Gary-Summer: May 2023

Wednesday, May 31, 2023

May 31, 2023 - Old Wawona Road

Title: May 31, 2023 - Old Wawona Road
Hike Info : Description : Trail Lessons : Background : Extra Photo's : Animals : Flowers and Plants

Hike Info:

Type: Hiking

Trail head: Turnout a little before Bridalveil Falls

Trail: Old Wawona Road

Destination: Inspiration Point

Actual Destination: Meadow Creek

Distance: 3.20 miles

Start Time: 9:58

End Time: 1:43

Travel Time: 3:45 (0.85 mph)

Moving Time: 2:27 (1.30 mph)

Elevation Rise: 784' ¹

Descent: 735‘

Maximum Elevation: 4,486'

GPS Tracks

¹There is a significant difference between what I computed and what Google Earth shows. Google Earth shows a 1,368’ elevation gain. I think mine is closer to actual. Also Sheri’s FitBit tracker had her rising up 580’ So take your choice.

Description:

Old Wawona Road at pavement

I don’t think I have hiked the Old Wawona Road in over three years. Also it has been awhile since we walked with Rose. And as a newbie, to hiking with us-not to hiking, is our neighbor Don. I am concerned all the way around. First, am I in good enough shape to go up 1300’? The good thing about this trail is that we can always turn around if I get too winded. Then there are a couple of creeks which will probably be higher than we have seen them before. How high is the question? Will they be crossable? The answer we will find out.

I got up at 5:30 and relaxed for a little while, then had breakfast, and got ready. A little after 7, Don comes over and the three of us-Sherri being the third-leaves to pick up Rose. We get to her house at 7:30. Jeff, Rose’s husband greets us. We introduce Don and Rose to each other. After a few minutes of talking, we drove off towards Yosemite Valley, stopping only at the entrance station and Chinquipin.

Snow beneath that stack

We turned around at the Bridalveil Falls

What the road looks like a third of a mile in

parking lot-under construction-and park at a wide place right across from the Old Wawona Road. We get ourselves ready-putting on boots, setting our poles to the right length, and then putting on our backpacks. The first part of the road has gotten a lot more rocky. Just being careful not to turn an ankle.

Don is definitely in the best shape of all of us as he jumps ahead. But we do pretty good as we go up the road. The emphasis is on up. There are plenty of reasons to stop. We can look across the Valley to see Ribbon Falls and a multitude of unnamed streams coming down the side of the slopes.

With Don in the lead, he spots what looks like a path looping back, But it almost immediately stops at a dry creek. Wonder what that means. Also at this dry creek is a large area of snow. What is that here?Looks like it was covered with dirt and leaves. But we continue on our way up the road,’

We come to the second unnamed creek. This one has some water, so we only get the bottom of our boots wet. I am

Meadow Brook

staying back so Don gets to examine the next obstacle. This time it is a creek named Meadow Brook. When we crossed this creek before, it was dry. Today, it is a pretty good challenge. The thing which makes it a bit daunting is that it has washed part of the road away. The water then flys over the edge on its way to the Valley floor. Pretty sure I do not want to join the water on this. Don goes up high and is studying the situation. When along comes three young females-for an almost 70 years old, young is about 20 or so. They examine the situation from the other side and decide to cross where Don is. He helps them. When we discuss the situation, the take is that it would be doable with some risk. Our boots and socks would get wet and it would be uncomfortable for the rest of the hike. So we turned around there.

The way down is a lot easier. I stopped by the place which Don saw and was wondering about what it could be-it really looked like a trail and not a bad one. So I went up the dry creek to the trail level. There were some fallen trees

Unnamed trail

blocking the way. Don joined me and we picked our way through the branches. Yep, there is an honest to goodness trail there. Don goes and gets Rose and Sherri. When they come back we start to explore this trail.

I have walked marked trails which were a lot worse to travel and to follow than this one. It gets me to wondering about how long ago this trail was laid down. Usually these unmarked trails are overgrown with shrubs and trees across them, but this one is clean. It is a puzzlement. It wanders away from the road with a slight decline. As we travel, I begin to speculate that it will end up at the Bridalveil parking area. As we are the only ones on this trail, it is quiet and nice being away from everyone when I know how close people are just a quarter mile away. I comment from one of Sherri’s authors:

We sly hikers know that just because a trail vanishes

from the map doesn't mean it vanishes from the face of the earth.

- John McKinney, A Walk Along Land's End, pg 163

Evidently I must be either more observant or more curious than the others. I noticed two things. First, a fresh pile of bear scat by the trail-I quickly look around to see if the Ursus americanus is still around, but do not see it. A little ways further, there is cairn, a duck on what looks like the place where water has run off. Now why would there be something like that? So I wander off, following the little rivelet and come across more ducks. Eventually I find a great view of Bridalveil. This puts me about ten minutes behind the rest. They dutifully are waiting for me.

