Aug 17, 2015 - Ostrander Lake

Title: Aug 17, 2015 - Ostrander Lake

Trail head: Lost Bear Meadows 

Hike Info:

Type:  Backpacking

Trail: Ostrander Lake

Destination: Ostrander Lake

Distance: 6.41 miles ¹

Start Time: 12:09

End Time:    5:44

Travel Time: 5:35(1.15 mph)

Moving Time: 3:42 (1.73 mph)

Elevation Rise: 1,816'

Maximum Elevation: 8,609'

 ¹When I laid out the tracks upon the map I noticed that around the time we saw the cub, the GPS jumped about a mile. It did not affect the mileages reported above.

Description:

Today is a day of change and frustration. I got up 6:20. We did not need to be on the trail early so sort of enjoyed a leisurely morning, including having my normal quiet time. Even took a shower, shouldn't every backpack trip start with a person being clean? Would not want to be a dirty old man in the outdoors. I weighed myself and my pack-243.2 and 37 lbs respectively.  Breakfast was done at home and we hit the road by 8:30,  We stopped in Oakhurst, as planned, to pick up sandwiches for lunch and dinner at Pete's Place.  I got a ham and cheese while Sherri a turkey sandwich

Now for the exercise in frustration. Oakhurst has a Forest Service office alongside the Oakhurst Visitor Information and Yosemite NPS desks-all in the same suite. Most of our trip will be in Yosemite. But the trail head is in the National Forest. So the Forest Service needs to issue it. Here is the catch, the Forest Service office is open Tuesday-Sunday. What is today? Monday, so the Forest Service is not open. But we can go 25 miles (turns out it is about 18 miles and 25 minutes one way)  back to North Fork to the other Forest Service office, even though there is a Yosemite ranger not 10' away from this, trying to be helpful. But rules are rules, so we would need to travel to North Fork if we want this permit.

So we considered this, and decided that with the day getting hotter, we would not be on the trail until 2:00pm. So we decided to go up to Wawona and see what was open there. Ranger Anton waited on us and after discussing options, including the water situation, we decided to do the old stand by, Ostrander Lake. We got to the Lost Bear Meadow Trailhead at 12:10 and were on the trail by 12:30.

Before we left there was a group of young men who were in the parking lot. Sherri talked with them and they said they were heading to Ostrander as well. We start a head of them and talked about when, not if, they would pass us.One thing we notice as we start our hike-it is hot! Forecast says 108 in Fresno. Can only imagine what it will be here. But we resolve to have our return trip earlier than later.

Lost Cub at Lost Bear Meadow

 At the 1.09 mile mark(N37° 39.127' W119° 36.094'), excitement reigned! Sherri is in the lead and there is a pretty large object being startled and climbing a tree. She, that is Sherri, hurriedly backs away. I have pretty much backed away after recognizing what this object is: a young cub. We wait awhile and the cub decides it must be safe. So what does he do? He comes down the tree-which is pretty awesome, and starts to meander down the trail-towards us. Noise is made and he turns around and exits the trail for parts unknown. After waiting around a few minutes, we decide it is safe to continue on. The one question remaining is, where is momma?

On the trail

What happens after all that excitement? You want to eat, of course! But where. In about 10 minutes we come to the Bridalveil Campground trail junction and have half of the sandwich from Pete's Place. Pretty good-but I thought the ones we had before was a bit more filling, but plenty of meat.  We continue down our familiar trail and come across the other trail junction, this one to Deer Camp. Being a traditionalist, and me being tired on the easy part of the trail, we stop for a gorp break. Checking my cheap thermometer, it is 92 degrees. Fairly warm.

Gary, the tired hiker

Now comes the part which I usually do ok and Sherri struggles with. But today, the roles are reversed. I am struggling.  The young men from the parking lot pass us up here-sort of surprises us since we figure it would be a lot sooner-maybe we are not doing too bad. We stop several times to rest, and I nap a couple of times. My confession is that I do not take in the beauty around me like I should, But we make it to the top of Horizon Ridge. Now only about a mile and a half more and 600' up.

Automated Snow Depth Gauge

On top of the ridge, we first see a white wash cloth, then a 100' later we see a blue jacket. We pick up the blue jacket, thinking it is one of the you men who passed us up. At one of our stops, Sherri goes off to heed nature's calling. When she comes back, a bit concerned. She had a beautiful view of the Illilouette drainage only to find out she was within sight of a contraption which she thinks has a web cam. How embarrassing! But I happen to know about this contraption-it is a snow measurement device and I reassure her it does not have a web cam-I think.

We meet Linda and her husband going down. Linda is a Yosemite range on patrol. She has been a ranger for 80 days and this is her first trip up to Ostrander. A bit long of a hike, but she is enjoying it. She takes the blue jacket as it was there before our young men.

Pondering the tent

We get to the lake and we and the young men are the only ones up there. So we have our choice of spots to camp at and we select one close to the outlet of Ostrander Lake, which is the beginning of Bridalveil Creek. Later another couple will come in and they will camp closer to the ski hut.  My tiredness continues and Sherri takes pity on me. She even puts up the tent and gets dinner ready-not much to get ready, just the remainder of the Pete's Place sandwiches. This is definitely role reversal. Sherri is finding her own sense of camp efficiency.

Ostrander Lake is always a place to enjoy. Tonight is no exception. We go over and enjoy the sunset and the coming darkness before turning in.

Ostrander Lake close to Sunset

Gary Contemplating the Day

Last of the Light

Goodnight Moon

Trail Lesson:

Have a fall back plan and know your area.

Breakfast	Lunch	Dinner	Snacks
At home	Pet's Place sandwiches	Pet's Place sandwiches	Clif Bar, Scratch GORP,