Pinecrest Lake is a popular reservoir located thirty miles east of Sonora, and one mile from Highway 108. The pretty lake is hemmed in by a long forested ridge on its south shore. The landmass is called Dodge Ridge, and it has a ski resort on it. Beyond the resort the ridgeline continues to rise, gradually, and three miles later it crosses an administrative boundary line. The ridge, which divides the Stanislaus River from the Tuolumne River, continues inside the Emigrant Wilderness Area. The roadless area is huge, and it adjoins Yosemite National Park. This is a place where hikers can exhaust themselves, and where they can recover and find peace among roly-poly mounds of granite.
One brief trip, a traditional favorite among Pinecrest campers, …show more content…
I will not spoil the surprise by telling you what it says. Anyway the sign is somewhat misleading. Most folk regard the vista point, located at the brink of a cliff, as Burst Rock. The fancy sign, however, is just plunked next to the trail, close to where you should start thinking about leaving the path if you wish to visit Burst Rock. And I encourage you to think so. Burst Rock should not be missed.
As the trail breaks out of the forest, the vistas expand dramatically. An elated chuckle is likely to escape your lips at this point. Before you go too far, consult your compass, and head north on one of several social trails that converge to the highpoint of the local plateau. Within 200 yards you shall arrive at a broad summit and an unexpected downfall. From Burst Rock you will gain matchless views into the burly gorge of the Stanislaus, the canyon we admired earlier. If you can keep your dogs and children under firm control, Burst Rock is a highly recommended …show more content…
Let us discuss our destination. Double-Bubble Rock sits on the east side of Bell Creek Valley. Except for a picturesque mountain near Bear Lake, there is nothing of comparable height for many miles to the south. And, as it happens, this side of Bell Creek Valley is generally higher than the west side, where Burst Rock is found. In other words, from Burst Rock the view extends for about a mile, to the local ridge — to Powell Pike, the Bubbles, and the remainder of Bell Creek Valley’s eastern rim — and some exceptionally high mountains, hard to identify, can also be glimpsed above this selfsame ridge. In contrast, from Double-Bubble Rock the view south is unobstructed. You will find yourself gazing at a sea of rolling granite, which extends, in steps, down towards the unseen Tuolumne River. Only beyond the Hetch Hetchy area does the Sierra Nevada reassert itself, and regain the altitude of your well-chosen vantage point. The Yosemite high country beckons from
One brief trip, a traditional favorite among Pinecrest campers, …show more content…
I will not spoil the surprise by telling you what it says. Anyway the sign is somewhat misleading. Most folk regard the vista point, located at the brink of a cliff, as Burst Rock. The fancy sign, however, is just plunked next to the trail, close to where you should start thinking about leaving the path if you wish to visit Burst Rock. And I encourage you to think so. Burst Rock should not be missed.
As the trail breaks out of the forest, the vistas expand dramatically. An elated chuckle is likely to escape your lips at this point. Before you go too far, consult your compass, and head north on one of several social trails that converge to the highpoint of the local plateau. Within 200 yards you shall arrive at a broad summit and an unexpected downfall. From Burst Rock you will gain matchless views into the burly gorge of the Stanislaus, the canyon we admired earlier. If you can keep your dogs and children under firm control, Burst Rock is a highly recommended …show more content…
Let us discuss our destination. Double-Bubble Rock sits on the east side of Bell Creek Valley. Except for a picturesque mountain near Bear Lake, there is nothing of comparable height for many miles to the south. And, as it happens, this side of Bell Creek Valley is generally higher than the west side, where Burst Rock is found. In other words, from Burst Rock the view extends for about a mile, to the local ridge — to Powell Pike, the Bubbles, and the remainder of Bell Creek Valley’s eastern rim — and some exceptionally high mountains, hard to identify, can also be glimpsed above this selfsame ridge. In contrast, from Double-Bubble Rock the view south is unobstructed. You will find yourself gazing at a sea of rolling granite, which extends, in steps, down towards the unseen Tuolumne River. Only beyond the Hetch Hetchy area does the Sierra Nevada reassert itself, and regain the altitude of your well-chosen vantage point. The Yosemite high country beckons from