Gary and Rose on unnamed trail

We now have confirmation that this trail leads us to the Bridalveil Parking area. But it is closed to the public, except on the way we came in. How do we get beyond the barricades? Don sets off cross-country (what is going cross-country when you are on an unmarked trail?) I tag along, but he quickly outpaces me. I try to keep contact with Sherri and Rose. I have spotted a trail to the Falls below, but there is a rather steep decline. Then I see Don on the trail coming back to the parking lot. I make my way back to Sherri and Rose-Don beats me there.

The report is that what Don was following is blocked off. So we descend into the parking area and go up the old path, hoping we look inconspicuous. Nobody challenges us, so I guess we are successful. We set over a barrier and now are legit. Don went up to the Falls overlook. I had been up there last week so I did not go and Sherri and Rose did not seem inclined to go that way. We found a place below the path to eat, by the creek. A good place. A Stellar Jay tries to make friends with Rose and her lunch, but evidently Rose does not want to be that friendly.

Don on his log

From comments earlier, I think we are ready to go back to Fresno. Well that is except for Don. In his heart he would really like to tackle the Old Big Oak Flat Road. But that is in the sunshine and even I do not like the idea of all of the radiated heat on us. After lunch, we tried taking a shortcut to meet the road. This works out fine, mostly. Zeno may have been right about how you travel, but even in showing you can never get someplace by his dichotomy paradox, I can show that you will always have obstacles getting anyplace. In our case, the going was easy until we got

Cascade Falls

close to the road. There is a tiny branch of Bridalveil Creek runoff which is blocking our route. Nothing insurmountable. We just did not want to get our feet wet-remember running into this earlier? Don finds a log he can get on. Rose is able to use his technique, but Sherri does not want to. So Sherri and I splash through the creek.

Now it is only a third of a mile up the road back to the car-how uneventful. We go through Wawona Tunnel, but stop on the overlook a mile later. Here Don takes me down onto a shelf where I can get a full view of Cascade Falls. That is simply awesome-in the older sense of the word. I find Don talking with a father-daughter team from Phoenix. They are looking for a place to go kayaking in the park. Neither of us can think of a good place, so Don recommends Bass Lake, close enough to the Park.

We get back into the car and head back to Oakhurst, stopping at Reimers for some well deserved ice cream. A reward for a hike, even if the hike was different than expectations. We make it back to Fresno, dropping off Rose and Don, by 5:30.

While today was not much in the way of miles or elevation gain or even accomplishment, it was a good day. We discovered a new trail. Even more so it was good to walk with Rose and Don-and of course, Sherri.

Trail Lesson: Be open to a different adventure, even if it is a trail you have been on before or in our daily lives.

Background

That unmarked trail? I could not find it on older maps. As I was talking with a ranger later, I am thinking this may be a new trail they have not opened up yet. The Old Wawona Road Trail got removed from maps several years ago. I noticed Thursday in Wawona that it is back on a map. We will find out in a couple of months if my speculation is correct. I hope so.

Meadow Brook Also found out that this creek is the source for one of the hidden falls of Yosemite, Silver Strand Falls.

Extra Photo's

Bridalveil Falls

El Capitan and Ribbon Falls

An unnamed creek

Ribbon Falls

Unnamed Trail

Bridalveil Falls

Cascade Falls

Animals

Flowers and Plants

Tuesday, May 23, 2023

May 23, 2023 - Yosemite Valley

Title: May 23, 2023 - Yosemite Valley

Hike Info : Description : Extra Photo's : Flowers and Plants

Hike Info:

Type: Car

Description:

Steve, Connie, Sherri and Gary

A couple of friends of ours, Connie and Steve-no, not my Steven, have not been to Yosemite for a very long time. While I was at Delilah last week, Sherri invited them to Yosemite. Today is the day.

The last several days my lighting report has taken over an hour to do each day with over a hundred strikes each day. Today, there were only five so it was a breeze. I even had time to tear up some boxes for recycling.

Bridalveil Creek

We leave our house at 8:15 and get to Connie and Steve’s place about 8:40. I then drove us to Oakhust where we stopped for donuts at Judy’s. Then off to Yosemite. On the way up, we spot some dogwoods, which gives me hope that Yosemite Valley will still have a few. The bathrooms at Chinquipin which calls us. Then it is off to the Valley.

We get to Tunnel View at 11:10. It does not disappoint. While there is a slight haze over the Valley, it is a spectacular view. Bridalveil is right there pouring tons of water, looks like a lot of spray. Of course, there is water coming off all the rocks. I play my part of being a tour guide and name various points in the Valley. They are suitably impressed with the Valley-with me, that is an open question.

Gary and Sherri found a sitting tree

We then head down to the Valley. Lately we have not stopped at Bridalveil since there was construction going on. Today we found a parking place and stopped. When finished, the new plaza area will be able to handle so many more people without trampling over everything. I think when finished the Park will have a jewel.

We walked up the path towards the Falls. Bridalveil Creek is raging! Not only is the main channel full, but all of the fingers are flowing high. Fascinating watching. The path is better graded than before. Water is running down the path, but the path has been made to have traction, so the amount of water coming down is not an issue, except for the shoes getting wet. Connie decides to hold off on going up as the spray gets more intense. Then Sherri, stop, leaving Steve and I. When we get to the top, my glasses are almost unseeable. We see the falls, sort of, take a picture and head down, soaking wet.

