters struggling to save themselves and beloved Baker Station, Kennedy Meadows, and other structures in the area.

Deterred by the Ferguson Fire, which closed Yosemite including Hetch Hetchy and nixed our planned hike to Wapama Falls, we chose Cooper Meadow as Plan B.  The previous two weeks had been a bleak approximation of nuclear winter, and hike morning was dingy with smoke again.  A new fire, named the Donnell Fire, had started a day or two before.  As it was small (about 500 acres) and well east of our destination, we didn’t feel silly hoping for clear skies, or thinner smoke at least, at the 8,000’ trailhead.

When you see this pond, you're

almost there -- just downhill on

loose dirt then a short walk

through the forest to the meadow

Lunch break in the meadow

Most scenic view you ever

had from an outhouse!

And were we rewarded!  Blue skies! Deep green trees!  Bright green, grassy meadows!  Wildflowers of all colors!  Red volcanic outcroppings to the north and grey granite mountains to the south!  We had a short, steep-ish uphill section to a long hilly section shaded by tall pines opening up to expansive views as we passed several meadows, ponds, and traversed a hillside.  There was a final downhill scramble before we walked out to Cooper Meadow and its historic ranch buildings.  W.F. Cooper began grazing cattle here in 1861.  In 1912, the Cooper Meadow grazing allotment ceded to the Sanguinettis.  They still use it, and there was evidence of habitation as we approached – dogs, a tethered horse, an

Castle Peak and the Three Chimneys

exterior bathroom sink setup, a new padlock on the “house.”  The ranch buildings date from the 1860s and were entered into the National Register of Historic Places in 2009.  The real “eye candy” is the close-up view of our iconic Castle Rock and the Three Chimneys formation.  We picnicked on gigantic rocks in the meadow and explored streams that form the headwaters of the South Fork Stanislaus River.  Then it was time to return to the trailhead heading back out the way we came in – again with a tough uphill section, but this time after a good rest with good friends in a gorgeous setting.

Cooper Meadows is about a 7-mile round trip hike accessed from the Coyote Meadow Trailhead, off of Herring Creek Rd., east of Strawberry.  To get to the trailhead, take Highway 108 east past Strawberry; turn RIGHT on Herring Creek Rd and SET YOUR ODOMETER.  Herring Creek Rd. becomes 4N12 at 4.5 miles and becomes dirt at 5.5 miles then hits a "T" at 6.8 miles.  At the T turn RIGHT and go about .1 mile to a "Y" and stay RIGHT on 4N12.  At about 9.5 miles veer LEFT to stay on 4N12 (DO NOT go right onto 5N31).  At 11.3 miles turn RIGHT on 5N67 for about .6 mile.  Turn LEFT and park when you see the "Coyote Meadow Horse Camp" sign (12.3 miles from Highway 108).  Google Maps can take you there; get directions to Coyote Meadows, CA  95364.  Use a paper map and these written directions as a back-up!  The road is rough with some deep holes; be sure to drive something with decent clearance such as a Subaru Outback or an SUV or truck (NOT a Honda Civic!).

Here are a couple of links to interesting Tuolumne County Historical Society website pages.  One has a neat old photo of horses and riders at Cooper Meadow http://tchistory.pastperfectonline.com/photo/793D8C3A-D697-4AB9-B6B9-170441802630
and our local heritage sites on the National Register of Historical Places http://www.tchistory.org/TCHISTORY/Register.htm

Happy Trail Heads at hike's end

Trip Report – Wapama Falls, 8/4/18, CANCELLED due to fire

Due to the Ferguson Fire, the 8/4/18 hike destination was changed to Cooper Meadow.  We hope to do this hike later in the year as a “bonus.”  For now, hope for the safety and success firefighters and donate to relief efforts of the American Red Cross, Lions Club, or other worthy organizations.

http://www.redcross.org/about-us/our-work/disaster-relief

8/3/18 -- Fact Finding Mission to Coyote Meadows TH

8/3/18 -- Took a drive to scope out the route to the Coyote Meadows Trailhead which we'll use for tomorrow's hike to Cooper Meadow.  The dirt section of the road is DEFINITELY HIGH-CLEARANCE REQUIRED!  The directions and mileages in the post about the hike are all good.  Only thing to bear in mind is when you get to the Trail of the Gargoyles/Herring Reservoir Campground area, it becomes minorly confusing.  Just stay right through this little jog in the road and continue with the directions as written.  If you're a GPS user, the trailhead coordinates are N 38,14.429' W 119,52.776'.

