Title: October 18, 2014 - East Yosemite Valley Loop
Trail head: Curry Village Parking Lot
Hike Info:
Type: Hiking
Trail: East Yosemite Valley Loop
Destination: loop
Start Time: 11:11
End Time: 5:15
Travel Time: 6:03 (2.14 mph)
Moving Time: 5:09 (2.52 mph)
Elevation Rise: 1,170'
Maximum Elevation: 4,306'
1Matt's GPS read 13.7 miles; my initial reading before removing the "slow" times was 13.2 miles.
Description:
This is the first time I'm hiking with Karol in awhile and I am looking forward to it-this does not count my Wawona hike. I am a bit apprehensive-my schedule lately has not allowed me to get up to the mountains to hike-doing fire lookout does not count since that is much more sedentary. But anytime you get up to the mountains, it is a real blessing, so there is many things I am excited about: the hike, the people and the Fall colors.
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| Fall Colors on Tenaya Creek |
We met at Kohl's at 8 and stop at Starbucks in Oakhurst around 9. There we pick up two more hikers: Nat and Stephanie, making us a group of 17. I am not driving as both my wife and my son needs cars. So Matt G is taking Dana and myself. We hit Yosemite Valley after 10. Some of our travel discussion was about places in Yosemite where it would be suitable to intern a person's ashes. We park at Camp Curry and take care of some basic human needs. So by the time we get moving, it is after 11.
Steve B takes the lead. Karol is having some shoulder issues so she will be cutting short her hike. We take off for Happy Isles. This is the normal hike along the paved path. When we reach Happy Isles, we don't stop. Here we go under the cliffs of Half Dome-Grizzly Peak. It is a dirt trail and here we start noticing the Fall colors. The frondescence are just starting to turn from their greens to yellows on the broad leaf trees.
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| Our Trail |
When we hit the Mirror Lake trail junction, we discuss going up there, but our hike today is long enough without including this diversion, so we head off towards the Ahwahnee Hotel. Spirits are high and conversation flow. I enjoy talking with Cindy, Nafisa, and Theng Theng. Several people have not been to the Ahwahnee so it is an eye opener for them. Maybe not the splendor of the building, but how the building blends in with the Valley and the walls just magnifies the buildings aesthetics.
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| Before Yosemite Falls |
But there is not much time to stop and gawk as there is a trail to be walked, hopefully before dark. So we continue on the loop. This goes above the Valley by a couple hundred feet, which does some things for us:
- Opens up the canopy, letting in light
- Gives us views of the Valley
- The trees are now oaks and we feel the chaparralness of the area
- It is warmer.
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| Yosemite Falls-Dry |
So several of us shed the outer layers of clothes. Now the wisdom of Duran comes into play because I had shed my outer clothes back at the car and was feeling comfortable now. But the sights looking west compensate for the temporary warmth. By this time it is only Karol, Beth, Dana and myself at the rear. The main group has lost contact with us. So we continue on to the Falls. I should say the wet spot on the rock cliff because falls creates a picture of water pouring down. But we do not see the rest of our group so we continue on to the bathrooms. Still no group. Where did they go to? After looking around for awhile, here comes the group, coming from the direction of the shuttle.
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| Half Dome |
We stop do have lunch-I break out my bear canister of Nutella Brownies, much appreciated by the group. Then it is time to say goodbye to those returning back. We are eleven hikers now and going on towards El Capitan bridge. I was not expecting to go this far west-note to Gary: read the hike description rather than assume. But I am feeling good and so on we go. Steve takes the lead and navigates us through woods and Meadow, along the side of the Merced and the cliffs of the Valley. He sets the pace and I am the sweep.
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| Climbers |
We pass through Camp 4 before crossing Northside Drive. This brings us to the remains of the Merced which in places looks like it is barely flowing. When we come close to El Capitan, I spot some climbers-a ranger later on tells me there is 15 parties on this face, but I only spot two of them. I do start to understand the settings on binoculars and why you care about the field of view.
We finally come to the bridge, crossing the Merced and now are 4 1/2 miles from Camp Curry, the home stretch. Dana's new shoes are starting to give her problems. By the time we reach the Four Mile Trail junction she is in pain and she stops at Swinging Bridges-we will pick her up later. Matt and I continue on, catching up with the group shortly after.
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| El Capitan |
I am at the back again, but we are now nearing the end, only a mile and a half away from the car. I am joined by Cindy and Stefanie as we do the final leg of our walk. I can feel the effects of the 13 miles. The right hip is starting to feel a bit sore-it will feel more sore the next day. We pull in well behind everybody else, but are victorious in finishing the hike. Matt swings around and picks up Dana and we meet the group in Oakhurst at the Southgate Brewery. We reach Kohl's at 9pm, tired but good.
Trail Lesson:
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| Half Dome |
The trail is long, enjoy the now and do not worry about catching up.
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