April 18, 2014 - Vernal and Nevada Falls

Title: April 18, 2014 - Vernal and Nevada Falls

Trail head: Camp Curry/Happy Isles

Hike Info:

Type:  Hiking

Trail: Vernal Falls/Mist Trail/John Muir Trail

Destination: Vernal Falls

Actual Destination: Nevada Falls

Distance: 9.13 miles

Start Time:  10:24

End Time:     4:53

Travel Time:  6:29 (1.41 mph)

Moving Time: 4:32 (2.01 mph)

Elevation Rise: 2,095'

Maximum Elevation:  6,089

Description:
We get going at 6am to The Train Depot-the we is Steven, Sherri and I. Breakfast was an enjoyable feast of Belgium Waffles, Eggs, and The Train Wreck-I will let you imagine what that plate is like! Of course, one cannot go to the Train Depot without having some of their biscuits and gravy. Filling breakfast so we can have a good day on the trail. We meet our mid-week group at Kohl's and are on the highway heading for Yosemite Valley by 7:10. With a quick rest stop at the Tenaya Lodge in Fish Camp, we get to the Valley a little after 10. and hit the trail before 10:30.


At the backpacker's parking lot, there is a sign which says, Parking Full, so I and another car turn back and go to Camp Curry to start. Not bad, just gives us another half mile of exercise. I catch up to John and tell him that the rest of us will meet his group at Happy Isles. The morning is still cool so the steep grade up to Vernal Falls does not seem so bad. I am towards the back of the group, but that is OK with me. As John says, it is not because I have to hike at the last, but because I want to. He understands that going at a pace which allows you to ponder what you see fills your soul with the beauty of the place.

Rainbow caused by Vernal Falls

But sometimes it is good to disguise your huffing and puffing with the pondering and gazing. Such as when we get to the end of the first good climb, we look back at Yosemite Falls. Or a little while later be startled that Illilouette Falls has so much water in it on such a dry year. Illilouette is one of the less notable, but pleasing falls. It hides itself in a crevice, out of sight of most of the trail. But for a brief quarter of mile stretch can we get a glimpse of its smile. The steep decline after falling from the cliffs above help to give it a stand-offishness appeal.

Vernal Falls and Mist Trail

Sherri and Donna

It is a short ways further to the bridge across the Merced, below Vernal Falls. Such beauty-always something to appreciate. But now our group starts up the Mist Trail. This is probably one of the few trails I really do not like. So steep and slippery and generally there is enough foot traffic going in both direction to have the feeling of danger. Fortunately today, the mist is not bad-I can still see out of my glasses. Also even though this is Spring Break, the traffic is reasonable. So I am content with just taking a step up and enjoying the view-and glad we are going down a different way! All of our group make it up, some with a bit of youthful excitement, others with the contentment of enjoying the cool mist. All with jaws dropping on the view.

Nevada Falls

When we get to the top, our group splits. Most of us, including the four who are in my car, will go up to Nevada Falls. The four of us-Sherri, Steven, Donna and I leave together. Matt and Sue pass us up and Donna and Steven go on ahead, leaving Sherri and I to be the last ones up. I do not think I have seen Nevada Falls looking as awesome as today. The layers of water coming doing against the flat cliff rocks just is a sight to see-glad I have pictures. This is one of those places where the eye candy is well placed with the steepness of the trail. Such as Grizzly Peak across from us or Nevada Falls thundering down beside us. All part of the scenery.

Grizzly Peak

But eventually these good things end and we reach the top. Bathroom break time and then a short walk down to the top of Nevada Falls. Our group is waiting for us-we are the last ones-and gives us a round of applause. Enjoyable time relaxing in the sun and seeing the Merced River flow by us.  We had made PB&Nutella sandiches, but alas, they got left at home. So we contented ourselves with gorp, Clif bars, granola bars and jelly bellies. Life could be worse. We did get offered oysters. Even though Shakespeare noted that the world is like an osyter-and we had done our work to climb this small part of the world-oysters are not for me.

Top of Nevada Falls

Liberty Cap and Nevada Falls

The group starts to break up and we start down. Crossing the Merced on a bridge gives such a spectacular view of the gorge below us. The Merced spilling and spraying as it leaps over the side and we see where we came from through the spray. We are now on The John Muir Trail and we quickly pass by the junction with the Panorama Trail from Glacier Point-where we came in on last year. Next, there is the cliffs which gives the iconic views of Nevada Falls and Liberty Cap. Even though the trail is easy at this point, we stop several times. With the drops of water coming down from the moss, it is cool and refreshing.

Half Dome, Mt Broderick, Liberty Cap

But we quickly move into the more direct line and start the serious descent down to Clark's Point.  The entire area is open to our gaze so it is hard to keep the eyes both on the trail and on the beauty-so much like life. We get so busy worrying where to put our foot next, we forget to look around and enjoy ourselves, like seeing Yosemite Falls across the way.  Brian, whom we thought was ahead of us passes us by, then the rest of the group comes by. Sandra and Donna tag along with Sherri, Steven and I as we continue down.  Finally Sandra tags off, along with Donna. Steven has left us as well so Sherri and I just enjoy our time on the trail.

Yosemite Falls from JMT

After crossing the Merced on the bridge under Vernal Falls, I show Sherri a couple of places where there were old trails. One we call the Dr. John trail because our old GP told us about the trail from below Vernal Falls to the top of Nevada. I found it in early March. Also as we get down further, I remember Lee F telling me where to find the start of the Sierra Point trail, close to the Rockslides sign. We pick up Donna at the Happy Isles bridge. Donna is going to do Mt Whitney in July, so I should her the sign which said she only has 211 more miles to go-fortunately for her, she is starting at Whitney Portal, so she will have only 8 or 9 miles to the top.

Looks like everybody else has left, so we high tail it to Todd's in Oakhurst. A Muslim could not be more faithful in his devotion to go to Mecca than us to Todd's. 10 minutes before we get there, John text's us asking if we are off the trail yet? They are at Todds as well. Enjoyed our meal and headed home to a nice shower.

The Falls:

Illilouette Falls

Yosemite Falls

Nevada Falls

Vernal Falls