October 1, 2016 - Yosemite Valley Loop, West

Title: October 1, 2016 - Yosemite Valley Loop, West
Hike Info : Description : Trail Lessons :  Background :  Extra Photo's 

Trail head: Bridalveil Falls Parking Lot

Hike Info:

Type: Hiking

Trail:Valley Loop Trail

Destination: Loop

Distance:  12.50  miles ¹

Start Time: 9:40

End Time:  3:39

Travel Time: 5:58  (2.10 mph)

Moving Time:  4:38  (2.72 mph)

Elevation Rise:  1,219'

Maximum Elevation: 4,126'

GPS Tracks
 ¹This was slight exaggerated since I went back a time or two as we were getting close to the end.

Description:

Merced River at the Pohono Bridge

Sherri and I have done this hike maybe eight times in the last five years.  Each time we make things a bit different: going counter-clockwise instead of clockwise, cross the Merced River over Swinging Bridge, Sentinel Bridge or other bridge. Also sometimes it is by ourselves, other times it is with our meetup group. We go clockwise and see things like Bridalveil Falls, Pohono Bridge, El Capitan, Yosemite Falls, Valley Chapel and Cathedral Rocks. You know,  the usual Yosemite Awesome Beautifulness (YAB).

This meetup hike started out when it got posted with 25 people going and 10 people waiting to get on the list. But by the time our boots hit the trail, we have 10 people. But may I say, they are 10 fun and interesting people which I am glad to walk with. At 7:10 we leave Eddie's Bakery in Fresno and then hit Judy's Donuts in Oakhurst for coffee and donuts, but no bathrooms. So we stop in Chinquapin to relieve ourselves. Then on to the Bridalveil Falls Parking Lot. By the time our 20 boots start walking, it is after 9:30.

One of the highlights, or from Sonya and Sherri's perspective, lowlights, happened less than a mile from the start. We were getting close to Bridalveil Meadow when I saw a hole about the size of a basketball right next to the trail. Then I turned around to check on everybody and saw a few bees coming out of the hole. That's strange and in that brief 2 seconds, the bees were starting swarm. I yell out "BEES!" and most of our people start to scurry out of that area. That is except for the two at the end: Sherri and Sonya. They have been in deep conversation and did not hear my frantic call. So they leisurely went through the swarm of bees until the bees started attacking. That is until they got stung, when they got frantic.

When they stopped, several of us started swatting what looked like small honey bees off of Sonya and Sherri. Each had been stung at least once and that part of their bodies started swelling a bit. Also there was a couple of bites where the bees had bit through the fabric. As soon as we got done swatting off the honey bees, we would find some more. Finally after about 20 minutes of swatting, Sherri and Sonya were done with the bees. They were given some benadryl.  Over time, this helped some.

We moved on, a bit more alert to the dangers in the area. But fortunately that was as bad as they got.  Both Sherri and Sonya were able to continue on with the walk, a lot more achy and a bit drowsy. They do make it all the way around.

Climbers starting the Nose route

Above the Nose

One of the advantages of hiking with a group is you have a wide assortment of experiences. Sonya has climbed rock before and a friend of hers is an experienced El Capitan climber. So Sonya gave us a lot of background on what we are seeing. There is a group of climbers going up the Nose. Sonya's friend will be going up the part of the wall to the west of the Nose. A little ways further, we saw a couple climbers doing a route called the Zodiac-that is there is a big white circle on the east wall which looks like a zodiac sign. Glad there are people along who are sharing their experience and knowledge. Much more fun than listening to my babbling all day. Later we pass through Camp 4 and I talk with Cindy and Sherri about some of the persons who used this as a base for their climbs.

El Capitan East Wall-Zodiac close to middle

Zodiac Route

Japanese Wedding by the Merced

Yosemite provides enough of its own beauty without too much of man's help. But on occasion, you see something which compliments the beauty of nature. As we were walking through a lightly forested part of the trail, close to the Merced, we could see a wedding party by the beach.. But we did not see the bride and groom, but the festive colors of oriental umbrellas. We quietly stopped, enjoyed the sight and then continue on.

A ways a way, we come to Leidig Meadow. To me. this is THE View of Half Dome and the eastern end of the Valley. The lushness of the grass, even in October. Trees ringing the meadow and North Dome, Clouds Rest, the Quarter Domes and Half Dome all there before you. No wonder Muir called these mountains his cathedral. As a note: there was two people in the middle of the meadow. I can well understand the draw of wanting to be out there. It was calling me. But maybe in another time this would be acceptable. Now with 4 million visitors each year, this sight would be destroyed if we all did it. Even with the people in there, it is a sight to behold.  I have Photoshopped the people out of the picture at the bottom of this section.

Fall Color

On the north side of the trail, there was hints that Fall was about to take place in the Valley. But when we crossed over to the south side, we started having more color. With the sun playing hide-and-go-seek with the south rim, you get some effects of light streaming through the trees.  I try taking some pictures with El Capitan in the background and the colored leaves in front of it, but the contrasting just did not come out right-mostly El Cap just faded. But a few pictures do give a hint of how things looked.

Beginning of Autumn Leaves

As we round the corner near the Valley Chapel , there is a discussion about seeing the Chapel from the trail on the South side of the Valley. Once when we did this trail, I temporarily lost three groups of people because they did not see the Chapel. While it is visible, if you are looking, it is not right in your face. So I do understand why people did not see it.

Cavity of Ribbon Falls

As we  finish up the trail, most of the group is going pretty strong. I think most are glad for the 12.5 miles and not 13.5. But we all look in good shape when we come in. By the time the last of us come in, some of the people have taken off. Others want to join us at El Cid for dinner. It has been a pretty good day-one which I enjoyed talking with so many people.

View from Leidig meadow

Trail Lesson:
Be aware of the surroundings and the dangers even in beauty. After all, there was a snake in Eden.

Background

There is so much history in Yosemite Valley, that whole books have been written around this subject.

Birthday. 126 years ago today, Oct 1, 1890 Yosemite became the fourth National Park, signed in by President Benjamin Harrison. Before that, it was a State park. For more, you can see History.com


Valley Chapel. The original location was close to the start of the Four Mile Trail. It was built in 1879. For more background, you can see the Valley Chapel web site and my blog-more references than information.

Camp 4. This is the name of a walk-in camp on the north-side of the Valley, close to Yosemite Falls.  People like Royal Robbins, Warren Harding, Yvon Chouinard, Chuck Pratt, and Jim Bridwell, all started their historic climbs from here. It is on the National Registry of Historic Places. References can be found on my blog.



Extra Photo's

Is our way blocked?