Hello, Trail Heads!

I am just back from a fact-finding trip to the Preston Falls Trailhead for tomorrow's Cinco de Mayo hike, and I'm THRILLED to report we're in for a fabulous day!  The weather outlook is great -- it'll be in the mid-70s, so bring sunscreen, a hat, and lots of water.  It's green & lush at river-level, and the Tuolumne is running full and loud.  I walked a short distance on the trail and found healthy, huge poison oak bushes, so beware.  On-leash dogs are welcome, but Seth of the Tuolumne River Trust says he's never seen a dog-hiker combo make it all the way to the falls, as the doggos tend to poop out.  My critters came to the trailhead with me today, but they're staying home tomorrow.

Final check in about tomorrow's Cinco de Mayo hike to Preston Falls, east of Groveland. The hike starts at 10am at the Preston Falls Trailhead at Early Intake/Kirkwood Powerhouse off of Cherry Lake Rd. (access on Highway 120 east of Groveland). We are offering two carpool/caravan opportunities:
* 8:15am (leaving at 8:30am) at Jamestown Day-o Espresso stand OR
* 9am at Mary Laveroni Park (watch for Seth Connolly's Tuolumne River Trust group).

If you're driving directly to the trailhead, here are the directions:
Take Highway 120 east through Groveland and Buck Meadows; continue past Rim of the World vista point and Rainbow Pools. Just past Rainbow Pools, the highway crosses a bridge; just over the bridge turn LEFT at Cherry Lake Rd (also known as 1N07, National Forest 17). Continue quite a ways on this narrow, beautiful road through the Rim Fire burn area. Eventually you'll come to a fork in the road; go LEFT, staying on Cherry Lake/1N07/Forest 17.

You'll immediately begin your descent into the Tuolumne River canyon (if you'd gone right, you'd end up at Camp Mather & Hetch Hetchy). Go several miles down to the river. Just after you cross the bridge, go RIGHT toward Kirkwood Powerhouse.

Keep going straight through all the SFPUC housing, past the powerhouse; the road dead ends at the trailhead. There's plenty of parking and a vault toilet.

If you're coming, please RSVP by voting YES on the upper-right.