#8: [12-Oct-17]

#7: [21-Sep-09]

#4: [29-May-04]

#3: [17-Aug-02]

#2: [09-Jun-01]

#1: [21-Apr-01]

#5: [15-Sep-07]

06-Jul-2008 -- As I was planning this visit, I was expecting to have to do a lot of driving on dirt roads. I was pleasantly surprised, however, to find out that paved roads take you most of the way there, with only a very short (and optional) section of dirt road at the end.

From the small town of Tuolumne, east of Sonora, I took the (surprisingly wide and well-maintained) paved forest road 14 eastward, towards Cherry Lake. At [37.98188,-120.01609], I turned north onto forest road 31, which is also paved (although narrower). This road curves clockwise around the confluence point, reaching its closest approach at about the 1 o'clock position, at [38.00682,-119.99821]. This is about 0.4 miles North of the confluence point, so it would have been possible to hike from this point, although that would have required crossing a small creek.

Instead, I followed a series of dirt roads that took me a little bit closer, to a point just 0.3 miles north of the confluence point. From this point, an easy hike up and over a thinly wooded slope took me to the point, which lies within a pine forest.

I was struck by how bone dry the underbrush was. Throughout this summer, California has been struck by numerous wildfires, and I couldn't help but think about how easily this area would burn. Although there has been some selective logging in the area recently - which has thinned out the forest and presumably reduced the fire risk somewhat - it seems that this area, like many other parts of California, is very vulnerable to fire right now.