May 15, 2013 - Nevada Falls

Title: May 15, 2013 - Nevada Falls

Trail head: Happy Isles

Hike Info:

Trail: Mist Trail

Destination: Nevada Falls

Distance:  5.7 miles

Travel Time: 7:25 ( mph)

Moving Time: 5:00 ( mph)

Elevation Rise: 2,000'

Maximum Elevation:  6,020'

Gary and Sherri in front of Vernal

Description:
What a fine morning! We will be hiking with our mid-week meetup group today--gathering at Kohl's at 6:30. Bill and Daniel car pool with us and the conversation ranges and does not stop. We do stop at the Tenaya Lodge in Fish Camp before going into the park. We arrive and at the Camp Curry overflow parking area around 9:15. By the time John had herded all of the cats into a group and we started out, it was 9:45.

Sherri and the do not go this way

Rainbow over John and Cathey

The first half of a mile was to Happy Isles--a pretty level walk, good to get our legs stretched out. But once we cross the Happy Isle Bridge and start up the trail, we get the the familiar climb up to Vernal Falls. This is a paved trail--usually is crowded, but today it is manageable.  We get one of the best views of Illilouette Falls I have seen. You almost wonder if NPS has pruned a few branches out for the view. Sherri and I both feel pretty good about our climb, not nearly as winded and the legs feel strong. Of course, neither one of us have our backpacking packs on.

Vernal Falls from Mist Trail

Nevada Falls

Vernal Falls looks fabulous-of course, it is rare when it does not.  The meetup group re-groups and starts our climb up the Mist Trail. Going up the JMT at this point is not an option since a rockfall happened recently, closing it. I do not put my rain jacket on going up--probably should have. Like usual, Sherri and I are towards the back. But we feel comfortable back there. The Mist Trail is well-named. I get soaked-shirt, pants, hair, boots. But this experience is shortly lived, since the sun and air at that altitude quickly drys us off. We all make it up ok, some of us with more apprehension about going down.

We continue on up the trail. This long up is started to wear on some of us, so we move pretty slow. Also the trail climbs a vertical slope a series of rock-embedded switch-backs.  The rock is hard on the feet and legs, we fear we may need to come back down this once we get to the top of Nevada Falls.

Vernal Falls

Nevada Falls

But the site on top is spectacular. The Spring runoff rushing over the edge of Nevada Falls. The clear air vista of this part of the Merced all make for a wonderful view.Almost everybody has arrived at the top before me. But we do rest up here for at least half an hour--or should I say we gather in the sights. I find a person who has come up the John Muir Trail from Vernal Falls. He says that is open, to the relief of everyone.

The John Muir comes up the other side of Nevada Falls, so we are given a whole new view of these falls. In my opinion, and Sherri's, this side is the better view. But both sides are good. It certainly is easier on the knees. But easy is a relative term. You still descend pretty steeply. And we still have the Mist Trail to go down, since the section between Vernal and the bridge is closed. When we do go down the Mist Trail, we form a conga line. First the six of us last ones. Then the line which forms at the rear. But we make it down safely, and a bit wet. My new REI Rain Jacket UL does keep me dry-it is ready for backpacking.

Conga Line coming down Mist Trail

We get back to the car a little after 5. When John annouces that we are going to Todd's for dinner, everybody raises their hand to come. We finally make it back to Fresno around 8, tired but happy.