Before we headed up, I had seen somebody spot a climber on El Capitan.

Climbers Gear

Now that we are down, I break out my binoculars and spot the climbers. Connie finds another interesting object which turns out to be a shelter on the wall. Then another group of climbers on the east side of the Nose. This keeps us occupied for about 20 minutes.

Lunch time is way past. Where to eat?

Sentinal Creek/Falls

Sentinel Beach’s Picnic area is open, so we stop there. I had tried one road, but turned back when I saw the depth of the mud. We find a table and have our lunch, enjoying the Merced flowing about 30 yards off-a bit of a swamp around us. Good to get food in us. In the meantime, we are entertained by someone who did not turn back from the mud. They are stuck and try a bunch of tactics which all fail. They are still stuck when we leave-I do not have any good solutions except having someone pull you out. I do not have the equipment to do that.

On the way out, I hear someone call out “Gary”! It is a person whom I worked with at FUSD, Eric from REA. We talk and exchange places we have been to and what we are doing now. I am surprised to be recognized. And then we are off again.

This time to Camp Curry. The parking area is full.So I drop off Sherri, Connie and Steven, having them go on the tram. I drove through the parking lot and eventually found a place to park. I get to walk up the road to Happy Isles

Lunch at Sentinel Beach

. Along the way I stop and admire some dogwoods. As I am admiring them, a couple of Israelis ask me about getting to Mirror Lake and Half Dome. I disillusioned them about the walking up to Half Dome today-it is a 16-17 mile walk with 4,000’. They understand that it is more than just a few minute hike. They decide that maybe they would do it another day. Later today I get a bit more beta on this trip, but that is too late for these folk.

I make it up to Happy Isles and quickly find Connie, Steve and Sherri. We talk for a few minutes and a tram comes along, so we hop on that tram. Our next stop is the Ahwahnee. Today’s visit is less impressive than usual. The Ahwahnee is getting a makeover, so major parts of the place is cordoned off. Still we wander through the Great Room, but cannot go into the lounge, nor see the dining area. Even outside, it looks like the grounds has had a rough Winter. Usually they are immaculate. Now they look like my backyard.

Royal Arches Falls

As we were walking back towards the hotel, I saw a woman waving at us. We have already had a strange encounter with someone out of my past, who could this be? As we get closer we see that it is a friend named Ellen. I was on a board with her for our daughter. Also her husband, Micheal is a fellow hiker. Ellen tells us another friend, Suzanne, is in the Valley as well, hiking. I guess half of Fresno is here today as we know our hiking group, the Central Valley Hiking Group has a hike here today as well, but we do not run into them.

We now hope onto the Green Tram and head to Yosemite Falls. On the bus Sherri and I strike up a conversation with a guy who just got done hiking up Half Dome. He confirms that there is still a lot of snow, making it hard going. Also that the cables are still down. The falls are roaring and spectacular. It is a pleasant walk. The shadows are growing, but the temperature is agreeable. I am expecting to get drenched but when we get close to the bridge, we experience only a drizzle. At least at the start. Pictures get taken and the roar of the Creek is heard. What a good way to be in Yosemite.

Yosemite Creek

We now need to walk back to the Village. I think we are excited by the day, so the walk is good. Excess water from Yosemite Creek crosses our path, providing a temptation which even at the end of my seventh decades I find too hard to resist. There is a large child inside of me who wants to splash in the water. So I jump, making a splash. Unfortunately the splash was mis-directed and went up, covering Steve. Apologies made. Not sure what Steve thought of the expedition's fearless leader after that.

But we made it to a purple bus stop with no more mishap and only the additional foolishness of telling the story of Lost Arrow. When we boarded the tram, it was the same bus driver as we had two weeks ago! I make a comment and she recognizes me. Once again a good person for Yosemite to be ferrying around visitors. We make it back to Camp Curry and load up the car.

Yosemite from Valley View

But that is not the last of the stops this tour makes. First there is the stop for the viewing of Horsetail Falls. It still looked more outstanding earlier in the year. Still the spray which comes off of there is really impressive. Then we travel down the Valley to near the Pohono Bridge at Valley View. The water has come up several feet from when we were there two weeks ago. Now the water laps right at the edge of the pavement. I wonder if the Park will close the road if things really heats up? The resulting view is breath-taking, the contrast of straight up walls with the falls coming down, the still grasses with the rapid flowing river. It is just there giving a reminder of change and changelessness.

We continue on to what seems like lately our stopping place for the Valley: Fern Spring. If anything, there is more water flow now than there was two weeks ago. I cross the road and stand beside the Merced. So swift, so high. Also the water from Fern Springs is flooding the trail. I suspect there are many places where the Valley Loop trail is flooded this Spring.

And now we are off, going back to Fresno. First, we stop at Round Table Pizza in Oakhurst and devour a large pizza. We reach Fresno after 7, dropping off Connie and Steve. Then back home for a bit of a rest.