Frank, Pat, Dick & Ted's Excellent Adventure

 

Photos          Related Links         More Travel Reports

 

Every Friday I go to lunch with four other gentlemen who are all retired from the Fresno County Department of Social Services. At our May 13 gathering, Frank Puglia announced his desire to go to Miami Creek, which runs more or less parallel to state Highway 41 in Madera County, above the town of Oakhurst.

I had been to this creek on camping and day trips with my daughters when they were very young, and was interested in seeing the area again, so we made plans to leave at 8 a.m. Monday, May 16. The party was also to include Pat Hendrix and his son Teddy, who is in town for a month or so, helping his father move.

We had also discussed following a trail that starts by the highway and goes down to Lewis Creek, which Frank thought was a fairly short walk, leading to a waterfall. I recalled seeing a sign for the trail, but none of us could recall exactly where it was, although we knew it was above Oakhurst, past the Bass Lake road. After a false stop at an unpaved turnout, which offered only a steep hillside covered with brush, we came to a wide, paved turnout, with a big sign reading "Lewis Creek Trail." (For the record, it's 7.5 miles from the junction of Highways 41 and 49 in Oakhurst.)

Pat had hip replacement surgery in December and is not up to this type of walking, so stayed in the car. We brought a chair for him, but it was between 45 and 55 degrees out, so he didn’t want to sit outside.

Frank, Teddy and I started down the trail, and immediately noticed a few tiny patches of snow along the way. We could hear the creek from where we parked, so we knew we didn't have far to go, and within a short time we could see the creek, big and full, tumbling down the steep canyon in cascades and small falls.

Although we took a lot of pictures, it was hard to get a good shot of the creek, due to the trees, and due to the fact that we were well above the creek in most places. We made our way down to where we could see a fairly good falls, which presumably was Corlieu Falls. The trail was getting steeper and wetter, so we didn't go all the way down. Later my daughter described the trail as "very steep, and you have to hold on to branches to make your way" - a recipe for disaster for geezers like Frank and me (apparently the trail has been improved recently, and there is now a viewing platform at the bottom).

(Update: In 2013 I made two more hikes to Corlieu Falls, reaching the viewing platform, and on the final hike going down to where the creek levels out below the falls. This provided much better views of the falls than we had on my first visit.)

We returned to the truck and continued up Highway 41, searching for the dirt road that goes in to Miami Creek. I spotted the road I have used, but Frank said that was not the way he had gone. We finally saw the right road, just as we went past it. We turned around at the Westfall US Forest Service station, and headed down Miami Mountain Road. About a half mile up the highway from the Lewis Creek trail there was snow on the ground everywhere, from a storm the day before, and the road was wet but not muddy except in one brief 50 foot section. We made it to the creek without incident, parked, and walked through snow and wet ground downstream along the creek for a short ways. Frank, Pat and Teddy had been fishing in this area years ago, so were familiar with the surroundings.

It was cold but sunny, and the scenery was all you could ask for. I spotted a couple of Shooting Stars, one of our most beautiful wild flowers, growing out of the snow (actually they were probably blooming before the latest storm). The creek is not very big, but was running pretty good, and had some nice pools and cascades.

Going back out to the highway, we slid a little going through the short muddy spot, but made it through thanks to traction control features built into newer vehicles. We turned east at Road 222 (Bass Lake Road), and went to Ducey's Lodge for lunch. This is part of a resort complex that includes cabins, chalets and a fairly good restaurant.

To add some variety to our trip, we did not return to Highway 41 at this point, but continued south on Road 274, which flanks the eastern shore of Bass Lake, then heads down to North Fork, a former logging town a short drive from the lake.

Some time ago Pat and Frank had been looking for Manzanita Lake, said to be near North Fork. They got directions at the grocery store and drove up Road 222, for the two mile ride to the lake. They missed the turn and went on up till they came to what they described as a flume. We had the impression it was something remaining from logging days, but this was not actually so.

Following the same route, we drove past the lake (on purpose this time), connected with another road, and found the flume. We got out and walked up a hill to where we could see the top. It is actually a more or less modern facility, with water running through a ditch, then into the flume to cross above the road. Presumably it carries water to the power house from the lake.

We headed back toward Manzanita Lake and North Fork, but once again legitimately missed a turn, and ended up on Road 221. Like the other roads we had been on, it comes out to the North Fork Road (200), but misses Manzanita Lake and North Fork. We gave up on Manzanita Lake, turned right, and drove through green foothill country back to Highway 41, then home.

Our definition of "adventure," after some discussion: You don't necessarily end up where you were going, but you end up somewhere interesting.

