Gary-Summer: October 31, 2020

Saturday, October 31, 2020

October 31, 2020 - Wawona

Title: October 31, 2020 - Wawona
Hike Info : Description : Background : Extra Photo's : Flowers and Plants

Trail head: Wawona Hotel Parking Area

Hike Info:

Type: Hiking
Trail: Chowchilla Mountain Road, Four Mile Road, Bills Hill to Four Mile Road Trail, Wawona Meadow Loop Trail
Destination: Loop
Distance: 5.90 miles
Start Time: 11:13
End Time:    3:03
Travel Time:  3:50 (1.54 mph)
Moving Time:  3:19 (1.78 mph)
Elevation Rise: 1,207'
Descent: 919‘
Maximum Elevation: 4,892'

GPS Tracks

Description:

Steven starting up Chowchilla Mountain Road

Today we will be taking Korra up to Yosemite. There are a few dog friendly places in Yosemite, particularly around Wawona. The Park says that they are relatively unknown and unsigned. But, feeling a bit proud, I know most of them. Even though I had not heard of Four Mile Road before as a name, I have walked it before. Also this is the last day of needing a reservation to enter into Yosemite. So we expect a little solitude while Yosemite will be crowded tomorrow.

Autumn Leaves

Steven needs to be home by 6, so we are aiming at being home by 5pm. I figure about 2 hours to Yosemite and an hour and half back-always harder getting in. To do the route should be a little less than 4 hours. 9:30 is the cut off time for leaving, but we would like to be in earlier.

I get up at 6:15-I just wake up naturally around 6:30. But the others do not get moving until 8. We take off at 9:20. The ride up is relatively uneventful, with one stop. Korra gets car sick in our Highlander. So we get to the entry station. They see our pass and wave us through. So we reached Wawona around 11.

After taking care of business, we get on the trail close to 11:15. The first part of the hike is across the golf course and then up the Chowchilla Mountain Road. After the golf course, the road is gated, I suspect for winter, or because Sierra NF is still under restrictions. It is a moderate climb, but we start getting the flavor of the day-Autumn. There is a variety of trees which are showing a change of color-yellows and reds mostly. This is going to be a really nice walk.

Gary walking the 4 Mile Road

After going up the road almost a mile, we come to the junction. The next road-the Four Mile Road-is gated. We think it is used only as a fire road, but it does get maintained and we see tire tracks along it. About .2 miles later, we come to the junction with the rest of the Four Mile Road. I have always been mesmerized by a tree in the middle of this. It seems like it is there to remind us we have ways to turn in our life. One side of the three ways to go, goes back to the Chowchilla Mountain Road. But that has trees across it and does not look like it is maintained at all.

Now we are into a 500’ rise over a mile and a half walk. We take it slowly-the we are Sherri and I. Steven does not look phased by it at all. We enjoy the colors, stopping often to admire. The rise is not bad, just wearing.The four of us do enjoy the walk. The only real wildlife seen are birds, predominantly Yosemite’s massive crows. We are still surrounded by the beauty of the changing seasons.

There is a cross-over trail, which I have seen referenced as Bills Hill to Four-Mile Road. We stop and have lunch, enjoying the rest. Nothing really special about lunch, except it gives a chance to enjoy a recognized break, rather than our ad hoc, admire or take a picture break. Or the “I am huffing and puffing” breaks.

After lunch, we go down the cross-over trail. I am thinking this is one of my favorite parts of Wawona, particularly going downhill. I might feel differently going back uphill. This is a long downhill, about 2 miles worth. The trail is narrow, going through mountain misery, but filled with trees having turned colors. Several times I lag behind to take pictures or better yet, just to take in the color-both are good.

More Autumn Leaves

At the end, the trail intertwines with a service road. The service road is steep, the trail is a gradual grade. So do not mistake one for the other. By this time, you are sort of wishing for something level or a slight up to rest from the constant down. The last 100’ of the trail is the service road, leading to the far point of the Wawona Meadow Loop.

And now for the final stretch-finishing the loop around Wawona Meadow. This is a dirt road, closed off to most vehicular travel. We end up at the southern end of the meadow, crossing a dried creek or two. We met another couple with a dog-first people, and the last, we have seen today in our walk. We have walked this many times.

Wawona Meadow

The only thing is that after my last walk with the meetup group, I am interested in figuring out where the end of the flume is. So I lag behind, looking. I finally find it ending in a ravine, The ravine must have taken the water down the last 50 yards to the meadow.

We get into the car and start back. Even though it is about 4pm when we enter Oakhurst, we are hungry. Carl’s Jr it is. We eat outside of what looks like the closed Republican headquarters in Oakhurst. We finally make it back home, a little later than I had planned-5:01 pm instead of 5:00-so he writes smuggly.

Background

Bills Hill. I have found only one reference to Bills Hill. But from this one reference it seems like it is the the turn out about a mile and a half south of Wawona where the trail crosses Highway 41.

Extra Photo's