May 28, 2014 - West Valley Loop

Title: May 28, 2014 - West Valley Loop

Trail head: Yosemite Chapel

Hike Info:

Type:  Hiking

Trail: West Yosemite Valley Loop

Destination: loop

Distance: 12.42 miles*

Original Map of Route

Start Time:  10:08
 

End Time:     4:37

Travel Time: 6:28 (1.92 mph)
 Moving Time: 4:48 (2.59 mph)

Elevation Rise:  1,177'

Maximum Elevation: 4,094'
*I know that at least one other GPS on the trip had a higher reading than 12.4 miles.

Description:
The day started at 5 this morning. Sherri and I provided pancake breakfast for four of the group, then off to Kohl's to meet everybody. There are 16 of us. Stopping in Oakhurst to pick up Judy. We then head towards Yosemite and stop at the Valley Chapel  around 10. We spend a few minutes getting ready, when we notice a sign about parking, saying "Chapel Use Parking". But this time there is double arrows indicating the parking is for the Chapel, where before there was only a single arrow indicating it was ok to park in the other slots. But we find a person and ask him about parking. He says it is ok to park where we are, at least today.

Yosemite Falls

Last Fall when Sherri and I did this trail, we did it clockwise. But today with the expected temperatures being in the high 70's/low 80's, we want to take advantage of any shade we can. So counterclockwise we go. We head north across a trail bridge, just below Sentinel Bridge. We quickly come to the Yosemite a Falls bathrooms and make use of them. Then most of us wander up to the bridge at the base of the falls. While the falls are going pretty well, they are not going over like you would expect of them this early in the season. But we can stay here only a few minutes as we have a long hike ahead of us.

Gary in lecture mode-courtesy of Sandra

We find the trail which will lead us around the Valley floor.  I soon hear a sound I do not associate with the Valley-a leaf blower. I think that since this section is an ADA trail and is new, they are trying to keep it clean.  and it takes us past Camp 4. This is where I start my historical pitch about how historic this place is, even being on the National Historic Landmark registry. For the first part, I am hiking with Angel and Sandra, Bill and Richard. As we pass by the volunteer rescue cabins, I suggest looking at the Yosemite SAR site-it really is the Friends of Yosemite SAR. There are pictures there which continue to send chills down my spine, even after seeing them several times.

Sentinel Rock? Taft Point?

Merced River

As we were walking away from the Camp 4 area, we came across several lengths of webbing stretched between trees. I was questioned about what the webbing was for-slack lines, of course. Which led into what are slack lines for. Eventually, I came to you need to look at YouTube for slack lines, particularly Googling "slackline lost arrow". These videos will send you shaking. For example, the first slack line crossing of Lost Arrow is a good one. The usual trail talk goes on. But of course, we have the usual sights and sounds of Yosemite Valley. We debate if a rock across the way is Sentinel Rock or Taft Point. We see the cool Merced River when we cross over next to it. Pretty soon we have gone two miles without even noticing it.

 

Climbers on Nose

Are they ok?

When we get close to El Capitan, we start to notice climbers. Then more climbers, and then still more. The whole lower Nose area is littered with them. Robert, Kate's friend, noticed that some of the climbers still have their hanging cots and was wondering what was wrong-we never did find out what the story was there. But in the afternoon, we noticed a helicopter go through.

Angel, Sandra, Justice, Joseph counting climbers

Bridalveil Falls

We missed where I thought we would have lunch-the El Capitan picnic area. So when we hit the Woodpile, at the end of the Old Big Oak Flat Road, it was time for lunch. Kate suggests a site closer to the river. So we take off, crossing the North Rim Road at benchmark 3977 and head off along a ridge. We find a place and enjoy a time in the shade. Some even dipped their toes in the Merced.

Sandra and Joseph at Lunch

 When we get back on the trail after a 40 minute lunch, we start noticing that the trail is raked. Within a mile, we see a trail crew. After we pass a few people, I see a face I recognize. It is one of the people from a trail crew we met at Hetch-Hetchy at the start of the month. I have a nice chat with him, as I had earlier this month. We soon see several other pairs of workers. Finally, find a pull-out on the road called Valley View. One of ours would like to stop here-she has gone further than she thought she would.

