May 14, 2013-Four Mile Trail

Title: May 14, 2013-Four Mile Trail

Trail head: Yosemite Valley

Hike Info:

Trail: Four Mile Trail (missing GPS)

Destination: Glacier Point

Distance:  9.2 miles

Travel Time: 5:15 (1.75 mph)   Approximately

Moving Time: 4:45 (1.94 mph)  Approximately

Elevation Rise: 3,200'

Maximum Elevation: 7,214'

Description:
This is a trail which we have wanted to do for a long-time. But it is a strenuous trail, rising from the Valley floor to Glacier point, a rise of 3,200'. We drive up to the valley from Fresno, about 2 hours, getting there around 11. 


There are two easy parts to the trail. The first 100 yards are flat. Then you start rising up the side of Yosemite Valley. It is switchbacks for the next 1,000' rising. But there is compensation to the strain the body feels. Being Spring-time, there are many places on the Valley wall where water is coming down. One of these is right in front of the trail during the first part-Sentinel Falls.

But the big sight is Yosemite Falls. It is right in front of you the whole trail up. But instead of being boring, you see it from different perspectives. From the Floor, you see the Upper and Lower Falls. But as you rise up, the Middle set of Falls comes into view. You realize how little of the Falls you normally see. While vowing not to take many pictures on this trip, the camera is grabbed by the sight of the Falls.

El Capitan

Yosemite Valley

While Yosemite Falls is plainly the star of the show, there are other sights which provide the eyes plenty of candy. Such as El Capitan rising up to the west. Further down the trail, Half Dome and Royal Arches come into view, capturing your attention. As the trail rises up further, the country to the north come into view.

Yosemite Falls

But that is not the only thing coming into view--dark clouds. About an hour after starting the climb, the sounds of thunder starts to be heard. But the trail is dry, so the climb continue on. At the 2,200' mark,  Union Point provides a stopping point for lunch. The Point is a bit disappointing after all the splendid views on the way up. So a few shots are taken and the Point is left behind.

Yosemite Falls

About 10 switchbacks and 800' later, the trail rounds the spine from Sentinel Dome and Moran Point. Half Dome and the east side of the Valley come into full view. Splendid! Also the trail levels off and goes for a slight descent for the next 3/4 of a mile--relief. Then it is a quarter of a mile and a 300' ascent to Glacier Point.

Half Dome

Glacier Point has good views--which is sort of like saying that the Empire State Building is tall. What else does Glacier Point have but great views? One thing which is gotten is a good view of the place we will be doing tomorrow--Vernal and Nevada Falls. After being up on the Point for about half an hour, it is time to start heading back. The sound of thunder is getting closer and the clouds are more threatening. But there is still time to stop and talk to a backpacker which I talked with on the way up. He is a new backpacker and is concerned about the storm and what to do with lightening. So we talk a while and go our different ways.

Glacier Point

Rain on Half Dome

The trip down is a lot  faster, that is until  a few drops start falling. Then the lightening  starts being visable and the thunder is 8 seconds away--getting closer. By this time it is a toss up on which way to go, so it is down. Then the lighting gets closer-about four seconds, or less than a mile away. The rain is coming down. Met up with some people from back east who take comfort in people who are knowledgeable of the area. The good part is the lightening is up on the top of the ridge and we are 1,500' below that so we should not be in too much danger, but are keeping close to the side of the walls and not trying to be too much exposed.

By the time the bottom is reached, the clothes are sopping wet, along with the pack and everything else. But great fun! By the time we reach Todd's in Oakhurst, the clothes are mostly dry; the bed felt good and warm that night.

Yosemite Valley