Sierra foothills provide a hiking alternative

   Marek Warszawski The Fresno Bee

With all the best trails buried under a thick blanket of snow, winter can be a frustrating time for hikers.

Option No. 1: Strap on those snowshoes.

Option No. 2: Cool your heels until spring.

Thank the Sierra Foothill Conservancy for providing another alternative.

Starting this weekend, the nonprofit land trust is inviting hikers to explore its three preserves, each located on the western slope of the Sierra Nevada in Fresno and Madera counties.

All hikes are free, open to the public and led by knowledgeable docents who can answer most questions on the land's fauna and history.

The SFC owns and maintains three preserves -- McKenzie Table Mountain, Mary Elizabeth Miller at Black Mountain and Tivy Mountain. Despite their proximity, each offers a distinct flavor.

Covering nearly 2,700 acres, the McKenzie Preserve is the largest and consists mainly of grasslands, blue oak woodlands and flat basalt mountains at the north side of Auberry Road between Millerton Lake and Prather. Be sure to summit the tabletops for a rare peek into a vernal pool, which provides a home to rare plants and fairy shrimp before evaporating.

The 992-acre Miller Preserve, on Black Mountain between Prather and Auberry, is home to the rare flowering shrub carpenteria (also called tree anemone) as well as 20 other wild plants.

Farther south, the 825-acre Tivy Mountain Preserve towers over the lower Kings River and community of Piedra. The peak boasts outstanding views -- your reward for a strenuous 2,000-foot climb. A rare plant called Keck's checkerbloom grows on the mountain's north-facing slope.

Some hikes are relatively flat 3-mile strolls on established trails. Others can involve 6 or 7 hours of steep cross country. Hikes begin at 9 a.m. and are scheduled through April 15. Call (559) 855-3473 for possible weather cancellations. Be sure to bring water, lunch and a sturdy pair of shoes.

The reporter can be reached at marekw@fresnobee.com or (559) 441-6218.

Fresno Bee, The (CA) Published January 18, 2006 Section: SPORTS Page D8

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