April 9, 2014 - Rim Trail and Back to Foresta

Title: April 9, 2014 - Rim Trail and Back to Foresta

Trail head: Cascade Creek

Hike Info:

Type:  Hiking

Trail: Old Big Oak Flat Road and the North Rim Trail

Destination: El Capitan

Actual Destination: Ribbon Meadow

Distance: 7.54 miles

Start Time:  8:08

End Time:   1:21

Travel Time: 5:12 (1.45 mph)

Moving Time: 4:25 (1.71 mph)

Elevation Rise: 2,256'

Maximum Elevation: 7,791'

Cascade Creek

Description:

At end of Trip

I woke up cold and I had slept cold last night. But I do not think it got too much below freezing. Usually I sleep pretty snug, but last night with my new sleeping bag, I definitely did not sleep well. So when it became somewhat light, I got up and just walked around a bit. Went up and down the Old Big Oak Flat Road. Not very far either way. The snow where we walked yesterday on the other side of the bridge had refrozen and the melted snow on the bridge had frozen. But on our side of the bridge, there was water trickling down from melted snow.

After awhile Andrea got up. We had our breakfast of oatmeal and stuff. Then off we went after telling Sherri, who was still warm in her bag that we were gone, and me going back to get fresh batteries for the GPS and camera. Oh yeah, the camera, had to go back and get that as well. Andrea could have committed me to an institution dealing with memory issues then.

Andrea's Good Side

But despite my mental capabilities, Andrea and I start off on our trek to El Capitan. If we make it, it will be a 16 mile day with our return trip to Foresta. The first half of a mile is down the Old Big Oak Flat Road until we hit the trail junction for the Rim Trail at Gentry Station, not that Gentry Station is there anymore, but it was at the site. Actually, looking at some old books, I think this is where a toll station for gentry's was.

  

Snow and Andrea

Anyway, we start up on the Rim Trail. The first quarter of a mile, not too bad. And then it goes up and up and up. Looked like in places there is a 24% grade. It is still cool, but we start to shed our outerwear. Glad I did not bring my jacket along. Even so, Andrea eventually puts my stuff into her pack. At 6,000' we start to hit patchy snow, mostly in the shade. We also get some views of the Cascade Creek drainage. 

I quickly realize that with Sherri not being with us, I am the weakest link. Not so much in being able to keep up the pace, but in being able to take a breath.  But I still do pretty well and Andrea patiently slows down for an old man. Early I had mentioned that I thought at 7,000' we would hit snow pretty continuously, and we do. Not deep, maybe about a foot or so, maybe two feet in the shade. Just enough to make us work at it. We cross the ridge at the top of our climb, about 500' above El Capitan.

Andrea at Ribbon Mdw

But it is getting to be elevenish an we still have over two miles to go. We get to Ribbon Meadow and see nothing but a field of snow. With our trip back, we decide that it is time to turn around and head back to camp. But first, we rest and take in some energy bars at Ribbon Meadow. The sun feels good enough to stay here for a long time, which we do. But reluctantly we get up and head back down the trail we came up.

Andrea and Gary on morning hike

Our trip back to camp is a lot quicker and easier--most of it downhill. But we do realize how steep we came up as we walk down. My legs are starting to feel the deadness which the climb induced. Andrea, who did a half-marathon a couple of weeks again, still looks strong. Even with the faster pace, there is delight in looking around and seeing the west end of Yosemite Valley and Cascade Creek area. I will say the last little bit from Gentry's to our camp showed how much the climb took out of me. Even though we go up maybe 150', the legs were aching. I was glad to get back to camp and sit for a bit. Also having lunch there was not bad either.

Hike Info:

Type:  Backpacking

Trail:  Foresta to Cascade Creek

Destination: Foresta

Distance: 4.00 miles

Start Time:  2:28

End Time:   5:00

Travel Time: 2:31 (1.59 mph)

Moving Time: 1:55 (2.09  mph)

Elevation Rise: 363'

Maximum Elevation: 6,149'

Description:
After lunch, we retrace our steps from yesterday. We are returning back to the car. Seems a bit cooler than yesterday-whether it is an illusion or reality, I am not too concerned with. We will be going through the part where we felt it was hot yesterday.

Stream Crossing

We pretty much walked the trail non-stop, with the exception of the Tamarack Creek crossing. Sherri and I took off our boots, while Andrea decided to do some gymnastics with a log and some rocks and made it across--even with her pack on today.

The difference between yesterday and today is that we have a perspective of traveling in reverse. Instead of heading towards the Valley, we get to see the burn area in front of us. There is a sense of ghostly beauty to it. The burnt out hulks of trees standing upright; the shrubs just starting to come back again. The demarcation after Wildcat between burn and green is startling-where before it was going from the heat to refreshment; today it is going from a friendly world to something of a deadscape-but not quite dead.

Andrea

We are glad to get back to the car. After discussing plans, we realize that we all are tired. Andrea has a three hour drive back to the Bay Area; we have two and half hours. So we part ways. It has been a joy to hike with Andrea this past couple of days. We stop at Todd's in Oakhurst before reaching home around 8pm.

Bridalveil

Gary and Andrea hiking

Ragwort?

The Dance Hall

Snow Plant

Sherri and Andrea