Well-marked turn onto 5N67

Coyote Meadows Trailhead

We left Sonora in what looked like a nuclear winter.  The smoke thinned as we gained elevation (and that you do, for sure; at the intersection of Hwy 108/Herring Creek Rd, it's about 6000' and at the trailhead it's 8405').  It was pretty at the trailhead, and the doggos had a fun, short run.

Happy dogs on pretty trail

See you tomorrow, I hope!

Aug. 4, 2018 hike to Cooper Meadow (NOT Wapama Falls)

Historic ranch outbuilding and implements
 at Cooper Meadow

As you know, Yosemite, including Hetch Hetchy -- where we were supposed to hike on Saturday -- has been closed due to the Ferguson Fire.  We have a Plan B, though:  Cooper Meadow, east of Pinecrest.  I chose Cooper Meadow because the difficulty and distance is similar to what we expected for the Wapama Falls trail.  With just about a 500’ elevation increase, it’s fairly level.  While Wapama is moderately-easy, Cooper Meadow is definitely moderate due to elevation (around 8400’) and distance (7.25miles).  As far as the smoke goes, we’ll just have to hope for the best.

 

Castle Peak & the Three Chimneys from
Cooper Meadow

If you have respiratory issues, please stay home on Saturday!  I hope you can join us, though, because I think you’ll fall in love with this trail.  We’ll walk through evergreen forest with stands of aspen (come back for the fall color) and a few minor stream crossings (these feed the South Fork Stanislaus headwaters).  We’ll skirt Horse and Cow Meadow where the vista opens up to the familiar but always stunning volcanic formations: Three Chimneys, Castle Rock, Eagle Peak.  At our destination, historic ranch buildings dating from the 1870s are nestled in vast, mountain-ringed Cooper Meadow (maybe green and flower-filled).

 

Bring insect repellant (“meadow” means “mosquitoes maybe”).  Wear a hat, sunscreen and layers.  Bring water and snacks/lunch.  On-leash dogs are welcome.  We should be back to Sonora by 5.

The trailhead for this hike is only about 50 miles from Sonora, but the last third is on unpaved forest roads.  Those without high-clearance vehicles are encouraged to ride-share.

 

Carpool/caravan info:

1^st stop/meeting point: Starbuck’s at the Junction in Sonora; meet at 7:45am; leave at 8am

2^nd stop/meeting point: Mi-Wok Ranger Station, Me Wuk Village; meet at 8:15; leave at 8:30

Or meet at the trailhead at 9:30am:  Coyote Meadows/Coyote Meadow Horse Camp Trailhead.  Take Highway 108 east past Strawberry; turn RIGHT on Herring Creek Rd and SET YOUR ODOMETER.  Herring Creek Rd. becomes 4N12 at 4.5 miles and becomes dirt at 5.5 miles then hits a “T” at 6.8 miles.  At the T turn RIGHT and go about .1 mile to a “Y” and stay RIGHT on 4N12.  At about 9.5 miles veer LEFT to stay on 4N12 (DO NOT go right onto 5N31).  At 11.3 miles turn RIGHT on 5N67 for about .6 mile.  Turn LEFT and park when you see the “Coyote Meadow Horse Camp” sign (12.3 miles from Highway 108).  Google Maps can take you there; get directions to Coyote Meadows, CA 95364.  Use a paper map and these written directions as a back-up!

TCT #8 -- Wapama Falls, Hetch Hetchy, Yosemite NP

Wapama Falls, Hetch Hetchy (Yosemite NP)

John Muir, Yosemite's biggest fan, adored the Hetch Hetchy Valley, calling it "one of Nature's rarest and most precious mountain temples." On Saturday, August, 4, we get to visit one of the most lovely features in the Hetch Hetchy area of Yosemite National Park, Wapama Falls.

