Title: Date, Hike
Trail head: Wawona-Redwood Cabins
Hike Info:
Trail: Chilnualna Falls
Destination:Chilnualna Falls
Distance: 7.84
Travel Time: 6:15 (1.25 mph)
Moving Time: 4:42 (1.66 mph)
Elevation Rise: 2,346'
Maximum Elevation: 6,408
It is Wednesday, and another hike with our meetup group. This time it is to Chilnuala Falls, near Wawona. We meet at Kohls at 6:30 and get to Wawona at 8:30, after stopping at Tenaya Lodge for a restroom break. Bill and Danielle rode up with us--it is Danielle's first time with our meetup group. She is from Breckenridge, CO.
By 8:50, we are on the trail. The first part is one of the more steep parts of the 4 miles of trail. We make pretty good time. Last night's wind storm brought a light covering of snow to the mountains, about 1-3" worth. But this is good. The trail could get hot if it wanted to and the snow provided a pleasant covering. Because of the climb, after a mile I take off the jacket and hike in short sleeves.
Snow and ice would be our constant companion on this trail today. But it made for some interesting and beautiful presentations as we walked along. The creek's roar from its cascade accompanied us all the way up to the falls. While we knew we were going up, the semi-winter scenes made the going some easier. The manzanita bushes were out in bloom, with the mountain misery still sparse and unscented. Oaks lined the path with some of sugar pines towering above.
After the first third of a mile, the steepness decreased. But we were still going up, but at a more moderate pace. Around each corner the cascades which make up the Falls would show a different view. Even when we were coming down, the Falls looked different. Never a dull moment.
Approaching the Falls is a long piece of exposed trail, running across granite. In the morning, this is shaded. With the snow, parts of it are icy, but manageable. I did slip once and had to balance myself against a large rock or take a tumble. When we round a corner, the we find we are close to the water's edge and a few of our group have decided this is a good stopping place for them. But up we go another quarter mile where the rest of the meetup group has availed themselves of a fine place to have lunch and sun-bath, clothed of course. At this spot, the one remaining cataract shows itself with other parts of the falls below us. Even though there is ice on the river, the sun feels warm.
It is time to come down. After the trip up, going down is a breeze. Everybody charges ahead, even Sherri who usually holds back. So I get to be in the company of John and Cathey on the way down. Good conversations, which is part of hiking. That is to enjoy each other and get to know others better. Even in our college days, that was at least equal to the joy of walking in the beauty of the Sierra's.
We get back to the car a little after 3. Most of us are ready for a bite to eat and what better place to eat than Todd's in Oakhurst. It does not disappoint as we all are satisfied. Sherri even got some blueberry breadpudding. A good day it was.
By 8:50, we are on the trail. The first part is one of the more steep parts of the 4 miles of trail. We make pretty good time. Last night's wind storm brought a light covering of snow to the mountains, about 1-3" worth. But this is good. The trail could get hot if it wanted to and the snow provided a pleasant covering. Because of the climb, after a mile I take off the jacket and hike in short sleeves.
 |
| Part of Chilnuala Falls |
After the first third of a mile, the steepness decreased. But we were still going up, but at a more moderate pace. Around each corner the cascades which make up the Falls would show a different view. Even when we were coming down, the Falls looked different. Never a dull moment.
 |
| Chilnuala Falls |
 |
| Snowy path |
It is time to come down. After the trip up, going down is a breeze. Everybody charges ahead, even Sherri who usually holds back. So I get to be in the company of John and Cathey on the way down. Good conversations, which is part of hiking. That is to enjoy each other and get to know others better. Even in our college days, that was at least equal to the joy of walking in the beauty of the Sierra's.
We get back to the car a little after 3. Most of us are ready for a bite to eat and what better place to eat than Todd's in Oakhurst. It does not disappoint as we all are satisfied. Sherri even got some blueberry breadpudding. A good day it was.
 |
| Ice fibers |
 |
| Icy Cliff |
 |
| How Cold Was It? |
From Ann Marie Brown's book, California Waterfalls, page 95:
Most people dopn't expect too much from the southern section of Yosemite National Park. Sure, everyone visits the Mariposa Grove to see the big sequoias, but other than that, the area doesn't take up too much of the average visitor's itinerary. But while everyone else is in the valley or at Glacier Point or Tuolumne Meadows, you can sneak off to the southern park of the park, take a rigorous hike, and be rewarded with a terrific waterfall: Chilnualna Falls near Wawona, one of my favor falls in Yosemite.
No comments:
Post a Comment