April 22, 2014 - Yosemite Valley East Loop

Title: April 22, 2014 - Yosemite Valley East Loop

Trail head: Camp Curry Parking Lot

Hike Info:

Type:  Hiking

Trail: East Yosemite Valley Loop

Destination:Camp Curry Parking Lot

Distance: 9.20 miles ¹

Start Time:  9:57

End Time:   3:07

Travel Time: 5:09 (1.79  mph)

Moving Time: 3:41 (2.50 mph)

Elevation Rise: 1,268' ²

Maximum Elevation: 4,255

Original Map of planned route

Description:
What a day and what a hike! This is a hike Sherri and I did last year and really enjoyed. So we have been encouraging others to take up this hike. Jerry J took up our challenged and after a rain delay a month ago we are set to walk the East Yosemite Valley Loop again. Now, this is a name Sherri and I have given this loop, so you probably will not find it too many other places.

Our day started with doing a breakfast of strawberry pancakes for a few people going on the hike. Then it was off to Kohl's to meet with the rest of the group. The sky is dark and as we head towards our first stop in Oakhurst, there is a few spots of rain on the windshield. Once inside Yosemite and as we climb up the skies become darker and the few drops which were on the windshield turns into a constant splatter of water. Then the water turns more flake-like into snow. None sticks on the road, but around the Glacier Point Road turnoff, the sides of the road has a slim coating of white. The question which comes into our minds is, will this snow follow us to the Valley? Will it become more of a storm instead of this fine dancing snow?

Mist towards Vernal Falls

We get to Camp Curry and start getting our rain gear on. While the rain's presence is made known, it is not intense, nor is there snow. So bundled up, and off we walk as a group to Happy Isles, less than a mile away. Happy Isles has a restroom, so we stop for a few minutes for relief. This will be the rhythm of our walk today. With 12 people, there is always a need for relief. Which is good because our route contains facilities every few miles.

As we wait at Happy Isles, the rain stops, but the mists in the mountains still cover these mounds in a shrouded of mystery. The water vapor floats in the ravines, lifting their skirts and then hiding the surrounding slopes. This is a season which I love Yosemite. Always changing, but a consistency behind this curtain of clouds.  This dance is well played out when we look up the Merced from Happy Isles or as we turn our gaze towards Half Dome. This dance will continue the rest of the morning.  While we are content to watch, we do have a hike to walk. But, before we leave, the Merced catches our attention showing how full and lively it is.

Merced River

Mist covering Half Dome

Our trail now heads north along the eastern base of the Valley wall. While always sensing the road is only 10-20 yards away, we do feel a bit of isolation. The road is used only for buses, service vehicles and those who are handicapped. This isolation is enhanced due to the lack of people on the trail. Even during the summer, this is a section of the Valley which you can withdraw to and see only a dozen people along its two mile course. A word of caution: neck strain can be a problem. First, because your gaze is always attracted upwards towards Half Dome as it loams above you. Also today with the clouds going back and forth, it is fascinating following them.

Half Dome

Just after a junction which follows the eastern part of Mirror Lake, we hit the now vacant road up to Mirror Lake. The trail passes over the Tenaya Creek Bridge. It does not disappoint us as there is a magnificent view of Half Dome. The rest of the walk up the road to Mirror Lake is a bit non-description, if anything in Yosemite can be called that. It is just pavement pounding.

Mirror Lake and Mt Watkins

But Mirror Lake makes up for the pavement pounding. It has been a long time since I have seen the lake look so, well, reflective. The last several years when I have seen it, there has been more gravel and stone than water and reflection. But today with the sky clearing and hardly any wind, the lake was showing the surrounding mountains, particularly Watkins, very clearly. So glad we came up today.

Jerry and Stone Garden

Then to Jerry J's joy, we spot the rock garden-a place where people have set up a monument to ducks-not the flapping wing kind, but that which is stone upon stone. These ducks are everywhere. I wonder who has the time to do them. I have a couple of thoughts about these gardens-I have seen them over by Yosemite Falls and in the Lodgepole campgrounds, to name a few places. First, there is something which causes me to pause when I observe these creations. It is fascinating how something so simple can be so attractive. On the other hand, these things can be so compelling that people will litter the landscape with them. Do I really want to see this when I come to Yosemite? Or anyplace else which I hike?

Stone Garden

Glacier Point

We now turn westward on our hike.We walk by the Indian Caves-unseen, under the Washington Column, and gaze up at the Royal Arches and the little bit of falls from them. Some horses pass us by and we get to follow them for a ways--we try not to get too close to them. But they turn off towards the stables and we continue on.

Yosemite Falls

The Ahwahnee hotel comes into view and we spend a few minutes touring through this historic and beautiful building, still alive with charm and majesty. But onward we go. As we get close to Yosemite Village, we see more and more people, but lose some of them as we climb the only real nice climb on our whole walk. This is the part which rises above the Village and to its north. From here we get to see Yosemite Falls more from the side. You can see the spray as the upper falls hits the rocks below.

I need to ask the Wilderness office about when do quotas occur, while Ursala wants to ask about getting a summer permit to climb Half Dome. Bill tags along to see what the excitement is about. The Wilderness Office is close, but Earth Day festivities are occurring. There is a booth concerning the Yosemite wilderness and so we stop in there to ask. And who do I see? Heidi! She has issued me many a permit from the Wawona Ranger Station and is the one who first recognizes me. So it is good to see her. I get to ask my question-the wilderness quotas start on May 1st. Heidi finds an alternative entry point to get an overnight permit for a Half Dome trip. Altogether a successful side trip.

Lunch Time Crowd

Yosemite Falls

We continue on to meet up with our group at Yosemite Falls. Sherri has gone down to look for me and is waiting below in the sun on a large rock. We have lunch, enjoy the falls, and get relief again. But now the general feeling is to start on our trip home. So instead of going down to Swinging Bridges, we cross Cook's Meadow and head to the Valley Chapel.

From the Chapel, we head eastward along a path which takes us past Housekeeping and Le Conte Memorial Lodge. It is not far now before we reach the intersection, close to Camp Curry. But first, Half Dome loams over us again as we gaze at it across Stoneman Meadow. If anything, Half Dome has grown more stately in this elegant setting. What a way to end this trip.

Gary Holding Court

After piling into our vehicles, we take off. But as we look back, the sight of the Valley is too much so we stop at Tunnel View and snap some pictures and take off back to Fresno. But some of us stop at Todd's in Oakhurst for our obligatory time to enjoy the BBQ cuisine. We end the day tired, but feeling good.

Yosemite Valley From Tunnel View

¹Note: When comparing the mileages from last Fall and this time, there is a three mile difference. The difference can be attributed to on our Fall hike, Sherri and I walked a mile further up the Mirror Lake area until we hit the Snow Creek trail. Secondly, after hitting Yosemite Falls, our return trip went via Swinging Bridges, instead of going directly to the Valley Chapel like we did this time.

²Note: The elevation gain always seem way too much. But that is what the GPS said. The only way which I can see we gained so much is through little ups and downs, with a few 100' rises.