Gary-Summer: 2022

Saturday, December 24, 2022

December 24, 2022 - Yosemite the Day Before Christmas

Title: December 24, 2022 - Yosemite the Day Before Christmas

Hike Info : Description : Background : Extra Photo's

Hike Info:

Type: Hiking

Trail head: Seventh Day Adventist Camp at Wawona

Trail: Swinging Bridge

Destination: Swinging Bridge

Actual Destination: Swinging Bridge and beyond

Distance: 1.30 miles 1

Elevation Rise: 360'

Descent: 360‘

Maximum Elevation: 4,209'

¹I did not GPS this trip. So the figures and map are calculated based upon Google Earth. Looking at the map, I think we did about a quarter mile farther, but this is the last picture I have with coordinates.

Description:

This blog entry is a bit more than the night before Christmas and all through the house entry. For one, not everything was quiet and definitely there were creatures stirring. So this entry will include the night before the “night before Christmas” through Christmas.

Andrea, Rachel, Edrees, Friday and Lawrence came in Friday afternoon, joining Steven, Korra, Sherri and myself in Fresno. Sherri had previously made bierocks. So that is dinner tonight. Then off we go to the Fresno Chaffee Zoo for its Illuminature. This is an update to the previous Zoo Lights. Instead of outlines animals in lights, these are lighted forms, almost like a blown up colored nylon animal or plant. Very well done. We had met Rachel’s friend Joseph and his partner. We stayed from after seven to the end of the night, nine. Well worth the night there.

Walking to Swinging Bridge

Saturday David is coming up from Eureka. So he will join us this evening. But we will be taking a day trip to Yosemite. We have been in conversation with my best man’s wife. Their daughter, Moriah, is in Yosemite, at Wawona meeting a friend-turns out that friend is the one who was at the entrance station this morning. We left a bit later than expected, around 9:40, which puts us at Wawona a little after 11. After coordinating where we were to meet, we got the joy of seeing Moriah.

Dam on South Fork of Merced

She had a couple of hours and was interested in a hike. Where to go? Well, there is the Wawona Meadow Loop. But Moriah just did that one. Or Alder Creek, but that is a bit long, also she just did this trail yesterday. There is an easy hike just down the road, up the South Fork of the Merced. So we will do this one.

The Family

We drove up the road to the Seventh Day Adventist camp. There is a parking lot across from there, where we park. We follow a service road up the river. We note the burnt trees from the Washburn Fire, but it is not as bad as I feared. The walk is easy and we quickly get to Wawona’s Swinging Bridge. We enjoy the view, both up and down the river. Up the river we see snow on the south side. We enjoy also the bridge swaying a bit as well as bouncing.

Sherri leading the pack

This was a pretty short walk and we all felt like we wanted to go on. There is a deer track, or maybe just a worn piece of ground. Or it could be part of the 100 year old trail which Tony Krizan once described. There are some up and downs, but none are more than 20-30’ variation.

Returning to the car

It is a pleasant walk. We stop often to look over the river, even seeing an old dam. I have wondered if this was a recent development or does it date back to the Washburns when they ran the Wawona Hotel. It looks like it may have been made to divert water for their ranching operations in Wawona Meadow.

We cross a small creek, head up a hill and over dale and down another ravine. When we reach the top of this small ridge, we come across a series of downed trees. I see we could continue on, but I asked how far do people want to go on for? There is a general consensus that we have had a good time stretching our legs. So this is a good place to turn around.

We pretty much return the way we came. The sun is on our side of the river and it is a nice walk back. There are a place or two which turned a bit slippery. But besides a knee which got banged, we navigated the trail without mishap. We cross the bridge and walk back to the car. The Fresno group has our lunch. Moriah will probably eat when she gets back to her friend's cabin. But we all are enjoying each other's company, so we do not break up very fast. Eventually, we all hug Moriah and bid her farewell.

