Got up 6:15. Good quiet time with Psalm 8 and Invisible, Immortal, Only Wise God. Its beautiful morning with on side of the ridge you look down into Buck Camp and then on the east wide its gazing onto the back of the Sierras. The other side you see Given Lake (N37.58210 W119.46686)—not the best lake, but an attractive lake.
I thought David was up. But also Steven had gotten up and climbed up onto the ridge, over-looking the lake to the north. Looks like he probably got 300 to 400’ above the lake. When he came back, he was covered with sweat. But content looking.
We eat, get packed and leave around 8:40.
The trail out of Givens Lake (N37.58210 W119.46686) is an unofficial trail. Some times we are on the trail, other times we go along a sort of a trail to discover it is not. We come across a real nice meadow where I took several pictures.
We hit the main trail (N37.58069 W119.45590), and start our trip back to the car. Next couple of miles we go up over a ridge, then descend a forested area until we reach a trail junction. On the top of the ridge, David went to a knoll (N37.58486 W119.44671). He caught up with us just before the junctionHe was able to see a 360 degree view from the knoll.
We had lunch at the junction(N37.59442 W119.44059). and started a 600’ climb up to Merced Pass (N37.61633 W119.44293). About a half of a mile later, we saw the ranger from Wawona Station, Patrick Roe. We exchanged reports of snow and trail conditions. Then it is off up the trail. Snow covered a lot of the trail, but not enough to make it hard to pick up the trail after each snow patch. Steven and David went to the top. Sherri and I made it to the top around 1:30. Passed a very nice meadow. We had a Cliff bar, then left the top—lots of fly’s up there. Unfortunately/fortunately there are lots trees, so the views are limited. The top is sort of rounded.
There is lots of snow on the way down. I think Sherri is starting to get the hang of this snow walking. Of course, she is not sliding down the slopes like some of us. The snow does make traveling slower. We do find one place where there is a rock outcropping where we can get a real nice view down Illilouette Creek drainage.
Around the 8,800’ mark we escape the snow. Then comes the first of our creek crossings for the afternoon. The creek (N37.62619 W119.44386)comes out of Upper Merced Pass Lake and was going down the hill pretty good. Sherri waded across in her croc’s. The rest of us went across on logs.
Then the first crossing of Illilouette Creek (N37.63163 W119.44988) takes place. I got Sherri on a pretty big log. She crossed between David and myself—safely I might add, but a bit tense. We sort of looked like a polka line dancer going across. After recovering from this traumatic crossing, we continue out way down the trail.
We had meant to stay at Lower Merced Pass Lake (N37.62608 W119.44914) tonight. But we zoomed past it without stopping, seeing, or at least on my part, knowing that it was there. (In retrospect, looking at the map, we were about 200’ away, but it was hidden behind a ridge.) This is just as well as every step which we make further along the trail today means a shorter trek tomorrow. That trail will be putting in a few miles—at least for us.
We get to the second crossing of Illilouette Creek (N37.63584 W119.45811). There is not a suitable log in sight and Sherri probably would not be happy with us anyway if there was. The creek was running strong and there was no good places to rock hop across. So off comes all of our shoes and on comes the sandals and crocs. Water is cold and fast. Fortunately it is not deep. I slip a couple of times across, but not bad enough to fall. Sherri makes it across last.
After drying off, we head on the trail, but looking for a campsite. David found one (N37.63724 W119.45852) just a hundred yards down the trail. Looks pretty good. I had gone to examine an area up the trail, but no real luck, except to find some magnificent falls. We settle down and set up camp. Dinner and rest. There are lots of mosquito’s and fly’s. These are pests which so far we have had only at a minimum. Probably a blessing from the cold. No fire tonight, but we did go out for a couple of walks.
We walked out to the creek. Then sort of headed up, which is easier said than done. Lots of fallen logs and marshy stuff. So we maneuver around. The objective is the falls I had seen earlier. As we get closer, they are magnificent. Not high—maybe 30’ high, but just the number, width and whiteness. There are at least three creeks coming down at this place. Each one having a great deal of white water coming down. Just really a wonderful sight. Hopefully pictures come out—even though I suspect that they will not do justice. We can only see the falls partially because of the trees. Steven and David go up higher above the falls. David reports the scene up there is just as wondrous. I go up a little ways with him and then we return back to camp.
Then David asks if I want to see a little discovery he and Steven made. David then took me down the creek a little ways. The creek enters a 70 yard chute where the water rushed through this V. I do not know if it is the evening sun and shadows or just the effect of seeing this after the falls above, but this area is just wonderful. One could get lost here.
Shortly after, even before it gets dark, we go to bed. Its early and warmer. For awhile there we laid on top of the sleeping bags. A bit of a difference from the cool to cold evenings earlier in the week.
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