As post-Gold Rush San Francisco boomed, the scant local water supply became a problem.  The city started casting about for a likely river to dam to meet its needs. In 1908, San Francisco was devastated by the great earthquake, but it was the subsequent fire that's said to have wreaked the greatest damage, and the city's water problem moved from chronic to critical.  Enter an idea born in 1882 -- dam the Tuolumne River at Hetch Hetchy Valley and route the water to San Francisco.  The only problem required an act of congress to resolve -- Hetch Hetchy was protected in Yosemite National Park.  After a five-year resistance campaign by the Sierra Club and John Muir, President Woodrow Wilson signed the Raker Act of 1913, and the dam was completed 10 years later (and raised 15 years after that).

John DeGrazio in the
Yosemite"Tunnel View" Bear cap.
Sales benefit the Yosemite NP
Bear Management Team. 

At 5 miles, the hike to Wapama Falls and back is one of the easiest in Yosemite National Park.  However, in summer, I'd call it "moderately-easy."  Though there is little elevation gain, the heat will be a challenge adding difficulty.  Bring plenty of water.  Wapama Falls is the second-tallest waterfall in Yosemite National Park and one of the top twenty in North America.  At lake level, the falls spreads out into three or four channels traversed by footbridges.  To learn more about our destination,

I reached out to John DeGrazio, founder of YExplore Yosemite Adventures and host of KAAD-LP's "Yosemite Can O Peaches" program.  For 12 years, John and YExplore's professional guides have been leading personalized backpack, birding, wildflower, snowshoe, and photography trips into every corner of Yosemite (for more info about YExplore, here's a link to their website: https://www.yexplore.com/).  For all he's seen of our national jewel, John says the Wapama Falls hike is one of his favorites.  If he's not out on another Yosemite adventure, John will be joining our August 4th trip.  Not to cost you any bookings, John, but I sure hope you can make it!  In TCT #8, John paints a vivid picture of Wapama Falls, Hetch Hetchy, and the Twain Harte ditch.  You read that correctly; we did our interview al fresco, and John in true naturalist fashion found something remarkable at every bend in our trail.  TCT #8 also features "Three T" trail reviews (what was tough, trippy and tremendous?) of our high country hike to Relief Reservoir.

Trip Report - Relief Reservoir, Kennedy Meadows, 7/7/18

Anticipated summer crowds on the popular Relief Reservoir trail failed to materialize, and we had an outstanding post-holiday high country hike!  The trail starts just east of the Kennedy Meadows Resort and Pack Station.  Hilly at first, it follows the Middle Fork Stanislaus River upstream to one of the meadows.  Soon you enter the Emigrant Wilderness and with the benefit of steps hacked out of the granite, you begin your ascent along the stream, which you will cross twice via sturdy footbridges. 



First footbridge over
Middle Fork Stanislaus River

 

All along the way you'll see discarded material from the construction of the dam (1907-1911).  Indeed, some of the trail takes the old road and railroad built to move construction material.  Besides manmade artifacts, there's stunning natural scenery: Trees, some appearing to grow straight out of immense granite boulders; Wildflowers along the trail and in cracks and meadows; Birds singing and chirping; Craggy, snowy mountain peaks; Water in creeks cascading down the canyon walls and, in some seasons, spilling over the trail.

The steep incline inspired some of us to take more "beauty breaks" than others, so the group ended up pretty spread out.  So much so that the advance wave missed the turn around point and added some extra mileage.  We intercepted most of the faster Trail Heads at about the 4.5 mile point at the Grouse Creek crossing and directed them back to the north end of the reservoir to reconvene at an overlook.  Once reunited, we scrambled down to the dam to survey the surroundings at lake level then scrambled back up to the trail for a group photo.

