November 2, 2011 – Alder Creek Falls

10.3 miles
4:04 time
2.5 mph
1,400' elevation rise, one way

We left Fresno at 10 and got to the Mosquito Creek trail-head around 11:30. Then got on the trail just short of noon.

The first part of the trail is pretty steep. For the first ¾ of a mile it rises 630', or about 15% slope. The first time we hiked this trail, it was with backpacks and the trees were all green. Now a lot of dead, burnt trees stand as stark reminders of times past. But there is brush taking root and starting to encroach upon the trail. A reminder that this trail is not heavily used.

We get to the trail junction from Wawona. Steven is ahead of us. The junction can be a bit confusing and I signal to him to take a left. But it gets misconstrued to mean he cannot take the 30' of trail north, but must descend and go back up the two sides of a triangle.

We do not see Steven again for the 3.2 miles to Alder Falls. The trail from the junction flattens out and we go up some gentle rises. Even though this is halfway through Fall, the little streamlets are still going well. Still the Fall colors are out—lots of reds and yellows play against the evergreens.

The final 1.3 miles is flat as we travel on the old railroad bed. The ties lay around, some even still embedded in the trail. By the falls, there is an old piece of iron rail. But I have not been able to come across anything talking about the railroad. I assume it was an undertaking of the Washburns in connection with the Wawona hotel.

One of the truly amazing parts of this trail is that you are walking along, with an occasional flow of water pleasantly trickling down past the trail. But you round a corner and you are greeted with the sound of falls. Then after a few more steps, Alder Falls is in full view. To me, Alder Falls ranks right up there with Vernal and Nevada Falls. If it was located close to the Valley, you would hear about it. But since you need a four mile hike with 1,200' rise, you are left pretty much alone with your senses to enjoy the sight and sound.

Because you are on the level with the falls, you do not get a good sighting of the base and there is not an easy way down the 250' slope to the base. So we just enjoyed the sight, had lunch, which is what we did and return. Well with the slight addition of walking a bit further up the trail to retrieve Steven.

On the way back, I took a few pictures while Steven and Sherri went ahead. Probably got about 10-15 minutes behind them in all. Also tried to see when the trail left the railroad. But there is a lot of manzanita brush preventing easy passage that way. So it remains a secret to me.

When we get to the trail junction—yes I do catch up—I am thinking I would like to go on to Wawona—about 2 additional miles. Steven seals that decision with a comment. So on I go. Within 30 yards, I do a belly flop –tripping over a small rock. Not a good way to start off. I am not hurt, except for my pride. But this little faux pas was not observed, except by the animals. Onward I go. I really need to learn how to walk without Sherri. I am rushing too much, feeling clumsy and ungraceful. When I stop to take a picture, I get caught up in my hiking poles—not going down. But I am having a good time walking alone. I am going at a 3 mph pace and enjoying it. When I get close to the trail-head, I see the Rav4 go towards the end of the trail. Then a couple of minutes later, I see it go back down the road. Am I being abandoned? No-I see the Rav4 come again. This time they stop and I am there within a couple of minutes. We go on and eat at Todd's in Oakhurst and then back to Fresno.