Gary has them up a tree

Ribbon Falls and El Capitan

Valley View is close to Pohono Bridge. By this time, I am towards the back, but start to catch up more. Several people wanted to take a bathroom break at Bridalveil Falls, so they go off trail. I wait for the back of the pack. We continue on the trail until I figure we are close to the parking lot. Mistake! We went through about an eight of a mile, getting scratched up with berry vines and other things. Sorry about that my followers! But they did seem to survive. Then I find out no one of this group needed to use the facilities. If I had only asked, we would have continued with the trail and saved ourselves some grief.

Jelly Belly Man and Followers-courtesy of Sandra

By this time, the group is coming down the road and catches up to us. We cross back over the road and are back on the trail, on the south side. But another one of group has gotten to the extent of their level, so the person will wait for us at Bridalveil Falls parking lot. We continue on, picking up Lee along the only real climb of the trail. A little ways beyond that, another group is waiting for Jelly Bellies. Did I say I have been handing out Jelly Bellies through out the day? Sherri and Andrea certainly had a good idea when they came up with this.

Evidently the Jelly Bellies really revitalized them, because off they went. But by now, we were within three miles of our goal, and the trail is pretty level. So those of us in back just enjoyed ourselves, through the agony of the leg straining last miles. Lost Arrow started standing out in full relief with the afternoon sun creating a shadow. Yosemite Falls had its spray being kicked around with an afternoon breeze. Such a way to end a hike. Shortly afterwards, we arrive at the Chapel with the rest of the group lounging around.

Now to go and pick up the rest of the group which were at Valley View and Bridalveil. Then off to Oakhurst and Southgate Brewery. When we got to Oakhurst, the Brewery was crowded and one of the people in my car needed to get home soon. So off we went down the hill and got to Fresno around 7:30, tired, hungry but feeling like we accomplished something.

Yosemite Falls at end of day

Trail Lesson:

Have a plan; try to stick to it; tell someone if you are not.
Sherri's Trail Lesson: It is great to carry a first aid kit. Helping and bringing comfort to someone else gives a good feeling. 

May 18, 2014 - Park Ridge

Title: May 18, 2014 - Park Ridge

Trail head: panorama Point Parking Lot

Hike Info:

Type:  Hiking

Trail: Park Ridge Trail

Destination:  Park Ridge Lookout

Distance: 5.71 miles

Start Time:  3:12

End Time:   6:00

Travel Time: 2:48 (2.04 mph)

Moving Time: 2:16 (2.52 mph)

Elevation Rise: 1,106'

Maximum Elevation: 7,683'

Description:

Got up before 7, then Andrea got up, so we went got an hour walk in our neighborhood. By then Sherri was up, followed shortly afterwards by Mark, Steven's friend. Around ten, everybody was up and we made our way to the Train Depot close to us. Good food and pretty busy. We got out of there before noon. Then David, Mom and a Dad called, so I talked with them for awhile. By this time, it was close to 1:30. So it was decided to go to Kings Canyon instead of Yosemite.

Steven and Mark at Panorama Pt

Boulder Creek Control Burn

Steven drove up to the Panorama Point Parking lot. We got in around 2:30 and hit the trail then. The park has revamped this trail to being more ADA friendly, so the grade to the point is less steep. Also, the lookout place is a bit lower.I take the more upper way while Steven, Sherri and Mark go low. But we both spot a column of smoke to the east and north of us. After pondering this for a few minutes, we try to get reception and phone our friends at the Buck Rock Foundation, but the call will not go through. We wonder if this is the control burn Wendy talked about. So I take off down the hill to get the call through. When I do get reception, Wendy confirms this is the Boulder Creek Control Burn.

