Trail head: Bridalveil Falls Parking Lot
Hike Info:
Type: Hiking
Trail: Yosemite Valley Loop Trail
Destination:Loop
Distance: 11.95 miles
Start Time: 9:19
End Time: 3:16
Travel Time: 5:57 (2.01 mph)
Moving Time: 4:44 (2.53 mph)
Elevation Rise: 962'
Maximum Elevation: 4,132'
Description:
Deep calls to deep
in the roar of your waterfalls
all your waves and breakers
have swept over me.
Psalm 42: 7
When we were around
Yosemite Falls, the thundering of the water falling onto the rocks has this psalm making sense. But I think I am getting ahead of myself here.
It is the second meetup hike which we have organized in the past two Saturdays. Having not done too many hikes in the last six months and not been the organizer for too many of them either, this is amazing. We met all 18 of our fellow hikers-making 20 total-at Eddie's Bakery in Fresno and then left for Oakhurst right at 6:40. When we got to Oakhurst's Starbucks, the other meetup group was just leaving. They are going up to the base of Ribbon Falls and then to a place called
Hidden Falls-I will need to figure out where that is. But for now, it is on to
Bridalveil Falls parking area.
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| Happy Hikers |
We arrive at the parking area a little after 9am, having waited in line at the park's southern entrance. We get ourselves together and take off. I would normally go to the east first, and then cross Bridalveil Creek after crossing Southside Drive. But with the water running so full, I decide to walk a quarter mile along the road and hit the trail after the creek. A ranger watches us, but does not disturb us, so I guess we are OK. Right from the get go, we have a nice view of Bridalveil Falls. Then hit the Valley Loop trail going towards the
Pohono Bridge. The pace is good and I am walking comfortably. That is until we passed Bridalveil Meadow and had to cross a little creek. Some crossed on a log, I just picked a couple rocks to hop across. But this is sign of things to come. After that the hiking took off again.The long line of people behind me is fun to watch as it snakes along the trail. There is beauty in a column of content and happy hikers.
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| First Creek Crossing |
At the Pohono Bridge, we stop long enough to watch the
Merced flow by and I give a snarky answer to a fellow hiker about "isn't the Merced flowing the wrong way?" (my answer was that this is one of the few places in the USA where a river flows uphill. OK Gary, that is bad form.) Now we start our eastwardly journey. Within a half of a mile we stop for an outhouse break-yes there is a single outhouse there by the Valley View turnout.
We pass by Black Springs where a whole bunch of tube ferns grow and onward. I am hiking with Bruce, Charles, Meagan, and a few others, just enjoying the chatter. It is amazing how little you exert when you enjoy the people around you. Also the simple things become more alive.
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| Ribbon Falls From Cathedral Rocks |
Ribbon Falls is now pretty close and we see little rivulets crossing the trail and sometimes using the trail as a passageway. We also catch glimpses of the falls through the trees. Ribbon Falls is one of those "now you see it, now you don't" type of falls. During the Spring it takes your breath away-the fall of water is more than any of the single Yosemite Falls. But you have to catch it when you can. But when you can, think of a ribbon coming down the side of a cliff. If only it was more catch-able, it would be a star.
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| Ribbon Falls |
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| Ribbon Falls |
Now we cross the road to the LogPile, Yosemite Valley's residence place where they get firewood. This is also the start or end of the
Old Big Oak Flat Road, which the other meetup group went up to Ribbon Falls-we even see their cars there.
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| Log Surfing |
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| Greg with a helping hand |
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| Sherri by the Merced |
But now we cross the main part of Ribbon Creek, or I should say we attempt to cross it. The water was running pretty good and there was no good way across, except for a large log. The log in itself would be OK to cross, but there was broken branches on it which made things a bit scary. Like what happens if I fall and perforate my delicate body? I suspect I would be left there as a warning of do not cross this log. But we all make it across and do not leave anybody behind.
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| Merced River with Clouds Rest and Half Dome |
This is not the last bit of water we hit, but it was the worst. Now we travel past the toe of
El Capitan and cross the road. We look at El Cap for climbers and Bruce finds one close to
Horsetail Falls. Horsetail is going pretty nicely with the rain which came in during the past couple of days. Our trail goes along the river and is pretty smooth, so we make fast time, that is until we come to another creek. This one is manageable and we all get across without a problem. All along the river we get such good views up and down the Valley. Hard to say what is the best looking up the Valley (or down), looking up the sides of the cliffs, or around at your immediate surroundings. All make you appreciate the creative workings which made Yosemite.
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| Horsetail Falls |
I talked with Kelly for a ways, then Graham and Charles. We now approach
Camp 4. This time the group pretty much goes where we should-the last time I took a group on this, people scattered with one even starting to go UP the Yosemite Falls trail. And now that we are close to Yosemite Falls, we start to hear the thundering booms of water falling 2,400'. The thundering sounds of water is so good to hear from the last several years of there hardly being any spray. But the other thing which full falls brings is people who want to enjoy this sight. So our picnic area is taken, so we find some logs and enjoy lunch to the side.
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| Yosemite Falls |
After lunch we talk about different routes: going through
Swinging Bridge-a bit shorter, or past the
chapel which gives a good view of Yosemite Falls. Eight of us, including Sherri and I go via the chapel with Bruce leading the rest past Yosemite Lodge and Swinging Bridge.
Cook's Meadow gives the normal, "I can't believe how Half Dome looks" view, it is when we swing past the chapel and walk parallel to the South Wall which gets the real attention. Yosemite Falls is there in all of its splendor-all three of them can be seen. During this time I have been walking with Dana and her friend Daphne-a first time with us. Good general conversation. We move along the Valley Loop and get to the Four Mile Trail jct to wait for the Swinging Bridge group.
But while we wait, we get treated to the eye candy of
Sentinel Creek Falls. This is another ephemeral falls which rarely gets to show off its majesty. But today, we have only treat, no trick. The treat is a gushing falls where sometimes we would only see dry, dark rock or maybe a bit of spray. At the top, there is a bit of cascades, followed by a long drop of water to break on rocks 2,000' below where it started.
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| Sentinel Falls |
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| Sentinel Falls |
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| Final Creek Crossing |
After ten minutes the other group arrives and we start the last leg of our journey. The trail takes us by the edges of
Cathedral Rocks. There is another creek-from Sentinel Falls-which needs to be crossed. We pick our way across, getting a little bit of our shoes wet. Until this time I had been talking with Jessica-interesting finding out about the people you are hiking with. But before long is a bit of burnt forest around the
Taft Toe area. The question arises about when was this burnt and how come? Poor Diana, Rebecca and AJ who now listen to me talk about prescribed burns and then onto backpacking for the next two miles. Meagan gets smart and flies pass me.
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| Northern part of Cathedral Rocks |
Going around the edge of Cathedral Rocks is the most uphill on the whole hike and even then it is not much. Once around it, we descend down to Bridalveil Creek and shortly back to the cars. Good thing. My legs were starting to go rubbery after 12 miles. 12 of us decide to stop and eat at El Cid's in Oakhurst. Pleasant after hike meal, lots of conversation and enjoyable banter before getting back to Fresno.
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| Clouds Rest from the Merced River |
Moving Time: 4:44 (2.53 mph)