 

Trail Heads on the dam

Southern view of
Relief Reservoir
at dam level

The Kennedy Meadows trailhead, about 57 miles east of Sonora, is your gateway for many adventures in the Emigrant Wilderness including trails to Sharon Lake, Kennedy Lake, Upper and Lower Relief Valleys, Brown Bear Pass, and more including our hike to Relief Reservoir.  Turn off of Highway 108 at the road to Kennedy Meadows Resort and Pack Station.  From here, it's about .5 mile to the trailhead parking lot (a bit past Baker Campground on your left).  There is plenty of parking and a vault toilet.  Walk .5 mile along the trail/road from the parking lot past the resort to the actual trailhead.  This is a strenuous hike starts at 6,127' and gains 1,200' over about 3 miles to the reservoir.  In the summer it's a hot AND popular hike, so it's good to get an early start if you're venturing out on a weekend or holiday.  Because this is such a heavily trafficked route and shared with equestrians, it's essential to know trail-yielding conventions:  Downhill hikers yield to uphill hikers; large groups yield to smaller groups or solo hikers; bikers yield to pedestrians and everyone yields to horses.  When horses appear, step off the trail on the down-slope side; don't reach out to touch the horses.



Here's a link to the Stanislaus National Forest's Highway 108 hiking trails webpage:

https://www.fs.usda.gov/detailfull/stanislaus/recreation/?cid=fseprd524369&width=full

Here's a link to the Tuolumne County Historical Society webpage about Relief Reservoir:

https://www.tchistory.org/TCHISTORY/Wonders_11.htm

NOTICE -- Two (2) hikes to Relief Reservoir, 7/7 & 7/14

Immerse yourself in history -- and rugged beauty -- on this hike into the Emigrant Wilderness where the Clark-Skidmore wagon train of 1852 was stranded without supplies as they crossed the Sierras to the Southern Mines. At just over 7 miles round trip, this trail is demanding due to the high elevation and steep, steady ascent of 1200’ to a high point of 7360’.


There are two, count 'em 2, hikes offered -- 7/7 and 7/14.  Same details, different days:

It may be hot; bring plenty of water. Bring lunch for a picnic at the reservoir. On leash dogs OK. This will be a strenuous hike.

Two stops on the carpool/caravan:
First stop/meeting point - 6:45am at the Starbuck's in the Junction; leave at 7am
Second stop/meeting point - 7:15 at the Mi Wuk Ranger Station; leave at 7:30
Or meet at the trailhead parking lot at Kennedy Meadows on the left just before the resort and pack station. Hike starts at 8:30.

TCT #7 -- Relief Reservoir, Kennedy Meadows



Leftover building material, Relief Reservoir,
and East Flange Rock (almost dead-center)

At last we're heading to the high country.  On July 7 we'll take the strenuous 7.5 mile hike to Relief Reservoir near Kennedy Meadows.  Relief Reservoir is named for the rescue mission sent from Sonora to the stranded Clark-Skidmore emigrant wagon train who had a near-Donner experience in 1852.  For the 10-year life of the treacherous West Walker Route crossing the Sierra, a camp outfitted with supplies was maintained by the residents of the Southern Mines towns of Sonora and Columbia.  After that, a new route was constructed about 3-5 miles to the north.  This road, the Sonora-Mono Toll Road was used to transport goods from San Francisco and Sonora to the silver rush boomtowns of Bodie and Aurora.  Modern Sonora Pass roughly follows the route of the Sonora-Mono Toll Road.  In the early 1900s, East Coast money-men decided to invest in a hydroelectric project -- a dam on Summit Creek which runs through Relief Valley.  The investors hoped to strike their own "gold" by supplying power to San Francisco and communities on the way down from the Sierras.  And so we have Relief Reservoir and a lot of interesting artifacts on the trail.

The dam is rock and earth filled with a concrete "veneer"



Moving cars using
the derrick-pulley system

Today's trail follows

yesterday's dam supply road

This is our first high-elevation hike; the trailhead is at 6,127'.  We'll gain about 1,200' more as we hike up, up, up (then down, down, down).  Other things to be aware of is that we'll be going on footbridges high over creeks; if you're afraid of heights, steel yourself.  Speaking of heights, it's almost impossible to prevent elevation sickness, but there are some ways to cope if it comes on you (slow down, take smaller steps and deep breaths).  Also, we will be sharing the trail with equestrians and pack horses.




