Gary-Summer: February 21, 2020

Friday, February 21, 2020

February 21, 2020 - Old Wawona Road

Title: February 21, 2020 - Old Wawona Road
Hike Info : Description : Extra Photo's

Trail head: Bridalveil Falls parking Area-or close by

Hike Info:

Type: Hiking

Trail: Old Wawona Road

Destination: Ft Monroe

Actual Destination: Inspiration Point

Distance: 5.20 miles

Start Time: 11:29

End Time: 4:25

Travel Time: 4:55 (1.06 mph)

Moving Time: 3:33 (1.47 mph)

Elevation Rise: 1,537'

Descent: 1,371‘

Maximum Elevation: 5,387'

GPS Tracks

Description:

Our Friendly Raven

We left our house around 9 and are heading to Yosemite. We think we will be going up the Old Wawona Road towards Inspiration Point and then on to Ft Monroe. We stopped at Starbucks in Oakhurst before entering the Park. After a pit stop at Chinquapin, we head on down to the Bridalveil Falls parking lot. Actually, we park at a turn out across from the start of the trail.

Start of Old Wawona Road

We spend a few minutes getting ourselves ready and then we cross the road. With one last look back, we spot a large raven on our car. Sherri goes into her cow chaser mode and shoos away the raven, but for how long?

First Creek

Now we really start off. The road is disintegrating-of course it is many years old with no maintenance. But there is still lots of pavement remaining, just crumbling. Erosion has taken its toll, which on the whole is not a bad thing. The Park is letting it return to its state before pavement was there. Also there are more trees down than when we were here last, a couple of years ago. When we come to where the creeks cross the road, the footing is a bit more tentative with the potential of rocks rolling on us.

El Capitan

Artist Creek

But we do enjoy ourselves going up this road. Not far up the road, we come to the first highlight of our trip: Artist Point. Just the name gives this one away. This is where the early artists: painters and photographers did their work. And there is a good reason for this. It is a perfect view on a perfect day. And we stay to savoir it by having lunch there. We rest on a rock and just soak in the day and the sight. I should also say that Steven has climbed a rock and enjoyed his lunch 15’ above us. Sherri gets an action shot for her photography class-a bit of air under Steven’s feet.

Yosemite Valley From Artist Point

Trail in need of Maintenance

We continue on. While having lunch in us feels good, we are still going up. So I continue my huffing and puffing. After about ¾ of a mile later, we get to the junction of the Pohono Trail. Most people go straight up the trail to get to Inspiration Point. We continue on the Old Wawona Road. While still going up, it is not as steep as the Pohono Trail. Besides there are a few views across the Merced River. This is a good way to go.

The one problem is because this is rarely used, it is not maintained. So there are a bunch of downed trees. But nothing which stops us. Besides we get a few pictures which we just might share. Eventually we get back around to Inspiration Point.

It is another mile or so up to Ft Monroe. But we think that it may be getting a bit late. Besides that was a pretty good up for me at my stage of conditioning. So we just sit and enjoy the view. A group from YWAM (Youth With A Mission) comes up and we talk with them for a while. They head off and we continue to enjoy the area.

Looking across the Merced River

Steven on the Pohono Trail

Then it is time to head off. We go to where I think the trail goes down. But what do I know? We went down 40’ and hit a dead end. So back up and we take Steven’s choice, which leads us to the Pohono Trail. And the trail goes down steeply. Glad we came the way we did.

One of my favorite places on the trail is a little use trail about half way down to our junction. It leads off to a point which I have called Gary’s Point since the first time I went there. I immodestly think it has the best view from the west side of the valley. Others may disagree with that assessment. Steven and Sherri come along. I am not sure they agree with my thoughts on this, but they duly take an appropriate amount of pictures.

And then it is down the trail a bit more until we reach the Old Wawona Road. It is much easier, and faster, going down this road than going up it. Still in very many ways I prefer the other direction. Being faster is not better. Having to stop occasionally gives one the time to take in what you only glimpse when you speed past things. (I do use the term speed, very loosely.) We pass by Artist Point, stopping to gaze at the later afternoon shadows playing on Cathedral Rocks behind Bridalveil. And then it is down again.

By the time we reach the car, it is closing in on 4:30. Steven takes pity on his father and drives down to Oakhurst. There we reward ourselves at Southgate Brewery. And then home we go. A good day. Maybe a bit disappointing we did not make Ft Monroe. On the other hand, a destination is not everything.