Gary-Summer: December 24, 2022 - Yosemite the Day Before Christmas

Saturday, December 24, 2022

December 24, 2022 - Yosemite the Day Before Christmas

Title: December 24, 2022 - Yosemite the Day Before Christmas

Hike Info : Description : Background : Extra Photo's

Hike Info:

Type: Hiking

Trail head: Seventh Day Adventist Camp at Wawona

Trail: Swinging Bridge

Destination: Swinging Bridge

Actual Destination: Swinging Bridge and beyond

Distance: 1.30 miles 1

Elevation Rise: 360'

Descent: 360‘

Maximum Elevation: 4,209'

¹I did not GPS this trip. So the figures and map are calculated based upon Google Earth. Looking at the map, I think we did about a quarter mile farther, but this is the last picture I have with coordinates.

Description:

This blog entry is a bit more than the night before Christmas and all through the house entry. For one, not everything was quiet and definitely there were creatures stirring. So this entry will include the night before the “night before Christmas” through Christmas.

Andrea, Rachel, Edrees, Friday and Lawrence came in Friday afternoon, joining Steven, Korra, Sherri and myself in Fresno. Sherri had previously made bierocks. So that is dinner tonight. Then off we go to the Fresno Chaffee Zoo for its Illuminature. This is an update to the previous Zoo Lights. Instead of outlines animals in lights, these are lighted forms, almost like a blown up colored nylon animal or plant. Very well done. We had met Rachel’s friend Joseph and his partner. We stayed from after seven to the end of the night, nine. Well worth the night there.

Walking to Swinging Bridge

Saturday David is coming up from Eureka. So he will join us this evening. But we will be taking a day trip to Yosemite. We have been in conversation with my best man’s wife. Their daughter, Moriah, is in Yosemite, at Wawona meeting a friend-turns out that friend is the one who was at the entrance station this morning. We left a bit later than expected, around 9:40, which puts us at Wawona a little after 11. After coordinating where we were to meet, we got the joy of seeing Moriah.

Dam on South Fork of Merced

She had a couple of hours and was interested in a hike. Where to go? Well, there is the Wawona Meadow Loop. But Moriah just did that one. Or Alder Creek, but that is a bit long, also she just did this trail yesterday. There is an easy hike just down the road, up the South Fork of the Merced. So we will do this one.

The Family

We drove up the road to the Seventh Day Adventist camp. There is a parking lot across from there, where we park. We follow a service road up the river. We note the burnt trees from the Washburn Fire, but it is not as bad as I feared. The walk is easy and we quickly get to Wawona’s Swinging Bridge. We enjoy the view, both up and down the river. Up the river we see snow on the south side. We enjoy also the bridge swaying a bit as well as bouncing.

Sherri leading the pack

This was a pretty short walk and we all felt like we wanted to go on. There is a deer track, or maybe just a worn piece of ground. Or it could be part of the 100 year old trail which Tony Krizan once described. There are some up and downs, but none are more than 20-30’ variation.

Returning to the car

It is a pleasant walk. We stop often to look over the river, even seeing an old dam. I have wondered if this was a recent development or does it date back to the Washburns when they ran the Wawona Hotel. It looks like it may have been made to divert water for their ranching operations in Wawona Meadow.

We cross a small creek, head up a hill and over dale and down another ravine. When we reach the top of this small ridge, we come across a series of downed trees. I see we could continue on, but I asked how far do people want to go on for? There is a general consensus that we have had a good time stretching our legs. So this is a good place to turn around.

We pretty much return the way we came. The sun is on our side of the river and it is a nice walk back. There are a place or two which turned a bit slippery. But besides a knee which got banged, we navigated the trail without mishap. We cross the bridge and walk back to the car. The Fresno group has our lunch. Moriah will probably eat when she gets back to her friend's cabin. But we all are enjoying each other's company, so we do not break up very fast. Eventually, we all hug Moriah and bid her farewell.

And now our group is off to Yosemite Valley. By the time we get there, it should be about 3pm. Just enough time to drive around the Valley and marvel at the snow. First we stop at Tunnel View. This is a stop which Sherri and I avoid half the time. But it is well worth stopping today. Crowded but we do find a parking spot. Around the overlook, the snow has been well packed and is a bit icey. So the two older folks proceed with caution. But the view is worth it. Bridalveil is running well. Silver Strand is frozen which provides a different aspect to a Yosemite fall. I do not see Ribbon though. The sun is glancing off of El Cap and Half Dome.

We continue on down into the Valley. The road is clear of snow, but the Floor is covered. Just a beautiful sight.We go up the southside of the Valley at a leisurely pace, allowing us to take in the Valley walls. We circle past Curry Village and stop at Stoneman Meadow to enjoy the view of Half Dome. By now, the sun is getting lower and we start our way out of the Valley, going along the Northside. There is a line of cars with the same idea. But we are one of the few with the idea of stopping at the El Capitan Picnic Area. Definitely not to picnic, but there is an outhouse there. Not only that, but this area has a great view of Horsetail Falls. In two months, if there is sunlight, it will be a prized shot from this location. The sun’s rays refract, turning the falls into a golden red at sunset. Today, it is the rock of El Cap which has turned golden.

And with this, we leave the Valley. By the time we get to Chinquapin, it is dark. We stopped at Wawona for a bathroom break. Then on to Fresno. David makes it to our house 15 minutes before we arrive. We arrived at 6:35. After unpacking David, we have an assortment of food for dinner: clam chowder from Humboldt, salad and left overs. It is good to have family all in one place.

Background

Service Road. After we walked up the road and crossed over. Steven noted a retaining all near the small dam across the South Fork of the Merced. In looking at Google Earth after our walk, you can see where the service road continued on to where the dam is.

Archie Leonard Trail 1914

This trail extends from the Wawona Ranger Station paralleling the South Fork of the Merced River for several miles, then bears to the left to the main Buck Camp trail at the Buck Camp Ranger Station. This trail is named in honor of Ranger Archie Leonard, as a slight recognition of his many years of faithful service in Yosemite National Park. He was a guide for the U. S. Troops and later ranger with the National Park Service. When the Troops came to take over the protection of the Yosemite National Park, he was assigned as scout and guide for the Troops. During the winter months when the troops were out of the park, Archie and Charles Leibig took over the responsibilities of patrolling and keeping law and order. It is thought Leonard first blazed this trail in the early 1900’s. He was one of the “First Rangers” in Yosemite.

From Chapter V in Pathways: A Story of Trails and Men (1968), by John W. Bingaman.

Extra Photo's