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Wood Camp Waterfall, 1 July, 2018

The Wood Camp Waterfall hike was scheduled a month later than last year to avoid walking on snow.  Instead we walked through vegetation so thick it was hard to follow the route—a real bushwhack.  The route takes off from the Old Juniper Trail and is not maintained, but in the past has been distinct until it enters dense buck brush near the waterfall.  At that point we divert into the stream bed, which last year was full of snow and this year was full of wildflowers and loose rock.  Some hikers struggled in the brush and on the rocks and probably would have preferred walking on snow.  The waterfall was visible at the top of the stream bed and didn’t seem all that far away, which inspired us to keep climbing.   

Several hikers considered stopping and one did stop to relax in the sun and stay in touch by walkie-talkie.  The rest clambered on and made it to the bottom of the waterfall and a lovely spot surrounded by cliffs of flowers, butterflies, and water to soak feet in.  After lunch as we headed down several hikers were concerned about poor footing and falling. We followed animal trails and our uphill track through the vegetation in the stream bed, which made the going marginally easier, and pushing against brush going downhill was definitely easier.  One snake was seen moving quickly away and was probably a racer (Coluber constrictor).  A golden-mantled ground squirrel was seen, and we heard many unidentified birds.

Trip Summary:

• The seven hikers were: Teresa, Kathy, Jim, Brent, Dave W, Christine, and Dave P (leader).
• Drove 13 miles to the Wood Camp trailhead and started hiking about 8:40, with lunch at the waterfall 11:25 - 11:50.
• Returned to the trailhead at 1:40 and back to Smith’s parking lot at 2 pm.
• The weather was warm and sunny with enough breeze for evaporative cooling.  
• Our GPS track showed 4.6 miles (but it seemed longer!) with 1900 feet of ascent.
  

Thanks to Dave P. for the narrative and photos and Dave W. for photos and the GPS data.