Learn more about this spectacular hike by listening to TCT #7, an interview with returning guest, Summit Ranger District Archaeologist Lisa DeHart.  Lisa talks about the history of the Relief area and her own contribution to Gold Country scholarship -- when she cooperated on an expedition that not only found the site of the Clark-Skidmore original relief camp but the exact location of the West Walker Route.  The show starts with audio trail reviews from our National Trails Day hike along the Sugar Pine Railroad Grade, Strawberry Branch.  Listen and learn why it's my favorite hike:



Trip Report - Strawberry Branch, Sugar Pine RR Grade, 6/2/18

My Favorite Trail

We celebrated National Trails Day by taking my favorite hike, the Sugar Pine Railroad Grade from Fraser Flat to Strawberry (and back).  Participating in the American Hiking Society’s  initiative to improve 2,802 miles of trail (the distance across the Lower 48), we committed to pack out our own trash and toted garbage bags to collect any other litter.  We were pleased to find the trail in fairly tidy condition.  Our take was less than one kitchen trash bag full, most of it the micro-garbage variety.

There were around 30 Trail Heads on the trip, ranging in age from very young (around 10-years-old) to senior (noneaya-business-years-old!).  There were families, couples, friends from out-of-town & out-of-state (Joshua Tree! Oregon!), singles, and even a teacher-student combo.  And, of course, dogs.

 

Rapids and Pools

Garter Snake

The day was perfect for hiking starting out cool, progressing to warm then hot in the sun but pleasant in the shade.  The trail offered sections shaded by tree canopy and sunny through meadows.  Almost always we had the South Fork Stanislaus River within view or earshot.  Blossom-laden Dogwoods were bountiful.  While it wasn’t quite a riot of wildflowers, there were colonies of tiny Five Spots, stands of Paintbrush, a few wild iris getting ready to blossom, bright Western Wallflower, and plenty of fungi.  In the animal realm, we constantly heard cheerily chirping birds, and we saw a small garter snake.  A group our size tromping along the trail scares away larger mammals, but once while snowshoeing here I’ve seen bear prints (winter access is from the trail’s Old Strawberry Road end).  As far as non-TCT humans, we did encounter at least one mountain biker.

This pleasant route is a little under 6 miles round trip.  Because it’s a former railroad grade, it has a gentle incline of just over 3%.  It’s my favorite because it’s easy to get to, it’s do-able for all skill levels and ages, and it’s got the attractive water-feature of the Stanislaus River.  I was pleased to see that there have been some improvements in the trail since last year – there are some trailhead and distance markers, and the interpretive signs have all been restored.  I’ve uploaded the interpretive guide; it’s under “Pages” in top right column of the blog’s main page.

Interpretive sign at Fraser Flat Campground

To get to the trailhead, go east on Highway 108 through Sugar Pine, Me Wuk, Sierra Vilage, and Long Barn.  Continue along the 4-lanes east of Long Barn.  After the road narrows to 2-lanes again you'll go about another two miles (the road's a bit windy then levels out).  Watch for a hard-to-spot sign on your right for Fraser Flat & Spring Gap.  The sign is on the right, but you'll make a LEFT turn (on the left it's Road 4N01/Fraser Flat Rd.; on the right it's Jenness Park Rd.).  If you get to Cold Springs/Mia's Restaurant, YOU'VE GONE TOO FAR!  Turn around & backtrack about a mile; heading west, you'll turn RIGHT on 4N01/Fraser Flat Rd.).  Drive downhill about 3 miles to the bridge.  Park as far off the road as possible.  The trailhead is on the southeast side of the bridge.

There aren’t any services at the trailhead.  However, if you continue over the bridge and go about a mile, you’ll come to Fraser Flat Campground on your left.  It’s worth a visit to the campground and not just to use the vault toilets.  There are two interpretive signs with interesting cultural and historic information, a bedrock mortar (Indian grinding stone), and a wheelchair accessible fishing platform!


Here's a link to the Tuolumne County Transit Council's Sugar Pine Railway, Strawberry Branch webpage:
https://www.tuolumnecountytransportationcouncil.org/single-post/2016/08/10/Strawberry-to-Fraser


Here's a link to the American Hiking Society's webpage:
https://americanhiking.org/