--Dick Estel, May 2011

 

Photos (Click to enlarge; pictures open in new window) 

 

This way Lewis Creek Teddy takes aim
 
Corlieu Falls The artistry of nature Snow-covered meadow by Miami Creek near Miami Mountain Road
 
Spring blossoms Shooting Star in snow Miami Creek
 
   
  Looking downstream  
 
Related Links
 
Lewis Creek Trail Corlieu Falls (Video;
download to your PC to view)
Bass Lake
Shooting Star Flowers North Fork Oakhurst
  Ducey's Lodge  
 

 
Travel Reports
   
Before 2002     2002     2003     2004     2005     2006     2007     2008     2009     2010     2011     2012

2013     2014     2015     2016     2017     2018    2019     2020     2021     2022     2023     2024     Other

   
Before 2002
Early Trips Later Trips
Camping Trips Backpacking Trips
Early Stargazer Rock Camps 1961 Monterey Jazz Festival
Bluegrass Odyssey
   
Multi-Year Compilations
Fresno Area Canal Walks Clovis Trail Walks
   
2002
Journey of 2002 (Ohio & Back) Logandale & Utah Parks 2002
   
2003
Arizona & Bluegrass on the River 2003 Grand Canyon & Logandale Bluegrass 2003
Parkfield & Huck Finn 2003 Early Frog Camps (2003-2005)
   
2004
Paso Robles & Parkfield 2004 Road Trip 2004 (Ohio & Back)
Bullhead City Bluegrass, Mesa, Superstition Bluegrass 2004 Bluegrass in the Foothills 2004
   
2005
Arizona-Southern California 2005 Huck Finn Bluegrass 2005
Morro Bay 2005 Stargazer Rock Camp 2005
Parkfield Bluegrass 2005    
   
2006
Huck Finn Bluegrass 2006 Las Vegas Commodore Expo 2006
Rock Creek Non-Camp Stargazer Rock Camp 2006
Parkfield Bluegrass 2006 Oregon 2006
Bluegrass in the Foothills 2006    
   
2007
Bullhead City, Bakersfield, Joshua Tree 2007 Frog Camp 2007
Eastern Sierra Journey 2007 Las Vegas Commodore Expo 2007
Stargazer Rock Camp 2007 Roundup #1
(Mother Lode; Kings Canyon, Yosemite)
Bluegrass in the Foothills 2007    
   
2008
Nevada-Arizona Hockey & Bluegrass 2008 Parkfield Bluegrass 2008
Frog Camp 2008 Las Vegas Commodore Expo 2008
Stargazer Rock Camp 2008 Bluegrass in the Foothills 2008
Hobbs Grove Festival 2008     
   
2009
Roundup 2009
Las Vegas, Mariposa, Table Mountain, Orange County
Frog Camp 2009 Southern Journey 2009
Parkfield Bluegrass 2009 Stargazer Rock Camp 2009
Bluegrass Tour 2009
Brown Barn, Plymouth, Hobbs Grove
Hensley Lake Camp
   
2010
Mojave National Preserve & Havasu Bluegrass Roundup 2010
Hensley Reservoir, Mojave Preserve 2 & 3
Parkfield Bluegrass 2010 Lake Almanor & Mt. Lassen 2010
Las Vegas Expo Summergrass
   Brown Barn, Watsonville & Hobbs Grove
   
2011
Roundup 2011
Mariposa, Hensley, Table Mountain
Frog Camp 2011
Parkfield Bluegrass 2011 Frank, Pat, Dick & Ted's Excellent Adventure
Northern Coast Journey 2011 Las Vegas Commodore Expo 2011
Good Old Fashioned Bluegrass Festival Chilkoot & Stargazer Rock Camp
Kings River & Brown Barn Bluegrass Festivals Hensley Camp 2011
    
2012 
Parkfield Bluegrass 2012 Four Squaw Leap Hikes
Northern Coast Journey 2012 Las Vegas Commodore Expo 2012
Stargazer Rock Camp 2012 Bluegrass in the Foothills 2012
A 3-Event Weekend
Farmer's Market, Kings River Bluegrass, Antique Fair
2012 Las Vegas CAN AM Hockey Challenge
Fall Hikes
Finegold Trail; Bower Cave
Into Los Gatos Canyon
  
2013
Silver Stick Tournament - Canada Sierra Foothills - Winter 2013
Finegold Trailhead, Hensley Lake, San Joaquin Gorge
Death Valley - Alabama Hills - Whitney Portal Sierra Foothills - Spring 2013
San Joaquin Gorge Hike, Big Creek Drive
Parkfield Bluegrass 2013 Shaver Crossing Station & Big Creek
Lake Almanor & Caribou Crossroads Mono Hot Springs
Good Old Fashioned Bluegrass Festival A Wedding in Duluth
Sequoia Park Hiking Roundup 2013
Kings River Bluegrass, Buena Vista Peak Hike, Hensley Lake Camp, North Fork Mono Museum, White Rock Road, Hockey in Denver
     