View from Panorama Point

The Hikers: Steven, Mark, Sherri

I had told the three to go on up Park Ridge and I would catch up. When I got back to Panorama Point, they were gone. So I started up the trail. It roughly follows the top of the ridge, but you only catch a few sights as you go along. At the right time, this can be a hot and dry hike. I do not know if it was the fire or just late enough in the day, but I am walking pretty good and catch up to them at the high point of the ridge. From there we descend to a saddle where the road goes through. We climb the other mound and in a mile come to the road a second time. This time we follow the road for a quarter mile to the lookout.

Park Ridge Lookout

It is two years since we were here last. This is the lookout which Sherri and I would eventually like to staff as volunteers. But first we need to get trained.

We look around and then have a snack at the picnic table. Then it is walking back again. This time we will go back via the road. See some different sights. Also there is not as much uphill. But I get a wild hair and decide that I would go back via the trail till I hit the road again. I do see the sister lookouts for Park Ridge: Delilah and Buck Rock.

Buck Rock Lookout

I get to the road about 10 minutes before they do and walk back a little ways to them. From there, I rejoin them and walk the road. I have a short conversation with a man from Fresno. The talk was mostly about meandering an ambling along. Sort of reminds one of the book Walking by Thoreau, We quickly come to the gate blocking this lookout access road from general use. I wonder if the combination from last year works-yes. Then it is back to the car and off back to Grant Grove.

Mark and Steven in front of General Grant Tree

We stop to see if the pizza place is open-not yet. Looks like DNC will be incorporating it into the general restaurant. Then we go to the General Grant Tree-Mark had not been before. So we did a quick loop around that area. Then headed back to Fresno. But first we head to Dunlap to try out a new restaurant: Twin Valley. My estimation is that the food is about average. Some things are good, but mostly  stuff put together. We get back around 9pm.

Trail Lesson:

Be prepared! know the area.

Hike Info:

Type:  Hiking

Trail: Panorama Point

Destination:  Panorama Point

Distance: 0.66 miles

Start Time:  2:37

End Time:   2:59

Travel Time: 0:21 (1.90 mph)

Moving Time: 0:14 (2.85 mph)

Elevation Rise: 168'

Maximum Elevation: 7,420'

Hike Info:

Type:  Hiking

Trail: Grant Grove Tree

Destination: Grant Grove Tree

Distance: 0.52 miles

Start Time: 6:27
End Time:   6:58

Travel Time: 0:31 (1.00 mph)

Moving Time: 0:16 (1.94 mph)

Elevation Rise: 68'

Maximum Elevation: 6,446'

 

May 15, 2014 - Sub-Dome and back to car

Title: May 15, 2014 - Sub-Dome and back to car

Trail head: Little Yosemite Valley

Hike Info:

Type:  Hiking

Trail:  Half Dome

Destination: Sub-Dome

Distance:  7.10 miles

Start Time:   8:55

End Time:    2:50

Travel Time: 5:54 (1.20 mph)

Moving Time: 3:57 (1.80 mph)

Elevation Rise: 2,259'

Maximum Elevation:  8,100'

Description:

I slept well, albeit the bag seemed a little cold. But that was remedied by putting my socks on. By the time I got up Brian was already pacing about, the sun was shining and the hour hand had already passed by 7. It is a bright and beautiful morning. We decide that hoofing it up towards Half Dome was in our future. Brian is thinking about trying Clouds Rest. So we had our breakfast of oatmeal and toppings, along with Tang, coffee, tea and chocolate before getting to the trail around 9.

Half Dome and Sub Dome

Clouds Rest

By this time Brian had already decided to charge forward to do Clouds Rest. I realized there was no way I would keep up with him, so I decided to adopt the role of chief encourager to Bill and Jerry on our trip toward Half Dome. We realized that we would not make it that far, but would try to go at least as far as the base of Sub Dome. At the Clouds Rest junction, I walked a little ways with Brian, but then turned back around. We did see some scat, which we did not identify, but looking at a book I have, I think it was something like coyote.

