Gary-Summer: October 22, 2016 - Yosemite Valley Around Mirror Lake

Saturday, October 22, 2016

October 22, 2016 - Yosemite Valley Around Mirror Lake

Title: October 22, 2016 - Yosemite Valley Around Mirror Lake
Hike Info : Description : Background : Extra Photo's

Trail head:Camp Curry

Hike Info:

Type: Hiking

Trail:Yosemite Valley Loop

Destination: Loop
Actual Destination: Mirror Lake

Distance: 7.40 miles ¹

Start Time: 12:13

End Time: 4:33

Travel Time: 4:19 (1.71 mph)

Moving Time: 3:15 (2.28 mph)

Elevation Rise: 967'

Maximum Elevation: 4,293'

GPS Tracks
¹The GPS did not sync up until after Happy Isles, about 3/4 of a mile into the trip.

Description:

Steven, Andrea, Lawrence

Last week I went around the east end of Yosemite Valley, along the Valley Loop trail. But Sherri was not able to go because of a prior commitment. She has wanted to do this walk. So when Andrea and Rachel, our daughters, along with Steven-our son, were all going to be here, we decided to celebrate with the same walk. By the way, not only is all the children here, But Lawrence, Andrea's boy friend is with us.

Gary

Sherri

So after the wedding of our friends Peter and Katie on Friday night, we got together Saturday morning. We left Fresno around 9. Then stopped in Oakhurst at Judy's Donut's for coffee and a doughnut. We are traveling in two cars-none of the cars will hold six people. After a bathroom break at Chinquapin, we get to Camp Curry. On the way in, I spot a speck on El Capitan and wonder if it is Sonya's friend^*.

By the time we find a parking place and get out of the car, it is a quarter till noon. The goal is to do the loop we did last week. But we are starting two and a half hours later. I think we will be modifying our route to accommodate our time schedule. Starting in, we march through Camp Curry. There is a minor deviation on our route from last week. Instead of following the road to HappyIsles, there is a parallel trail which goes through the backpacker's parking lot. We follow this one, which puts us right in back of the the restrooms at Happy Isles.

Lawrence in the lead

At Happy Isles, my GPS finally syncs up with the satellites and starts to record our travels. So after some of us hit the toilets, we contain on along the eastern end of the Valley. Rachel is walking with me while Steven, Andrea and Lawrence are keeping Sherri company. This is going to be a good hike-the leaves are already pretty nice.

When we come to Tenaya Bridge, we go our traditional route along the east side of Mirror Lake. In Tenaya Canyon the trees are ready for it to be Falll. But with the little bit of rain which fell last week, all the air is clear and the Fall leaves are glistening. Even Mirror Lake or as some folks call it, marsh, has enough water to be reflective. We stayed around there for awhile, mugging for several pictures. There are people who are trying to tell us that the bridge is out at the far end of the trail, but that does not make sense since we crossed over it just last week and the rains have not been that strong to wash away the bridge.

Family Shot

Sibling Hug

Then it is on to the real colorful part of the trail. I have always had a sense of awe whenever I walked between Mirror Lake and the bridge. This times was no exception as the leaves on the broadleaf trees were showing their colors. Pleasant walking. Even more so with my family.

Mt Watkins from the Ahwiyah rockslide area

When we came to the bridge over Tenaya Creek, we paused to reflect on the water running under us and the colors. I mentioned that one day I would like to go up the creek to find a set of falls called Hidden Falls. I had seen some boys coming down a use trail on the west side of the bridge and assumed that was the way to the falls.

Tenaya Creek

Snow Creek

Rachel Hiding

To my surprise, it was suggested we go up and see if we could find the falls-I do not have the location with me, so we will guess where it is. But that should not be a problem since we have the creek to follow. So we went up the path a ways. While the path itself seems to be petering out, we find traces of an old trail, which we follow^**. Eventually it turns into some boulders which we get the pleasure of clawing our way over. That is until we get to a place where the creek comes down this huge slab of rock. Is this Hidden Falls? But it just does not seem right. Whatever it is, is pretty nice. This is the end of the line for us. We will not be able to follow our creek any farther.

Andrea and lawrence coming down

Lawrence Climbing

Well that is except for Lawrence. He goes scampering up the rock and enjoys a bit of climbing. Andrea tells me this is what he does. Then Andrea, goes up after him. Sort of fun watching the two of them. Lawrence gives her some tips. But they come down and we go back to the trail. Sort of a fun side trip.

As we were coming down, I was working out where we were and realized the cascade we were by is not Hidden Falls, but part of Snow Creek. It may be the bottom of Snow Creek Falls, but I think those falls are higher up on the canyon walls^***.

We do continue on around the west side of Tenaya Creek. There are more people on this side. So it is not as peaceful, but is it is still colorful and enjoyable. One of the groups of people whom we meet is Gurpreet. He was on my hike last week and really enjoyed it. This week he is back with his family showing them the beauty of this place.

Andrea, the hat girl

Half Dome overshadowed by color

When we hit Mirror Lake on the west side, we sort of realize that it is going to be late, so we will not be able to complete the hike I normally do. But it is fun anyway. So we do continue on the Valley Loop trail, but only go as far as the outhouse on the way to the Mirror Lake Tram stop. Here we go to the tram and then decide to walk back to the car.

Fun day with my family and Lawrence. Glad we were able to experience the Yosemite which I have shared with so many others.

Wawona smoke

Evidently, our adventure was not over. We checked out El Capitan and found some climbers. In the setting sun, this rock monolith stands so stately. Then when we pass through Wawona, we can see the smoke from the Mariposa Grove prescribed burn.

El Capitan

Background

^*Talking with Sonya, her partner had gotten off El Capitan Friday because of a storm coming in.

^**I do not see where we were was ever a trail on the topo maps. Yet, there was diffently places where a trail had been cut.

^***Snow Creek Falls is up higher than what we were and we cannot see them. Snow Creek does come down a very steep part of the canyon and anyplace else than Yosemite, these would be falls of interest.

Extra Photo's