September 27, 2014 - Mariposa Grove to Wawona

Title: September 27, 2014 - Mariposa Grove to Wawona

Trail head: Mariposa Grove

Hike Info:

Type:  Hiking

Trail: Wawona to Mariposa Grove

Destination: Wawona

Actual Destination: Mariposa Grove

Distance: 7.41 miles

Start Time:  9:18

End Time:    1:00

Travel Time: 3:42(2.00 mph)

Moving Time: 3:14 (2.29 mph)

Elevation Rise:  2,272'

Maximum Elevation: 6,029'

Description:
Today is a day of changes. I am going to be hiking with Karol, of Snow Creek fame, and I am really looking forward to it. The idea is to do a nice hike starting at Mariposa Grove in Yosemite and go down to Wawona with shuttle service provided by Yosemite. Such a plan. I had not been on this trail before and was looking forward to doing this connector trail. There is some weather coming through today and Sunday which may bring snow at the higher elevations and definitely some wind and rain.

But first, there was a few things which happened even before going to the 7am meeting place at Kohl's. The first is I could not sleep past 4am-not sure why. But at least I am at Kohl's by 7, but without my iPad. Why is that important? Well, that is where I had loaded my maps of the area. But that is ok since I am just a passenger on this hike, not the captain. Jody and Dana  indicate they are interested in doing a round trip on the hike instead of a one way. That sounds interesting, but it makes more sense to start at Wawona and hike up instead of hiking down and trudging back up again. So John joins us on this and we also pick up Kurt and Alec as they decide to accompany us, but Scott and Julia's family decide to stick to the original plan. 

In Oakhurst, Karol hears of our "mutiny" and considers that she will be going on a hike on Sunday and she has some need to be back in Fresno in the afternoon (looking at Facebook, those "needs" were cute and young), she decides to go back to Fresno and appoints me the leader of the hike. After she leaves, I realize a couple of things:

1. I have never hiked this trail.
2. I think I know where to start on the Wawona side, but am not completely sure.
3. My maps are on my iPad-you know the iPad I forgot.
4. I hope I can remember the trails from me looking over the map last night.

Incoming Clouds

When we get to Wawona we separate out between the round-trippers and the one-wayers. The one-wayers go to the shuttle bus while I have five people following me, like I know where we are going. I start by going in back of the historic Wawona Lodge and find the Moore Cottage. Sure enough, there is a sign which says Mariposa Grove. How easy it is to look like I know where I am going.


The trail starts off a bit steep. But the conversation keeps everybody's minds off of going up. As it turns out we average about 500' per mile climb. Sometimes the trail does level out and sometimes it goes up enough to cause some perspiration on my part. But the day is cool, actually a bit cold like just before a storm is going to hit. Clouds cover the sky with the sun peeping out occasionally. I do not think it is that cold, probably low to mid 50's, but compared to Fresno a few days ago, it is cold enough. It does keep up hiking well.

Wawona Meadow

Also there is good tree cover with low manzanita.  After about 2 miles, we get to a trail junction with no markings. Both sides look equally probable and I cannot remember exactly what the map says. So I go up the trail 100 yards and say to go follow me towards the road. The trail does come close to the road, but then starts back up the ridge we have been climbing-I choose wisely! The other trail goes down to a 7th Day Adventist camp close to Swinging Bridges.

This is not a trail with great views. It's pleasantness comes more in the form of appreciating the surroundings of pine and cedars with manzanita growing along the path. We also see steam from an earlier sprinkle rising from a downed tree as it warms up. But we do come to some openings where we can look across the valley to a ridge. Also Wawona Meadows shows what a little moisture will do for it, as there is now touches of green while three weeks ago it was all brown then.

Grizzly Giant

As we travel up and around the ridge leading towards Mariposa Grove, the woods change to feature more dogwoods. Dana comments that this area would look pretty with flowers; my return reply is come back in May when the dogwood blossoms are out. Along in this section we meet Scott and Julia and their family and enjoy crossing paths with them.

The sky continues to threaten, but so far no rain. The others are bundled up, but I am down to shorts and T-shirt. The hiking keeps me warm enough. We get to the Mariposa Grove Outer Loop Trail. Yipee, we are at the top. Now it is just an up and down walk for a ways. We make another choice. Since we are going to come back again, we decide to go to the California and Grizzly Giant Trees, about the same distance as to the parking lot.

I feel the awe which I get whenever I come in contact with these big trees, even though there is enough people around that any semblance of solitude is lost. Just enjoying the oldness and largeness of them, wondering what they have seen through the ages and if they could think, what would they think of us? I suspect it would be similar to what we think of ants.

But now we feel a few drops and there is sentiment to take the shuttle back. But instead of going down from the Grizzly Giant, we go back to the junction and take the Outer Loop trail to the parking lot, just short of a mile, From there we wait for about 15 minutes for the next shuttle and enjoy the ride back to Wawona. We realized how much we walked today and how enjoyable, but tiring it was. At the car we say farewell to Kurt and Alec and then depart ourselves to Kohl's. It was a bit early for stopping in Oakhurst.

It has been a good day and glad I have not mislead the group on my virgin outing with the Central Valley Hiking Meetup Group.  I felt strong and enjoyed the experience. I think the group did as well. Not bad for a junior organizer.






Trail Lesson:
We hike to enjoy, speed is secondary.