April 5, 2013 - Old Big Oak Flat Trail

Title: April 5, 2013-Old Big Oak Flat Trail

Trail head: V9, Yosemite Valley

Hike Info:

Trail: Old Big Oak Flat Trail

Destination:Rainbow View

Actual Destination: About a third of a mile shot

Distance: 2.9 miles

Travel Time: 3:09 ( mph)

Moving Time: 1:32 ( mph)

Elevation Rise: 742'

Maximum Elevation: 4,641'

Description:

We left Fresno for Yosemite Valley around 9:30. This is an unmaintained trail we read about in a book which my brother got me ages ago, called Tales and Trails of Yosemite and the Central Sierra's. Then we saw how rough it is in Mr. Half Dome's blog. Also Backpacker magazine did an article about a North Rim trip which started with this trail. The trail is not noted on modern maps, but shows up on a 1996 USGS Topo map. If you can grab a 1909 topo map, it shows the road. So we will go up the Old Big Flat Oak Road until we hit the rockslides and then see how much bouldering we want to do. Then walk around the west end of the Valley.

Ribbon Falls

Got to the trailhead around 11:45. Trailhead is rather a loose term. You come in along the Northside Drive, a little west of El Capitan. After crossing Ribbon Creek, if it is flowing, look for the V9 guide site. There is a road there.  It is a semi loop where the locals get their wood. If you go up as high as you can, you will get to a place called the "Woodpile". Go a little beyond that and the road has a low rock barricade. Stop here and get out of the car and start enjoying your walk.

Follow the old crumbling pavement of the1940's Highway 120. At first, it seems too broad to be a trail and too narrow to be a highway. It is rock strewn, with logs crossing it. Definitely not suitable for automotive travel, but fun for walking. We quickly come to a place where Sherri and I need to do a short amount of boulder hopping. Nothing serious. But more is to come.

Each stretch we walk, gives us a JDV (Jaw Dropping View). Bridalveil Falls shows itself to be quite a lady with her base veiled in mist. Even so, we see she has some hidden drops from the main falls which you do to see from the Valley's floor. Or Ribbon Falls coming down from the West of El Capitan is so much closer than from across the Valley.






As we go further down the trail, the unmaintained part of this trail becomes more evident. We cross several fallen logs-a few are the type which you need to straddle. But nothing too badly. Then the boulder crossings for the most part are short and not too bad. But a few of them you need to make some Spider-Man moves. With the manzanita and other brush starting to overgrown the trail, sometimes you get to meander close to the edge.






At the edge of one of the boulder fields, we stop to enjoy our peanut butter and Nutella sandwiches. Of course we do get a world-class scenery with Bridalveil Falls providing the eye candy. Tunnel View has come into range and get to see all the people on the road. So far it is just Sherri and I with all of this and not having to share.

Lunch

After lunch we go a little ways further until we get to another rock fall. We think we are within a half of a mile of Rainbow View, when we decide to turn back so we can see Yosemite Falls, today, as well.

If anything, the sights coming back, even though it is on the same trail, is even better. Bridalveil is front and center. The mist is even more pronounced than when we came up. A little before we get back to the car, we come across our first and only  group of hikers. They tell us a little bit about what the trail looks beyond the point. The road beyond the point did some zig-zags up a steep grade. They are no longer around, having been obliterated by rockfalls. But you can still climb up to the next stage of road.

View Eastward from Old Big Oak Flat Road

Trail head:  Standford Chapel, Yosemite Valley

Hike Info:

Trail: Some of Valley Loop Trail

Destination:Lower Yosemite Falls

Actual Destination: Lowe Yosemite Falls and Pine Campground

Distance: 3.8 miles

Travel Time: 1:47 ( mph)

Moving Time: 1:19 ( mph)

Elevation Rise: 261'

Maximum Elevation: 4,121'

Royal Arches Cascades

Later on, we take the car to the chapel and leave it there. Then walk to Yosemite Falls, then over to the visitor center. From the visitor center, we take the Valley Loop trail up to the Pines Campground, where we catch the bus back from e the Stables and then do a short walk back to the car. When we were on the Loop trail, we got a fine look at the Royal Arches Cascades.Usually dry in the summer,e rather were very refreshing to look at.

On the way back to Fresno, we stop at Todd's--to enjoy fine BBQ food. A good day and and a good discovery of a trail we had not been on before.