October 11, 2015 - Wawona Meadow and Mariposa Grove Trail

Title: October 11, 2015 -  Wawona Meadow and Mariposa Grove Trail

Trail head: Wawona Ranger Station

Hike Info:

Type:  Hiking

Trail: Wawona Meadow Loop, Mariposa Grove Trail and its connector

Destination:Loop

Distance: 7.09 miles

Start Time:  1:18

End Time:    5:36

Travel Time: 4:17 (1.65 mph)

Moving Time: 3;14 (2.19 mph)

Elevation Rise: 1,421'

Maximum Elevation: 5,110'

Description:

Wawona Meadow Tail

A beautiful day and its my wife's birthday to boot. So what do we do today? Go to church. And then what? Well, go hiking of course! That is Sherri's wish. We manage to leave Fresno a little after 11 and get to Wawona around 12:30. This is of course, after we get Sherri's permanent pass into the National Parks. One of the perks of growing up.

Birthday girl talking with Rachel

By the time we take care of business and get going it is after 1pm. But that is OK. The only thing is it is a hot October day. Another reason is we got to talk with Ranger Tucker on a mount. We talked for a while and as he was going, I asked about Mt Savage and if there are trails up to the top. He said there is a social trail which may be hard to find among the autumn needle and leave drop. In any case, stick to the ridges going up.

 The first part of our trail is around Wawona Meadow. It is a nice walk with only a little and up and down as we cross places where water has carved out a ravine. But we get views, across the way, including Wawona Dome and where Chilnualna Falls usually is. We walk at a fast, but nice pace-sort of sounds like a contradiction in terms, doesn't it?  We have a quick bite for lunch then off again, enjoying the shade and fall colors. Then our walk gets interrupted, not by one, but two calls wishing Sherri a Happy Birthday. The first is our daughter Rachel. The second is Sherri's childhood friend, Margaret. Don't these people know when we are enjoying a walk? (Said with a smile).

Water and Leaves

Prescribed Burn close to road

The conversations go on until we hit the far end of the meadow where we will turn off of the well worn trail. We stop while Sherri finishes up a conversation. Then head up towards the trail which will lead to Mariposa Grove.  The rising up is easy, even some flat places. I have not been on this trail before, so it is of interest to me. I can say there is nothing spectacular, just pleasant, including being surprised when we come across water in an unnamed creek. As we come close to highway 41, which leads into Wawona, we see the results of a prescribed burn-there has been a series of prescribed burns in the area over the past several years.

After we cross Highway 41, we come to the junction with the trail going from Wawona to Mariposa Grove. I do not know if the trail has a formal name or nor. I hiked it a year ago September when Karol made me a hike leader. So I cannot say I am vastly familiar with it, just been on it before.

Sherri

It is three o'clock, but Sherri wants to go on, so what can I say? It is her birthday. So we go up the trail for about an hour. She was hoping for some grand view, but this is not that kind of trail. So we need to content ourselves with enjoying the air, the trees, the mountain misery and each other. At the hour mark, we say it is time to go back. We are getting kind of hungry and it will start to turn dark by the time we get back.

Besides, the Park has Mariposa Grove closed this year and next for renovations. Maybe another day when we get an early start and are in a little bit better shape. One place we stop on the way down and I get out a book and start reading. After awhile I tell Sherri to go on ahead. I then realize that it has been more than just a few minutes since I told her that. So I skedaddle down and catch up to her right before the trail junction. Panic was starting set in on my part about where was Sherri going to go there. But I should not have feared as she would have gone the right way.

As we head on down, we realize we need a bit more energy. So out comes the jelly bellies, Luna bar and granola bar. I am sure each are highly nutritious, but they do provide for temporary energy and contentment. The path down towards Wawona is wide, like maybe part of an old road or something. The two of us can walk across from each other and talk. I am thinking how wise I was not to have gone up this like I did a year ago.

Around 5:30, we get back to the car and then move on to our dinner at Alice's, which used to be Todd's in Oakhurst. We make it back to Fresno by 7:30, a bit tired. Still our bodies do not hit the bed until 11pm.