Weekend trip along the Hart Tree and Fallen Goliath Loop Trail:

Trip organized by Jack "The Snow Magnet" Elliot.

Trippers: Jack Elliot, Josh Elliot, Jeremy Elliot, Brian Conrad, Adam Criswell

We had a great trip but had to cut it short due to unexpected snowfall. Here is a little photo essay, hope you enjoy!





Last minute adjustments and general joking around before heading off on our "serious" trek.



Attempting to help out some unprepared Jeep driver. No shovel, no chains, no winch.



There were some massive trees.







Feeling small.





Are we lost?







Cute little purple mushrooms.



Not sure what this is but looks like an alien egg case.





One of the few moments where the sun came through.











Playing around with sticks and stuff.







Poor tree will never be the same.





Brian in the Hart Tree.



The photographer gets his picture taken.







You get the idea, there were lots of mushrooms.



... and ladybugs.



Home for the night.



MMMMMM, Popcorn!



with butter.



Cooking over homemade stove.







Alien visitor.



Good morning snow.













Tracking bear.













Emerging.







We made it! From left to right: Jeremy, Jack, Brian, Josh, Adam

Thanks for the snow Jack!

Great photos guys....those Redwoods are HUGE!

Great photo essay. It looked like excellent scenery and company.

I was in Fresno on Friday morning getting ready when my sister-in-law went into labor, which meant going up to the bay area and not getting back until Saturday night. As it was raining in the valley, I was thinking of the fun you guys must be having up in the Sierra. I am very sorry I missed this trip.

Edited by Davidpcvsamoa on 05/30/2011 18:38:30 MDT.

Very nice report! Like the mushroom pics!

Great trip report. I'm sure your camera captured a much different trip than one I would have, and BPL is better for that.

Great pictures ---------- From mushrooms to big trees.

Great photos, thanks for posting. Jacks myog stove is amazing, I never thought of cooking ul popcorn. Nice!

Jack is good at bringing out the unexpected food at night. Popcorn is way cool!

Thanks for starting the thread Adam, I will try to post some pic's tonight

I would like to thank everyone who made it on this trip, even though we had to cut it short I had a great time. Looks like I'm going to have to give everything a bath though, I didn't get eveything unpacked quick enough, and I have some odd smells going on with gear. The first day of the trip was beautiful as far as weather was concerned, a little foggy when we left the parking lot, but it cleared up nicely, with patchy blue skies, and hints of sun shine peaking through the great big Sequoia trees.







The first day hiking was great, it took quite a while to cover aprox. 6.5 miles, 1. We were all stopping and looking at the huge trees, 2. We were trying out our new cameras (me, and Adam), and 3 Was the horrendous death cones from above that we had to walk on, it was like walking on huge marbles, twisting ankles, knees, not fun, I don't know if they do any trail maintenance, it may have been that we were hiking a little early in the season before they started any trail maintenance, enough of that more pictures!

Trying out the macro setting.



Water log.



I want to say thanks to Adam for helping me understand how to use my camera a little better, it shows in some of the pic's I took on this trip. I think we may have a new photo junkie in BPL (Adam) He was taking some great pictures, I think he likes his new camera.

We both took this shot, my little cave of mushrooms!



Brought to you by PAN-O-VISION, I should have taken more frames of this view.



One of my favorite trees on this hike, kind of looks like something from the Wizard of OZ.



This came out a little blurry, but not bad for cold hands, no tripod, and macro zoom.



I'll try to post more this week.

Edited by jumpbackjack on 05/31/2011 23:48:10 MDT.

Thanks for this great report, gentlemen. Super pictures!


I've a girlfriend who enjoys backpacking low(er) mileage trips and this trip looks great for that. We're out of Fresno so it's not too far away. According to the Kings Canyon NP website there is a two night limit in Redwood Canyon, which is perfect for a couple of low mileage days. With that, I've a few questions, if I may:

I'd love to get out there and do this trail before the summer (what summer?) hits. It seems that the Jeep in the picture got stuck on the same road that leads to the trail head? Were you guys equipped with 4x4's or did you have to park elsewhere? (ie: how was HWY 180 and the Quail Flats turn-off/dirt road leading to the trail head?)

I hate to assume, but looking at the pictures it seems that Buena Vista, Redwood and East Fork Creeks (and others not marked on the map I'm looking at) are flowing rather well? (ie: finding water is not at all an issue?)

Thanks!

Edited by AaronMB on 06/01/2011 11:04:01 MDT.

Awesome pictures! Looks like you guys had a great time. Thanks for putting this together.

Thanks everyone for your comments, we had a really nice time. I really enjoyed the mellow pace and taking the time to really appreciate the scenery. I have found that when I bring my camera I pay more attention to the details and am less obsessed with making the miles. I like your wizard of Oz tree picture Jack, the lighting and perspective are interesting.

@ Aaron, this would be a great trip for you and your girlfriend. There are 2 ways to get to the trail head, we parked in a parking lot about 2 miles north of the trail head because part of the road was closed. It was an easy walk down but there were some snow patches that are too much for most vehicles. You could drive up from the south as well and there were a couple of cars parked in the parking lot. Highway 180 is clear but the entrance to the dirt road (north side) is closed. As far as water goes, there was plenty, didn't even need to think about it. I am not sure how your girlfriend likes cool damp weather, you may want to wait a couple more weeks before heading up there. It is a really nice hike though and not too challenging with some amazing trees.

Cheers,

Just wanted to post some more pic's, and say I wish we could have stayed another day so I could have spent more time with my 2 son's , I don't get to backpack with them enough.

This was an odd site, this tree grew straight, then turned 90* for about a foot, then turned 90* again, and continued to grow straight, wierd!



This tree in the center with the branches going to the right, looks like he's trying to grab a little sugar from his sugar mama tree. Who knows what goes on in the forest when we're not around.



My 2 son's walking among giants. I love them 2 boy's, and proud of them too.



A family of "Giant Sequoias"



Jeremy "Hey Brian, where are all the big trees at?"
Brian " I don't know Jeremy, I'm still looking myself"





More macro shoots.

Edited by jumpbackjack on 06/02/2011 20:47:57 MDT.

Good time to go to avoid the potgrowers! Last time we tried to go deep in there, we were told to wait for an L.E. sweep first.

nice pics!