And now our group is off to Yosemite Valley. By the time we get there, it should be about 3pm. Just enough time to drive around the Valley and marvel at the snow. First we stop at Tunnel View. This is a stop which Sherri and I avoid half the time. But it is well worth stopping today. Crowded but we do find a parking spot. Around the overlook, the snow has been well packed and is a bit icey. So the two older folks proceed with caution. But the view is worth it. Bridalveil is running well. Silver Strand is frozen which provides a different aspect to a Yosemite fall. I do not see Ribbon though. The sun is glancing off of El Cap and Half Dome.

We continue on down into the Valley. The road is clear of snow, but the Floor is covered. Just a beautiful sight.We go up the southside of the Valley at a leisurely pace, allowing us to take in the Valley walls. We circle past Curry Village and stop at Stoneman Meadow to enjoy the view of Half Dome. By now, the sun is getting lower and we start our way out of the Valley, going along the Northside. There is a line of cars with the same idea. But we are one of the few with the idea of stopping at the El Capitan Picnic Area. Definitely not to picnic, but there is an outhouse there. Not only that, but this area has a great view of Horsetail Falls. In two months, if there is sunlight, it will be a prized shot from this location. The sun’s rays refract, turning the falls into a golden red at sunset. Today, it is the rock of El Cap which has turned golden.

And with this, we leave the Valley. By the time we get to Chinquapin, it is dark. We stopped at Wawona for a bathroom break. Then on to Fresno. David makes it to our house 15 minutes before we arrive. We arrived at 6:35. After unpacking David, we have an assortment of food for dinner: clam chowder from Humboldt, salad and left overs. It is good to have family all in one place.

Background

Service Road. After we walked up the road and crossed over. Steven noted a retaining all near the small dam across the South Fork of the Merced. In looking at Google Earth after our walk, you can see where the service road continued on to where the dam is.

Archie Leonard Trail 1914

This trail extends from the Wawona Ranger Station paralleling the South Fork of the Merced River for several miles, then bears to the left to the main Buck Camp trail at the Buck Camp Ranger Station. This trail is named in honor of Ranger Archie Leonard, as a slight recognition of his many years of faithful service in Yosemite National Park. He was a guide for the U. S. Troops and later ranger with the National Park Service. When the Troops came to take over the protection of the Yosemite National Park, he was assigned as scout and guide for the Troops. During the winter months when the troops were out of the park, Archie and Charles Leibig took over the responsibilities of patrolling and keeping law and order. It is thought Leonard first blazed this trail in the early 1900’s. He was one of the “First Rangers” in Yosemite.

From Chapter V in Pathways: A Story of Trails and Men (1968), by John W. Bingaman.

Extra Photo's

Rachel in the Kaleidoscope

Butterflies and Bubbles

In the Zoo, the Lion Sleeps Tonight

South Fork of the Merced

South Fork of the Merced-above the bridge

Yosemite Valley from Tunnel View

Glacier Point from Stoneman Meadow

South Fork of the Merced

Edrees and Rachel on Swinging Bridge

Snow on the south side of the river

Crossing the Swinging Bridge

Sherri on the Swinging Bridge

Dam across the South Fork of the Merced

Sherri crossing a small creek

Andrea walking a log

Our group

Sherri going down a slope

Sherri coming down a slick slope

Moriah

Going back to the car

Love

All on the swinging bring

Yosemite Valley from Tunnel View

Frozen Silver Strand

Steven and Yosemite Valley

Rachel and Edrees at Tunnel View

El Capitan and Horsetail Falls

Rachel, Edrees and Half Dome

Steven and Half Dome

Saturday, November 26, 2022

November 26, 2022 - Hitchcock Meadows

Title: November 26, 2022 - Hitchcock Meadows
Hike Info : Description : Extra Photo's

Hike Info:

Type: Hiking

Trail head: Big Stump Parking Lot

Trail: Hitchcock Meadow Trail, Sunset Trail

Destination: Hitchcock Meadow

Actual Destination: Beyond to a ridge above Sequoia Creek

Distance: 2.53 miles

Start Time: 9:55

End Time: 1:10

Travel Time: 3:14 (0.78 mph)

