May 9, 2014 - Hetch-Hetchy to Wapama Falls

 Title: May 9, 2014 - Hetch-Hetchy to Wapama Falls
  

Trail head: O'Shaughnessy Dam

Hike Info:

Type:  Hiking

Trail: Wampa Falls

Destination:Wampa Falls

Distance: 4.43 miles

Start Time:  8:54

End Time:   1:08

Travel Time: 4:14 (1.05 mph)

Moving Time: 2:35 (1.72 mph)

Elevation Rise: 830'

Maximum Elevation: 4,066'

Description:
5:00am! Even I think this is early. But we have a bit of a drive today to Hetch-Hetchy. Fortunately we are catching a ride with John and Cathey, which we are thankful for. We are still a bit tired from our Denver trip. But the drive over is good, with pleasant chit-chat. As we get close to Hetch-Hetchy, we see some of the effects of last year's Rim fire. Not as bad as it was made out to be-not burnt to the ground. Still the amount of acreage which this fire damaged was considerable.

O'Shaughnessy Dam.

We get to the parking lot by the dam around 8:30, but loiter around the dam gawking at what used to be a valley on the scale of Yosemite Valley. We see Wapama Falls flowing from the far side of the valley's walls. The water some how does not seem natural, particularly with the lower water level leaving a bathtub ring around the valley. Even with that, Hetch-Hetchy reminds us what Yosemite would be like without crowds. There are ten of us from our meetup group, and their is still ample parking when we start out. We will see several other people today, including a group from the UC who are part of the trail crew in Yosemite and are earning credits towards a class.

Hetch-Hetchy

The hike starts with a walk across O'Shaughnessy Dam. Then there is a hundred yard tunnel which leads us through a solid rock wall. Lights are strung, still with my old eyes, it is a bit hard to see the ground. We avoid the water puddles, some stretching across the width of the tunnel. But when we emerge, the whole of Hetch-Hetchy is before us. We are able to look up towards the end of the reservoir,until it snakes around a corner, where the Grand Canyon of the Tuolumne lies.

Sherri on the wide trail

The trail itself is nice and wide for a ways. We are able to walk two or three abreast. Was this a road at one time? After three-quarters of a mile, the track narrows to a single person trail. Here we start to rise, but not much, and we go down, but not much. A pretty good path just to enjoy the scenery on. Enough to keep your mind on the walk, but not enough to distract from looking across to Hetch-Hetchy. I am tagging along the back end of things. Even John is up ahead of me. But Shawn, Rose, Sherri and Jerry K are all keeping me company. Several places we stop and shoot wildflowers, butterflies, mountains and falls.

Tueeulala Falls

There is an impressive, unnamed trickle coming down the north side of the mountain. Wonder what this place would look like in a wet year? Water falling like curtains I bet. A little to the east is a taller trickle-this one has a name: Tueeulala Falls. But the main event comes at the end of our walk: Wapama Falls. During wet times, this walls sweeps across the bridge, making it dangerous for walking on it. But today, we hardly get a spray. A little beyond the falls, the trail is closed due to a rockslide earlier this Spring.

Wapama Falls

We enjoy a leisurely time here before heading back on the same trail. This time, instead of seeing the exit of the Grand Canyon of the Tuolumne, we see the Dam. This time, it is only Shawn and I who are lollygagging towards the end of the pack. Shawn takes more pictures than me. But she has an eye for beauty and perspective which I cannot match.

Wapama Falls

Hetch-Hetchy

As I am walking, I wonder about this place. Would it be better to let the water out, sort of re-corking the genie? There will be a ring around the place for many a year, plus the mud at the bottom of Hetch-Hetchy will be there for a long time. I doubt I would ever be able to walk on this valley's floor. But would it be worthwhile for my children and theirs? That is the question. But to see this valley like Muir saw it would be fabulous. As I learned Saturday, do not judge the past by today's knowledge, but learn from what they did and not allow another to take place.

We gather back at the car and go up the road a ways to a place called Evergreen Lodge. We invade the place and seat ourselves out on the porch. A woman by the name of Sierra waits on us.  She goes with the banter and even throws in a few of her own; we all enjoy the time. She even smiles as we leave-or is it because we are leaving? We make it back to Fresno a little before 6:30. A very long, but enjoyable day.

Kolana Rock on the right

Hetch-Hetchy, Kolana Rock on right, Wapama Falls on left