Been on this very trail a couple times long ago. And been in that canyon (Devils Gulch) or along the top more than a few times. Mostly chasing bears when hounds were legal to use for bears. Some rough meanass folks live in them areas on private land adjacent to NF, they even post no trespass signs on public land. You best pack some heat, and stay vigilant. My ex BIL used to backpack down into that canyon to fish, camp and hike back out. There's a reason it's called Devils Gulch. Packing a bear outta there is a lesson in hell. My late bear hunting friend would only take young hunters there, the ones hard up for a bear.
There is nearby Hites Cove on the south fork, another hell hole but at least you can use a SxS to get down there. So steep and nasty a fire fighter flipped his caterpillar and died a few yrs ago. CalFire Dozer Operator Killed
These days I stay away from the mtns at those elevations due to poison oak sensitivity plus all the marijuana growing activity. These canyons have both. In fact there was a shootout between marijuana growers just a few air miles from Devils Gulch last month: Shootout Results in Homocide
It is very hot, dry and dusty this time of the year in those parts. Plenty of rattlesnakes, deer flies and nasty spiders too. The brush is so thick in some areas you can't get thru, even on your hands and knees. Bet this place would break most of you, SAR would have to be called in to get some of you chest beaters out before you became vulture food. Lols
This trail and canyon would be the last place I would take a young family for an outing, doesn't make sense. He could have drove his family up to Yosemite and hiked to the falls where the mist would have been rewarding then took the family to dinner or lunch on the drive home.
You all can now return to your regular bitching and fighting, it's kinda funny. I'll update if I hear anything.
You are right about that area being pretty rough country, both rednecks, white trash, mining claims and brush. My bride and I took to the dirt roads south of Buck Meadows west of Yosemite. We checked out Greely and Coulterville and then took a dirt road (Bull Creek Road?) over to Briceburg and then back into Yosemite on Hwy. 140. Mariposa County has some rough country and rough people, some free range cattle. We saw houses surrounded by goats and scrap iron, and warning signs to stay off of mining claims. I wasn't much surprised. We have a lot of what I called deadenders living out around our Louisiana National Forest land. It would probably surprise most tourists to see what lives in very close proximity to the premier NP in California. If those kind of people killed these hikers I believe it would be readily apparent as to cause of death.
Yep, know all those areas. Plenty of folks mysteriously missing for decades. Russian mafia, cartels, deranged psychos (NG, Stayner, Pitchfork, Pig pen, Tahoe killer to name a few). Puts Louisiana to shame.
No one is missing 3 adults and a dog were murdered and the sheriff is hiding why and how they died.
Toxic algae blooms are visible and smelly, no one drinks this stuff. If you die from mine gas you die in that mine. If Satan carves muslim symbols in your chest the government acts like you never existed
Last edited by Dustyone; 08/27/21.
I VOTED FOR TRUMP TWICE, AND WILL VOTE FOR HIM AGAIN