Moving Time: 2:25 (1.05 mph)

Elevation Rise: 516'

Descent: 500‘

Maximum Elevation: 6,349'

GPS Tracks

Description:

Carol, Emily and Sherri on trail

In October I was talking with Carol at a potluck. She mentioned she and Emily liked to go for a hike around Thanksgiving day. I indicated I would like to tag along. When Sherri talked with her in November, they planned to go out on the Saturday after Thanksgiving. We went to Hitchcock Meadow in September. Evidently this trip stuck with Sherri,because that is where the women planned on going

More of Emily, Carol and Sherri

Sherri and I left our house at 8 and picked up Emily and Carol about 8:30. Then it is off to Big Stump. I asked if anybody wanted to stop at Clingman’s Junction for coffee. Evidently that was not a winner of a suggestion. But right after we pass by, I see Micah running along 180. Micah is one of our fellow fire lookouts.

Surprisingly the Big Stump Parking Lott is not very full. But there is something which I did not think about: snow covers our trail. I asked if anybody is concerned about this? Not unless the snow is deep. I love these women! We get ready and start walking a few minutes before 10.

Our first obstacle is right after we leave the parking lot. The trail drops by ten feet on very packed snow/ice, making things potentially slippery. We all make it down and start our walk. I am not sure why, but I start us off down the trail. It is relatively easy to see where we are going-people have already trampled down the trail. The operative word here is down. The trail leads us down. We stop occasionally just to admire what we are walking through. Big Stump does not have a monopoly on large stumps. We pass by some, too many when you consider how majestic they must have been 150 years ago.

Gary and Emily

I do watch my step. Even though the footing is solid I know it would be easy to slip. We come to Hitchcock Meadow, which is also covered by snow. There is a sense of plainness to this view, which is also pleasant to the eye. There is a pool and a stump, along with a few Sequoias scattered around. We gaze at this view for a while before deciding what to do next. We have three choices. First, just go back to the car. Second, continue on with this trail, and lastly cross the meadow and pick up the Forest Service road on the other side of the meadow. We decided to continue on this trail since we are energetic.

Bearing Sign

This is the Sunset Trail and eventually it would end up at Grant Grove. I do not think we will be traveling that far today. But the sun is out, the trail is obvious and the company is enjoyable-at least I enjoy them.

Reflection in pool: Hitchcock Mdw

We follow the trail, sometimes snow covered, other times we walk on bare ground. The trail rolls along with the terrain. One of our stops is a trail back up to the General’s Highway. It will meet with a road to the Needle Dump and then continue up to Park Ridge as the Azalea Trail. A fragrant trail in late June, early July.

When we stop for a few minutes, we spot a sign in the distance. Too far away to read, but too close to ignore.I satisfy my curiosity by taking off to figure out why they posted this sign so far off the trail. What does the sign say? Do not disturb the bearing tree I look around, wondering what they were taking a bearing off of. And there it is, about 20 yards away. What is it? Just an old style legal marking. I go around and meet the trail up there.

On our return

After circling around and meeting the trail, I consult with my fellow travelers. I saw a rock outcropping along the ridge we are on. Looks like a good place to eat lunch. From here, we can look west and northward. It is a good view. We see where the trail would descend down into Sequoia Creek and Ella Falls, but we do not see the water from the creek, nor the white tumbling of foam from a fall.

After a satisfying lunch break, we decided to head back. It is pretty much the same going as well as coming. I can tell my boots are getting a bit old, and maybe I am as well. I can definitely feel the cold of the snow and am wondering if the wetness from the snow is seeping through-it wasn’t, at least when we got back to the car my socks were dry.

We stopped by Hitchcock Meadow. I noticed the pool was very reflective. I tried to get some reflections of a big stump and some Sequoias. I was only moderately successful.

And then it was back to the car. An enjoyable hike with enjoyable people, even though there was more snow on the ground than what I expected. I am glad we came up today, even though it meant a day away from slaving away on our front yard. We dropped Carol and Emily off and made it home a little after 3.