2014
2014 Winter Hikes
Millerton South Bay Trail, Clovis Trail, Hite's Cove Trail
San Joaquin Gorge Campout
Colorado Springs Hockey Tournament Lake Havasu Bluegrass
2014 Spring Hikes
Stockton Creek Preserve, San Joaquin River Trail, San Joaquin Gorge, Millerton Lake, Sycamore Creek, Buena Vista Peak Again
NORCAL Hockey Playoffs and Santa Cruz Visit
Greeley Hill Road Trip Parkfield Bluegrass 2014
Journey of 2014 Journey of 2014 Photos
Nelder Grove Hikes 2014 Sentinel Dome Hike
2014 Fall & Winter Hikes
San Joaquin River Trail South & North, Red Rock Canyon Nevada, San Joaquin South Again
California Flat Campout
Snow Day with the  Upshaw's   
 
2015
Rambler Hikes 2015 Part 1 Rambler Hikes 2015 Part 2
Adventures of 2015 - February to May
(Goofy Smith Flat, Coast Redwoods & Big Sur, Pine Flat, Finegold Trail, Edison Point Trail, Nelder Grove)
Adventures of 2015 - June to December
(Lewis Creek Trail, Kaiser Pass, Kaiser Pass Again, Taft Point, Kings River Bluegrass, Shaver Logging Road, San Joaquin River Trail, Lewis S Eaton Trail, San Joaquin River Gorge, Thanksgiving at the Gorge)
Lake Tahoe & Virginia City Parkfield Bluegrass 2015
Colorado Springs Cousin Convention 2015 Las Vegas Commodore Expo 2015
Stargazer Rock Camp 2015 Grand Canyon & Arches National Parks
  
2016
Adventures of 2016 Part 1 Rambler Hikes 2016 Page 1
Adventures of 2016 Part 2 Rambler Hikes 2016 Page 2
Adventures of 2016 Part 3 Rambler Hikes 2016 Page 3
Adventures of 2016 Part 4 A Pennsylvania Adventure
Adventures of 2016 Part 5 Parkfield Bluegrass 2016
Adventures of 2016 Part 6 Las Vegas Commodore Expo 2016
Adventures of 2016 Part 7 Stargazer Rock Camp 2016
     
2017
Adventures of 2017 Part 1 Rambler Hikes 2017 Page 1
Adventures of 2017 Part 2 Rambler Hikes 2017 Page 2
Adventures of 2017 Part 3 Rambler Hikes 2017 Page 3
Adventures of 2017 Part 4 Hiking and Hockey
Adventures of 2017 Part 5 Lake Almanor
Adventures of 2017 Part 6 Northern California Redwood Hike
Parkfield Bluegrass 2017 Stargazer Rock Camp 2017
Travel Blog 2017 (an experiment) Zion and Bryce Canyon National Parks
  
2018
Adventures of 2018 Part 1 Rambler Hikes 2018 Page 1
Adventures of 2018 Part 2 Rambler Hikes 2018 Page 2
Adventures of 2018 Part 3 Rambler Hikes 2018 Page 3
Adventures of 2018 Part 4 Parkfield Bluegrass 2018
Adventures of 2018 Part 5 Northern California Journey 2018
Adventures of 2018 Part 6
  
2019
Adventures of 2019 Part 1 Rambler Hikes 2019 Page 1
Adventures of 2019 Part 2 Rambler Hikes 2019 Page 2
Utah National Parks Rambler Hikes 2019 Page 3
Adventures of 2019 Part 3 Parkfield Bluegrass 2019
Adventures of 2019 Part 4 Adventures of 2019 Part 5
   
2020
Adventures of 2020 Part 1 Adventures of 2020 Part 5
Adventures of 2020 Part 2 Adventures of 2020 Part 6
Adventures of 2020 Part 3 Adventures of 2020 Part 7
Adventures of 2020 Part 4 Rambler Hikes 2020 Page 1
  
2021
Adventures of 2021 Part 1 Adventures of 2021 Part 5
Adventures of 2021 Part 2
Adventures of 2021 Part 3 Rambler Hikes 2021 Page 1
Adventures of 2021 Part 4 Rambler Hikes 2021 Page 2
 
2022
Adventures of 2022 Part 1 Rambler Hikes 2022 Page 1
Adventures of 2022 Part 2 Rambler Hikes 2022 Page 2
Adventures of 2022 Part 3 Rambler Hikes 2022 Page 3
Adventures of 2022 Part 4 Utah Parks
  
2023
Adventures of 2023 Page 1 Rambler Hikes 2023 Page 1
Adventures of 2023 Page 2 Rambler Hikes 2023 Page 2
Dinosaur National Monument Rambler Hikes 2023 Page 3
Adventures of 2023 Page 3 Rambler Hikes 2023 Page 4
  
2024
Adventures of 2024 Page 1 Rambler Hikes 2024 Page 1
Adventures of 2024 Page 2 Rambler Hikes 2024 Page 2
Mendocino Coast Rambler Hikes 2024 Page 3
  
Other
Fresno Area Canal Walks Clovis Trail Walks
Butch's Blog Walker Family Trips
Parkfield Earthquake Kim & Morgan Brown Trips & Photos
Travel Report Menu Estel Home Page
Photo Albums Slide Shows
Laurie Lewis' High Sierra Hikes Email
     
 

Updated September 25, 2020