Fleming Meadow Eldorado NF

May 7, 2012

Since I am mentally drained by a three-day bridge tournament, I must get away from the hustle and bustle for a time.  Although it will be 90-degrees-plus in the valley today, it should not be too hot up here at nearly 4,000 feet.

A nice map at the trailhead details the area's roads and trails.  Apparently, Route #8 makes a complete loop.  I'll start with that and see what happens.

Starting down the trail

Very few flowers are out today.  I don't know whether it's too early here, or too late.

Shooting Stars
Western Buttercup

After trudging up and down and around to no place in particular for nearly three miles, I decide to shortcut back on Fleming Meadow Road 10N72, which seems almost not to exist anymore despite being denoted by a thick line on the map.  Eventually, I run into Route #8 again, finding myself retracing my steps over the same bear scat that I encountered previously.

Still looking for a diversion, I follow a vague little path off to the left.  Soon I am following the power line northward to Ferrari Mill Road, crossing the defunct other road without even knowing it.

Training Hill

I now am quite close to the trailhead, but I haven't seen Fleming Meadow yet.  It cannot be far, so I head left down the road that I would have been on much sooner, without the wonderful shortcut.  Within ten minutes the meadow appears on the left.  It is a short scamper down onto the grass.

Fleming Meadow

Gee whiz.  I had expected to find some flowers here if anywhere, but no; the only specimens in evidence are about 1/8-inch wide.  It's a challenge to get any photos of them at all:

Spanish Clover

From the meadow, it is just a 15-minute saunter back to the trailhead.

Black Oak
Mountain Misery

Sierra Mariposa Lily

§: Well, there wasn't much of interest here today.  I didn't cover the entire area, though; and it is possible to access Camp Creek, which might be nice.

• Trailhead: 4.8 miles south of Pollock Pines on Sly Park Road, then 1.8 miles east on Mormon Emigrant Trail, then south on Blue Gouge Mine Road to the parking lot.
• Distance: 5.8 miles
• Elevation: 3800' to 3600'
• Hikers: 1
• Rating: 3

Scenery
Difficulty
Personality
Flowers
Solitude

September 2021: This entire trail system has burned.