Side of Tenaya Canyon courtesy of Bill

Jerry, Bill and I continue on our climb up the ridge leading towards Half Dome. Slowly the Quarter Domes come into view on our right, with the promise of more scenic glory to come. There is the appropriate sounds coming from our lips when we reach the ridge top and see out across Tenaya Creek. Pywiack Cascade takes center stage for his act with Mt Watkins across the way. We see Brian's objective, Clouds Rest in back of the Quarter Domes. Then further back, is the country towards the Tioga Pass Road. So good.

But the trail leads even more upward from here. Fortunately, the scenery only gets better. We stop often to take pictures and enjoy the sight before us. Not only to the north do we see, but towards the south and east. Mt Starr King directly to the south with the Merced River drainage to the east. There is a snow pack back there, but not for long.

Snow Creek courtesy of Bill

As we reach Sub Dome, we do see spots of snow in the shade, but not much. We turn aside and have a snack looking across the Tenaya Creek canyon. Snow Creek Falls is right across the way from us. You can see the trail zig-zagging down, just being glad we are not on it right now, but I our hearts wishing we could be. North Dome and Basket Dome are a pair facing us. It is wonderful to be here.

Tenaya Canyon

Half Dome from the side

I induce Jerry to go a little ways up Sub Dome. The ranger stationed at the bottom says that they are almost done putting up the cable on Half Dome. But we are only interested in seeing a little more of a view above tree level. Climbing up another 150' we get that view. The stairs are rather unnerving, so we do not go very far. But the view is so open to make things worthwhile.

We descend, enjoying the views retreat from  our view. But we savior them as they leave us. I finally find the spring I was looking for on the way up. Another tree had fallen and some rounds had been cut, block it from view. Also, the spring was more mud than bubbly, not nearly as appealing as it had been in previous years. 

View From from Sub-Dome

We also meet two backcountry rangers on a training hike. Ranger Kahn will be north of Tuolumne Meadows along the PCT. I pick her brain about places to go for later on this summer. The other ranger is stationed out of Merced Lake. Fun seeing these rangers up

here.

Clouds Rest from Ridge

We get back to camp close to 3. Lunch is PB, Nutella and crackers, plus leftover goodies. The water filter is almost coming to a stop. Later on when I open it up, it really has a lot of stuff on it. So it is time to replace it. Bill goes to the river and wets his feet and fills his bottle. Brian comes in at 3:15 after successfully conquering Clouds Rest.

Half Dome From Clouds Rest courtesy of Brian

Brian on top of Clouds Rest courtesy of Brian

Trail head: Little Yosemite Valley

Hike Info:

Type:  Backpacking

Trail: John Muir Trail

Destination:  Return back to car

Distance:  5.73 miles

Start Time:   4:04

End Time:    7:03

Travel Time: 2:58 (1.93 mph)

Moving Time: 2:35 (2.22 mph)

Elevation Rise:  326'

Maximum Elevation:  6,237'

Description:

After our semi-morning hike, it is time to return to the car. For the most part, the route is a repeat of our trip up. That is except for about half a mile right at the start. Instead of going by the river, go north and then take the diagonal. Brian and I see our Liberty. Cap path, about half-way on the diagonal, at its high point. Bill and Jerry have zoomed ahead while Brian and I lolly gag in back.

We hit the bridge over Nevada Falls, which confirms our thoughts that more water is flowing down the Merced than yesterday. The turbulence of the waters is mesmerizing, the violence of its rush over the side has a pull, but not an attraction. The rush contrasts with the stillness of the backdrop.

Liberty Cap courtesy of Bill

Jerry, Gary, Bill, Brian

But we need to go on since the hour is getting late and we want to be down before dark. Still Brian and I accosted some out of state folk and explained some of the wonders of Yosemite for about a mile. We even gave them some decent advice about what to do on a limited amount of time when close to Glacier Point. Wonder if they will ever come back to the Golden State? But just to show that I am a serial trail chatterer, I started talking with an English girl. She wanted to know about various parts of the Valley since she only had the next day to move on.

