Gary-Summer: August 15, 2024 - Tuolumne Meadows

Thursday, August 15, 2024

August 15, 2024 - Tuolumne Meadows

Title: August 15, 2024 - Tuolumne Meadows
Hike Info : Description : Menu : Extra Photo's : Animals

Hike Info:

Type: Backpacking

Trail head: Lyell Canyon, Junction with Vogelsang Trail

Trail: Jon Muir Trail

Destination: Tuolumne Meadows

Distance: 6.27 miles

Start Time: 9:37

End Time: 2:33

Travel Time: 4:55 (1.28 mph)

Moving Time: 3:18 (1.90 mph)

Elevation Rise: 557 '

Descent: 826‘

Maximum Elevation: 8,964'

GPS Tracks

Description:

Morning breaks over Kuna Crest

I got up a few minutes earlier than yesterday, about 6:50. I then went for a walk, this time a little ways down trail. But since I will be walking this later, I decided to trail the Vogelsang Trail. It is steep and it was wise not to have tried this with packs on yesterday. I think we could have made it, but it would not be enjoyable. Still, it is good for me to do this climb. I decided to go up until I met the sun. By my estimation, this was about 160’ above our camp, or another way to put it, about two and half times the climb up Delilah’s stairs. Delilah is a lot steeper, but there is a definite end to the climb.

Tuolumne

By the time I got back, Sherri was up. We had breakfast and got packed up. That sounds maybe too aggressive for what we were doing. It was more relaxed as we left with camp on our backs about a quarter to ten. Maybe part of that was that we spotted a doe and her two fawns a ways away and just watched them for a few minutes. It was that kind of a morning.

When we did get going, it was backtracking what we did Tuesday. In one way, it was the same, except for the packs being slightly lighter and going backwards from then. On other hand, we see Lyell Canyon differently, not backwards, but a different side of things. This makes it interesting.

I do not see the resemblance

We stop for a break about 11 while getting close to the mouth of the canyon. Then it is a walk through the forest. We talk to our fellow backpackers, most of them doing the JMT. There seems to be two comments which are prevalent. First, awe and amazement that two 70 year olds are still backpacking. The second is similar to what I got while we did the JMT 11 years ago. Apparently while on the trail, I have a certain resemblance to another backpacker who was Scottish-I am Spanish. I will let you figure out who.

When we get to Rafferty Creek, we know we are close to the car, maybe a mile and a half. But we decided this would be a good place for another break. By this time it is 12:40. But neither of us are in the mood for lunch so a Clif bar and GORP is in order. And then onward we go.

We now cross the Tuolumne’s bridges and re-enter the realm of normal tourists. People are around us, moving faster than we are. But we continue to trudge on. I had previously told someone that it does not how tired you look or felt throughout your hike, just come into the parking lot, looking full of energy. So we stop for a short break, with more stuff to give energy and then are off for the last half of a mile.

We make it to the car about 2:30 and feel good about taking the packs off of our shoulders. We had talked about doing a short walk in Wawona, but decided that was not in the cards. We do stop there for a bathroom break and then hit El Cid for dinner. Next door is Reimers and we indulge in ice cream afterwards. Sherri drives us home to Fresno where the shower awaits us.