October-31, 2015 - West Yosemite Valley Loop

Title: October-31, 2015 - West Yosemite Valley Loop

Trail head: Bridalveil Falls Parking Lot

Hike Info:

Type:  Hiking

Trail: Yosemite Valley Loop

Destination: Loop

Distance: 13.34   miles ¹

Start Time: 9:39

End Time:  3:43

Travel Time: 6:03 (2.20 mph)

Moving Time: 4:58 (2.69 mph)

Elevation Rise: 1,521'

Maximum Elevation: 4,123'

 ¹There was about a third of a mile which Megan and I walked to round up our hikers which had overshot the Valley Chapel turn off. The 13.34 miles reflects this extra mileage. 

Description:
I did not sleep well last night, well at least I did not get the amount of sleep I wanted to. I got up at 5:20. We were a bit late getting started, so we got to Kohl's about 6:50. Most of our group arrived by 7:05 and we left with only 2 of the 22 people I was expecting not showing. We stopped in Oakhurst at 8am and picked up 4 more people, then arrived at the Bridalveil Falls parking lot around 9:20. But not before I did something historic! I turned 62 Sunday, so today, I got my Forever Park Pass!!! So great to be getting old!

Bridalveil Creek dressed for Fall

It surprised me to see some water coming over Bridalveil Falls, but not enough to get excited about. At 9:40 we headed out, all 20 of us. Even after walking about 100 yards, we stop to enjoy the sights of Fall in Yosemite. In this case, it is a mostly dry creek with the autumn leaves hanging over it. It is pretty enough. But there is more to come. We are going counter-clockwise. So our first stop will be the Valley Chapel, about 4 miles up the trail.

Meetup Group Hikers

But first, there is just so much to see and the group is excited to see it. We go up the hardest climb of the day, maybe about 150' as we round Cathedral Rocks. Then drop down to trail which comes in from El Capitan. Here there was a prescribed burn a couple of weeks ago. So the ground is black from the trail to the road, with smoke still lingering from the remains of burning residue. Later, I was conversing with the Yosemite Fire people and showing these pictures. Gary from Yosemite Fire said:

Smouldering Remains

 The opportunity you took to hike along the perimeter of the Taft Toe Rx is perfect and we encourage visitors to observe fire operations when we can...even after the fact. I enjoy hearing from our visitors.
For the complete text of the message go to the bottom.

But now it is time to get on and see some more of the Valley floor. Of course, we do get views of the Merced River, along with the yellowing leaves of winter, and the big rock cliffs of Yosemite. Even Yosemite Falls has a little water coming out of it. All of this leaves us gawking and we are walking. Awe, Yosemite in the Fall, so wonderfully refreshing particularly after the crowds have left. We saw a handful of people along the south side, except for the 20 of us. But even we were spread over a distance, so I would see maybe 4-6 people at any one time.

Merced River

Yosemite Falls

20 of us? Oh Oh. Got to the stopping place at Valley Chapel and there is only 13 people waiting for me. And I am the last person in our group and I know all are ahead. This is pretty bad to lose 7. How do I explain this? I tell the rest of the folks to go on to Yosemite Falls. Megan and I go on a short triangle and see if we can dig up the others.  We do find three of them, and point them in the direction they should go to. But we are still missing four. But I do not think I will be able to go as far as Camp Curry and still complete the hike.

Climber Practicing

So Megan and I complete the triangle without finding anybody else. When we got to the Yosemite Falls picnic area, we find two more of the hikers have returned. Still down two people. So I turn to go back to the bus stop to see if I can spot anybody, and there are my missing folks. Yeah! A good feeling, and a bit of wondering if they all had not arrived, what would I have done?

After a good break at the Yosemite Falls picnic area, we start our return trip along the north side of the Valley. Before Camp 4, we encounter some climbers practicing their craft on one of the popular rocks. By rocks, I do not mean a large boulder, but some of the rock wall which leads up to Yosemite Falls.

Sentinel Rocks

After Camp 4, we pass by the SAR camp-where the volunteer Search and Rescue stay-and the Native American Pow Wow grounds. We cross Northside Drive, to walk along the Merced River. From here, we see the wall which we were walking along this morning. I misidentify some rocks as Dewey Point, when they are really Sentinel Rocks. But the river beside us brings a nice relaxed pace, even though later I see we actually have picked up speed. Maybe walking with Onya, Jerry and Susie brings out the better in me?

Tree and Sunlight

I stop and gawk for awhile, then catch up with everyone at the next road crossing-it is where I had indicated we should stop. This time, we all are accounted for-much to my relief. Everyone is still in good spirits-how could they not be on a day like today. Sunshine, but cool, bright Autumn leaves mixed with the greens of conifers and some of the trees which are resisting changing color.

El Capitan from its base

And now we are at the base of El Capitan, always a wonder to behold looking up. You always wonder, how do they climb this monster, but even today, Dana spots there are climbers on its face. Wonder if they will make it to the top before Monday's storm.

Merced River near Pohono Bridge

Around this time, I take the lead. That is because there is just one more stop, close to the Valley View turnout. Do we stop to go to the turn out? No, but because there is a hidden outhouse which I know where it is. As the group comes in, the outhouse gets well used. But by this time we all scent that the hike is about to end. We come past the Pohono Bridge and stand, looking from it at the Merced. This is what we have walked so far for, to savor this view. Not that it is the best view on our trail, but because we have earned it. You understand why on the seventh day, God looked out and called His creation good.

More Fall Colors

El Capitan from Bridalveil Meadow

In a lot of ways the part between the Pohono Bridge and the Bridalveil Falls parking lot is the best part of the hike. For the first 1/2 of a mile, we are below the road grade, able to enjoy the Merced River flowing by. With the Fall colors, we are able to just gaze out and appreciate this festival of color. There are even a few springs along this section. When hitting Bridalveil Meadow, El Capitan looms in front of us, making its statement, saying I am the one who controls entrance to this Valley. Come all who come in peace.

We hit the parking lot after 3:30. Some of us want to go directly home, after all, it is Halloween. But many of us enjoy each others companionship which a hike like this only strengthens. So we stop in Oakhurst at Alice's BBQ and grab dinner. Then off to home and a shower.


Trail Lesson: Make sure all understand the route and the indications they are on the correct path.

North Dome

El Capitan

Quiet Scene

 ²From Yosemite Fire

Prescribed Burn-Taft Toe

Smoke from the burn

 The opportunity you took to hike along the perimeter of the Taft Toe Rx is perfect and we encourage visitors to observe fire operations when we can...even after the fact. I enjoy hearing from our visitors.

Valley prescribed fires are spectacular and after a day or two it is good for visitors to see what the work is about. All fires when declared contained or controlled - two different fire status points - will continue to burn out and smoke. This fire project took one day to ignite and then a week or so of burn down and burn out. We burned this area a bit on the cooler side of the prescription. It is a burn that has been planned for over five years....We have to wait for the perfect time.


Consider the down and dead "heavies" logs are very easily ignited and will be consumed nearly to 100% due to 4 years of drought - they were causing most of the residual smoke and that was a measurable objective of the Taft Toe Rx, to rid the areas of an over abundance of down and dead vegetation.


Two other objectives of the prescribed fire (Rx) was to open the forest up and let the sun through and have more clear vistas.. Some loss of live trees, including larger diameter trees is another goal. The area has not had fire in part of it since the 1990s and some never had fire.


The Valley floor was pre-historically open oak savannas. Far fewer pines and cedars were growing. The Native American Indian tribes would burn some part of the Valley to enhance the acorn crop for sustainable consumption but also for a robust trading economy.