Brian was starting to feel the length of his hike, so he started to speed up. So I hiked with Bill and Jerry the rest of the way down. The car was a welcome sight when we come in around 7. On homeward we went, but nit before stopping at that Mecca of Oakhurst-Todd's! Perfect way to end our hike. Pleasantly content to make it back to Fresno by 10. The shower and bed felt good.

May 14, 2014 - Little Yosemite Valley

Title: May 14, 2014 - Little Yosemite Valley

Trail head: Happy Isles

Hike Info:

Type:  Backpacking

Trail: John Muir Trail

Destination: Little Yosemite Valley

Distance: 5.55 miles

Start Time:  11:16

End Time:     3:42

Travel Time: 6:26 (0.86 mph)

Moving Time: 2:55 (1.90 mph)

Elevation Rise: 2,589'

Maximum Elevation: 6,192

Bill

Description:
Got up a bit before 6 and had my quiet time until waking Sherri at 6:15. Then it is meal prep for our breakfast with Brian, Jerry and Bill. Sherri is making waffles for the hikers who arrive at 7. Everybody feels content and we leave Fresno by 7:45. So far a good start. We grab sandwiches at Oakhurst, where Heather waits on us-remember Heather? She is the one who finished cleaning up Sherri's and mine wine mess a month ago. Anyway, off we go to Wawona to pick up our permit and be off. But unfortunately Wawona cannot issue the permit-they are not fully open yet-Heidi is not here. So off we go to Yosemite Valley where we quickly get our permit from the Wilderness Office. 

But the end story on this, we do not get walking until 11:00-a lot later than I was hoping for.  The sun is already warming the Valley, but out walk from the backpackers parking lot to Happy Isles is under the shade of trees, which keeps down the heat and makes for easier walking. The first mile gets us to the foot bridge below Vernal Falls. This is a well known paved path for all of us. We are in pretty good shape.

Lunch Break courtesy of Brian

Half Dome, Mt Broderick, Liberty Cap

Here we start climbing up the John Muir Trail. None of us are interested in going up the Mist Trail, particularly with packs on. But the JMT has its scenic advantages as well. For one, as you climb, you get to enjoy the same scenes from different perspectives. Such as Yosemite Falls framed through trees or both Vernal and Nevada Falls  from side views with Half Dome, Liberty Cap and Mount Broderick all looking at you. Plus, the climb up is gentler, if you can call a 2,000' climb gentle. So it is at least easier on the body.

Nevada Falls

Top of Nevada Falls

At Clark's Point, we stop for our lunch. It is hot, but we have been mostly shaded. Most of our climb is out of the way. Still there is a two mile push to the top of Nevada Falls. Just about as you despair of reaching the top, you notice that you are almost level with Nevada. Then a gentle rise brings you to the cooling drip of the cliff where you enjoy the best view of Nevada which I have seen. As we pass the junction with the Panorama Trail, we drop down to the top of the Falls and enjoy a few moments of rest and energy bars under the shade of a tree.

Entering Little Yosemite Valley

Merced River

Now for a short 200' rise up past the junction of the Mist Trail and we are in Little Yosemite Valley. Brian wonders where the path up Liberty Cap is? We speculate about every little opening in the manzanita. But none of these are it. The comment is made that that is not something to do in shorts. The trail follows close to the Merced River, giving us both cooling to the skin and refreshment to the eyes. Before long, we cut off to the campground area. Our camp spot is #16.

Camp Courtesy of Brian

 The other men pitch their tents, but since the weather is good and the mosquito's are not out, I decided to sleep under the stars. It is still early, around 4:30, so we go to the beach to enjoy the cold Merced waters and the warmth of the sun. I had scooped up some water in my Base Camp filter, when it was noticed the filter was leaking. The "O" ring had gotten stretched and no long fit nicely. But we still got filtered water, but just several more trips to the river. After the last of our Subway sandwiches, Jerry breaks out the cards and we play hearts, well past when we should have. At 10, fold up and hit the sleeping bags and watch the almost full moon come out before going to sleep.