Hike Info : Description : Extra Photo's : Flowers and Plants
Type: Hiking
Trail head: Yosemite Parking Area
Trail: Cook Meadow, Valley Loop Trail
Destination: None
Actual Destination: Mirror Lake
Distance: 4.21 miles
Start Time: 11:15
End Time: 2:45
Travel Time: 3:40 (1.15 mph)
Moving Time: 2:05 (2.02 mph)
Elevation Rise: 784 '
Descent: 620‘
Maximum Elevation: 4,247'
It was the typical Spring day in Yosemite
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Ribbon Falls |
Like I said, it is Mother’s Day. I got up around 5:45 and made pancakes for all of us. By 8:00, we were already ready to go. I am driving. Nothing exciting happens on the drive. Except Sherri does realize she forgot her phone. So no picture taking for her today. There is only one car in front of us at the entrance station. So we get in quickly. We do stop at Chinquapin. There was a German couple and we talked. They are going to Glacier Point. For the first time today, I played tour guide and told them about things they can see on the road. Then off we go into the Valley.
There is a lot of parking in front of Bridalveil Falls. We parked and walked up towards the Falls. There are dogwoods in bloom. We look up towards the Falls. They are coming over the lip and catching the sunlight. Not only that, mist is flying upwards, swirling around in the winds the falling water makes. This is one of the things which make Yosemite Valley special. Sherri and I go only part way up; Andrea and Steven go all the way up and get drenched. But by the time we get down to the car they are dry. It is that kind of day.
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Bridalveil Falls |
Then along Southside drive we
go. A year and a half ago, Andrea and Lawrence got married at
Cathedral
Beach.
The Merced
River is
up close to being full. The beach they were married on is covered.
Andrea looks like she is going out, but her wisdom prevents her and
she is content to gaze at the area.
Then it is onward. I am
anticipating parking at Curry
Village,
but it is full and traffic control waves us on to the Yosemite
Parking Area.
Time to recalibrate today’s walk. Sherri wants to go past Yosemite
Falls. This makes route planning a bit easier.
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Bridalveil Mist |
We head towards Cooks Meadow. This gives us a view of the eastern end of the Valley-nothing like it in my 71 years of experience. Half Dome to the east, Yosemite Falls to the North and Glacier Point to the South. So much natural splendor.
We cross the Meadow going towards Yosemite Falls. The walking is leisurely. We climb up to the bridge over Yosemite Creek. Once we get to the bridge, there is some spray, but not really a lot-at least by Spring’s standards. Usually at this time of year, we are drenched with spray. We look and take pictures. We are now on the Valley Loop Trail. We leave the paved trail and have dirt under our feet. We start to head upward.
As we headed up, there were two couples who appeared lost and wanted a place to eat. I tell them to continue on this trail until they come to a parking area. When they get there, they are behind Degnans where they can get lunch. They are appreciative. I guess I cannot help but being a tour guide. Turns out the instructions are slightly off, but they are in the vicinity.
Now I am able to give our own group some instructions about where we will eat lunch. But somehow what I thought I was saying did not get conveyed. We still ended up looking at Ahwahnee Meadow as our lunch time location.
After lunch, we headed towards the Ahwahnee, but did not go in. Just on the other side of the hotel, the Valley Loop Trail is closed. Why? There is some loose rock on the Royal Arches, so they have blocked off the area. But there is a route around the danger area.
Andrea and Steven travel ahead on the way to Mirror Lake
. We get to the section of trail which the horses use. There is an outhouse by the road going up to the Lake. I told Sherri that I would wait for them there. As a bonus, there is a whole forest of dogwood which I enjoy.![]() |
Steven, Sherri, Andrea |
We drove home after considering stopping for dinner in Oakhurst. Glad we waited as Rachel had a delicious spread waiting for us. This is a good Mother’s Day dinner. Thanks Rachel. Oh yeah, and Friday’s problem was that there was a pine needle in her paw.
Extra Photo's
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Royal Arches Falls |
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Bridalveil Falls Mist |
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Sun through mist and leaves |
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Top of Bridalveil Falls |
Flowers and Plants
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Dogwood |
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Dogwood |
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