Gary-Summer: March 12, 2017 – East Yosemite Valley Loop

Sunday, March 12, 2017

March 12, 2017 – East Yosemite Valley Loop

Title: March 12, 2017 – East Yosemite Valley Loop

Hike Info : Description : Background : Extra Photo's : Animals

Trail head: Camp Curry Parking Lot

Hike Info:

Type: Hiking

Trail:Valley Loop Trail

Destination: Loop around Mirror Lake and Yosemite Falls

Distance: Approximately 12 miles ¹

Start Time:10:30am

End Time: 5:00pm

Travel Time: 6:30 (1.85 mph)

Moving Time: 5:00 (2.4 mph)

¹I still do not have my GPS, so no tracks, no mileage or elevation gain or time walked. So the above is guesses made upon other hikes.

Description:

Sherri and I are training for the California Classic Half Marathon-it is a run, but we will walk. Just trying to get down under 4 hours for 13.1 miles. So we set up a series of training walks with the our meetup group. We start out with about 20+ people who were interested, but only have 9 total on the walk. But it was a good group.

Staircase Falls

We had been up to Yosemite on Wednesday, March 8^th and there was about 3” of snow all across the Valley floor, so we were expecting some snow and lots of mud. Also Highway 41 into the park is closed until March 15^th (it actually opened on the evening of the hike), so we have another 30-45 minutes of travel. Still to see the beauty of Yosemite in the Winter. So we get to Camp Curry around 10:15 after a stop in Mariposa at the Burger King.

The air is cool, but clear. It will be a wonderful day to hike in a T-shirt. Staircase Falls is running nicely along the western face of Glacier Point. Because the trail looks a bit wet in places, we walk the road up to Happy Isles. We do our traditional stop there for relief. Things are looking up as much of the snow we saw a few days ago has gone and there is a niceness of standing in the sun.

Because the snow is gone, we pick up the Valley Loop Trail after crossing the Happy Isle Bridge. Robert is a bit ahead while Angel, Betty and I talk a bit. But nobody falls really behind. This is familiar territory and pleasantly away from the road, even though only Park vehicles go along that road. Few tourists know about this trail. We come out at the Tenaya Creek Bridge where we make a decision. That is to do the full loop around Mirror Lake rather than the more direct route. There will be muddy places, but what I have seen so far looks good, no more than what I have seen in other years.

Low end of Mirror Lake

I can tell that the legs are going to do ok, but I am carrying way too much weight. At least, the lungs thinks it needs more oxygen to continue movement. But this is the scenic part so there is lots of reason to stop and view Tenaya Creek. Below Mirror Lake, it rushes down over many rocks. But once we climb up to the “lake” itself, all is peaceful. It lives up to its name with good reflections of North Dome and Mt Watkins.

Reflective Pond

When we pass by a little pool, I wonder if anybody have read the The Chronicles of Prydain by Llyod Alexander. Reason? In The High King he talks about the Mirror of Llunet. Where Taran went to find out about himself. Does this small pool have that same qualities? I think not, it only reflects what it sees.

Tail end of Bobcat

But then the highlight of the day happened a little beyond Mirror Lake. I was a minute or so behind the lead when everybody stopped. “Why?” is the natural question? Then there was a little movement of a stripped tail, but a pretty big body. The head was behind a rock. My brother, from a distance, looked around on the other side and said, “bobcat!” Angel had spotted the cat on a hunt, maybe a mouse in the meadow below us. A few minutes passed and he stalked down passing in front of some trees, with his eyes on something. Then regained the trail behind us. Just breath taking. All were excited.

Bobcat on prowl

Sun coming over Half Dome

Ephemeral falls (not a name)

After the bobcat, it returns to the same old trail. You know, a trail with only the usual drop dead gorgeous sights such as looking up towards Half Dome and AhwiyahPoint and watching the sun gentle rise. Or Mt Watkins and Clouds Rest covered with snow. Nothing very spectacular at all. We stop for a few minutes on Tenaya Creek Bridge before moving on.

Mirror Lake with Mt Watkins

We reached the west side of Mirror Lake by 1:30. So we stopped for lunch. But one of the things which makes walking with the group is the conversation. Sometimes it is serious stuff about life. But today it started with Rocky and Bullwinkle. Of course, it de-generated into other characters-Boris and Natasha, Dudley Do-Right, and of course, Nell.


Trail on north side

After our PB and Nutella sandwiches, its time to hit the trail. Some people are in need of relief facilities which are about ½ to ¾ miles down the trail. So we rush along and make it in time to a lonely outhouse sort of halfway to no-where. Now it is time to make it to the Ahwahnee Hotel (Majestic Yosemite Hotel, if you prefer, I do not.) But first we start our walk along the northside of the Valley besides Indian Caves and WashingtonColumn. I think I our group is starting to tire a bit under the warm temperature. But there is a bit of relief to that as we have our gaze focused on Royal Arches and its Falls above us. There is no spray from the falls, but the runoff goes right down the trail. Most are able to go from rock-to-rock-to-tock without difficulty. But a few want to have a bit more stability to traverse our watery-way.

Royal Arches Falls

After Royal Arches, we hit the Ahwahnee, we do a quick walk through. The group confirms my thoughts about it being tired, so rather than continue to take the Valley Loop trail, we walk through Yosemite Village. It is a bit shorter and leveler. I draw attention to the Lost Arrow, Yosemite Falls and the Ranger's Club. But I was going to take them along the back way into the lower falls, but it is roped off as closed. So we go up to the base of the Lower Yosemite Falls. The trail has a layer of packed snow on it.

Middle Yosemite falls

Gary and the group

We return to the tram area where I give a choice: return to Camp Curry via the tram or walk the 2-3 miles back to the cars. Three take the tram. David, Sherri and I want to walk it and off we go with Rebecca, Betty and Keith. Now it is paved path and pretty level. We cross Cook's Meadow and the Merced River and come out at the Valley Chapel. For a short way we go up Southside Drive, then crossing over at Sentinel Bridge.

Half Dome from Cooks Meadow

Half Dome from Sentinel Bridge

Mystery Rings

A month ago I saw a piece in the Facebook Yosemite History group about some rings in a rock across from Sentinel bridge. The speculation was they were there to tie up horses, but others are thinking they may have helped support an early bridge. I am interested in finding them. David and I look for them while others go on. Eureka! There are the rings. Not sure what they were used for, but it was fun finding them.

Horsetail Falls

Now it is time to make for the cars. We pass the LeConte Memorial, Housekeeping, and the employee housing. Then David and I go into Camp Curry to see if the pizza place is open-it is not. But when we get back to the car, the group has already decided to eat at Happy Burger in Mariposa. So we pile into our cars and head on out. By the time we get back to Fresno, it is 8pm. A good day of walking.

Background

Horsetail Falls is one of those ephemeral falls which many Spring comes down from the side of El Capitan. During sunset in February, Horsetail captures the redness of the sun, making the falls look like it is on fire. A natural fire fall.

Extra Photo's