_ Date: February 4, 2012
Trail: Stifle Claim, El Dorado National Forest
Temp: 56 Degrees
Mileage: 1.40 Loop
Elevation Gain: 2250 – 2500
Time: 38 Minutes

I spent a few days researching training strategies for summiting Mount Whitney, and fell short on any well documented plans. I was ideally looking for a “Hal Higdon training guide for mountain summiting” and had no luck.

Thus I have decided to journal my trek to summit Mount Whitney the first week of September with my husband, son, and brother-in-law.

My hike this afternoon was a quick prep for our upcoming Mount Rose hike, as I knew it was rocky and would be similar terrain.

I’ve hiked this trail multiple times and it’s one of my favorite local hikes. The trail head is 500 feet from the well known Mar Det trail, and has plenty of parking.

Today I was packing my son Tuck, who now weighs 17lbs, in his Infantino carrier, which is more open (and also less comfortable) than the ErgoBaby I usually use. This trail is dog friendly, though be wary as it is popular with horseback riders.

If you are a rock lover, you will find amazing specimens. There is incredulous history surrounding the Stifle Claim Trail which backs up to the Bear Creek Rock Quarry. It’s also a haven for flower lovers, though this time of year is relatively dry.

The trail follows a babbling brook until a bridge takes you across, from there the trail becomes mildly confusing, there is a hard to spot turn off to the left, which will take you up a mildly impressive elevation gain considering the low mileage. If you veer to the right you will head to a wider spot of the river (great for letting the horses drink) and can continue on towards the Mar Det trail.

After completing the elevation gain the trail is very well cleared, in summer there is a rocky area which is prone to snakes, watch your footing. The path weaves through pine and madrone forest and boasts some nice views before looping back to the trailhead.

I polished off this trail in just under 40 minutes today. Next up: Mount Rose.

11 Comments