Gary-Summer: July 9, 2015 - Ostrander Lake to Trailhead

Thursday, July 9, 2015

July 9, 2015 - Ostrander Lake to Trailhead

Title: July 9, 2015 - Ostrander Lake to Trailhead

Trail head: Ostrander Lake

Hike Info:

Type: Backpacking

Destination: Ostrander Trailhead on Glacier Pt Road

Distance: 6.20 miles ¹

Start Time: 10:10

End Time: 2:18

Travel Time: 4:07 (1.51 mph)

Moving Time: 2:58 (2.09 mph)

Elevation Rise: 297'

Maximum Elevation: 8,584'

¹I did not turn on the GPS until we had traveled about a quarter mile.

Description:
I woke up to the sounds of thunder, and then a streak of light. But all was dry. So I took care care of business and started getting camp ready to leave. Rose got up shortly afterwards. She said that she was seeing lighting as early as 4:30am. Some place around 6:30 the lighting started coming closer. Then hail came. We quickly grabbed our breakfast and retreated to the tents to wait out the storm.

But the storm will be trying our patience. The hail keeps coming. So did the lighting. Some strikes being followed immediately by the booming sound of thunder-no 2 second wait on these. Got out of the tent to scrap hail from it and the scene which greeted me was a winter wonderland. White everywhere, about two inches thick. After scrapping the hail off the tent and checking on Rose, I quickly scampered back onto the tent. It is noticeably colder than when I got up this morning.

Now it is a matter of waiting out the storm. I read and write a bit, but mostly try to be comfortable, make Sherri comfortable and avoid the water which is starting to seep through the bottom of the tent. Note to Gary: Got to figure out how to do the ground cloth a bit better.

About 9 the storm lets up and we all emerge from our wet world to see what damage greets us. Checking my whistle thermometer, it says 38 degrees. Besides about 2 inches of snow around and wet tents, everything looks pretty good. While our tent floor is wet, Rose has a lake under her tent. Her comment is that she knew things were not good when the crocs came floating by. So her first order of business is to dig a trench and drain the water-which goes on for at least an hour of draining.

While things are settling down so we can pack, Rose and I walk over to the lake and take a look. Just gorgeous with the ground all white and Horse Ridge above the lake spotted with snow and the steam rising from the waters.

While the storm seems to have passed, the skies are still bleak so we start to pack. The big concern is getting down Horizon Ridge if the lighting reappears. It is a magnet for for lighting. There is a cooperative spirit with us all, each helping to put away sopping wet tents, not being too concerned with particulars about what is whose. More interested in getting packed. Around 10 we start off, passing the ski hut and stopping to take a picture of the three of us.

Gary pondering the view

We go a short ways, over the hump which gets us on top of Horizon Ridge. There is a little path which takes you to a great overlook of the Illilouette drainage and beyond. From our vantage point, we see Half Dome and beyond that, Mt Hoffman. Rose asks me about a couple of granite mounds at the end of the Clark Range, and I am not sure without a map what they are-when we get home, I see that I knew what they were-MT Starr King. Then Sherri looks around and sees a column of white at the base of the Clark Range, close to Illilouette Creek area. Turns out it is a fire, called the Clark Fire. There is a lot to gawk at, but after awhile, it is time to turn and go.

The View - look at the right side, there is a little cloud. That is the Clark Fire.

Half Dome and Hoffman

Clark Fire

Even though snow covered, the trail is easy to follow. With just a little bit of picking our way, we manage to go down it without slipping and sliding, or even falling. On the way down, we meet a ranger and volunteer. They check our bear canister and permit. We tell them about the fire-not terribly confident that they will report it. We stop for a break just before dropping off the side of Horizon Ridge. At this point, we have taken off our rain gear. While we are resting the couple who was camped by us comes through and we stop and talk. He is from San Francisco; she from Barcelona. Early she was wondering if it would continue to rain? Probably so. Now she says that weather is following her: she has got to experience both summer and winter weather in Yosemite and in San Francisco she had fog, clouds, sunshine and wind. Sounds sort of normal tome. Next stop on their itinerary is the Grand Canyon.

Ghost Forest

I think we all are feeling less than energetic. But that is fine-it is downhill. After the rain, even the ghost forest looks refreshed. We retrace yesterday's steps back to our traditional break log. Sort of funny, we made as good of time going up the hill yesterday as going down. Only thing is today I am not the slow one. As we go across the flatter areas, we get rained on again. Out comes the rain gear and it motivates us to keep moving. And moving we do. Our speed picks up-either because of the flatness or rain or we want to get back to the cars, I am not sure. We do hear a helicopter. Not sure if it is a rescue or fire watch air craft.

Around 2:15 the cars come into sight. A good relief. You know that sign we made fun of yesterday? The one which I said was wishful thinking? It said Trail is Covered By Snow. I guess the people who put up the signs know better than I do. We climb into our cars and head south to Oakhurst and Alice's restaurant. For some reason, I was not able to eat my chicken melt. Not so much sick, but just unable to eat. But the ladies did not have that problem and enjoyed their meals. We hit Fresno around 5pm, content and all. P.S.: After book group that evening, I was able to finish my sandwich, all satisfied.