Tuolumne Meadows Tentative Opening

Tuolumne Meadows, Oct. 2012
taken pre-storm (we had to go to lower elevation to camp!)

I am torn between being excited that on May 11 Tioga Pass Road may open, or sad that it means we have very little snow pack.  I guess at this point I'll choose excited - time to plan the next Jaunt Adventure Group hike!

Playing on an iced over puddle near Olmstead Point

There are so many hikes that take off from Tioga Pass, and a few can be done early season, but there will be parts of the trails that are snow covered or muddy.  I'll get to planning in the next week, and have a back-up plan in case we get some weather and the road doesn't open.  Back-up plan will probably be Henry Cowell Redwoods or Big Basin, both coastal redwoods areas.

4 years ago; the meadow greens up nicely in spring & summer

So stay tuned in the next week as I research which hike we can do early spring.  For this one I may get us going further, and with the high elevation of this area, it may not be as kid friendly to take a trail, but kids love just walking along the river and playing in the meadow itself.  So as always, all will be welcome and there will be options.  

Living Rancho History & Coastal Hiking

One of the many beaches along the Ohlone Bluff trail at Wilder Ranch State Park

On Sunday, April 14, we have the opportunity to hike along the bluffs of the Pacific Ocean, explore its many beaches, AND participate in a day of early California ranching history. Between 11:00 & 3:00 there will be many hands-on activities like butter churning, roping skills, wagon rides, and games like tug o' war and hoops. The kids will love this day at Wilder Ranch State Park! 

It's about a 2 hour drive and costs $10 cash to enter the State Park.  We'll first check out the ranching activities, then hike the flat trail along the bluffs which afford us spectacular views of the water, cliffs, and farm fields.  Along the trail we'll find a beach on which to picnic, allowing the kids to find the caves, and meander in some waves and get full of sand.  If you are along without kids and up for more of a workout, the trail CAN lead you on for 6 to 10 mile loop, but our kid group will go out and back for just a couple miles or so. Or if you're a runner, bring along those running shoes and get your run on, we can meet up later at a sandy cove. 

Quick History Lesson:
In 1791 this land became Rancho Matadero, started by the Santa Cruz Mission, and its purpose was to supply the mission with food.  The Wilder family operated it as a successful dairy for nearly 100 years, and in 1974 the California Department of Parks and Recreation took over.  The ranch's buildings, barn, gardens, and Victorian house still stand, and are open to the public. 

Sea Lions hang out and play and can be seen from a "secret" beach.

The park spreads along the east and west sides of Highway 1 and has more than 30 miles of hiking, biking, and horse trails.  We will hike the Ohlone Bluff Trail, which is flat and looks out to the ocean the whole time.  There are many spur trails going down to beaches that are perfect for exploring and having a picnic. 

 If you are interested in coming along, 

please send an email to Nicole at jauntwithus@gmail.com.

If you are already on the group email, you're in the know already, and I will send out the group email with meet-up details a week or so before.

(I never post the meet-up details on this public site - who knows what "strangers" could stumble upon it, so I do all that info. via email for safety.)