Gary-Summer: Gunsight

Showing posts with label Gunsight. Show all posts

Saturday, October 18, 2014

October 18, 2014 - East Yosemite Valley Loop

Title: October 18, 2014 - East Yosemite Valley Loop

Trail head: Curry Village Parking Lot

Hike Info:

Type: Hiking

Trail: East Yosemite Valley Loop

Destination: loop

Distance: 12.98 miles ¹

Start Time: 11:11

End Time: 5:15

Travel Time: 6:03 (2.14 mph)

Moving Time: 5:09 (2.52 mph)

Elevation Rise: 1,170'

Maximum Elevation: 4,306'

¹Matt's GPS read 13.7 miles; my initial reading before removing the "slow" times was 13.2 miles.

Description:
This is the first time I'm hiking with Karol in awhile and I am looking forward to it-this does not count my Wawona hike. I am a bit apprehensive-my schedule lately has not allowed me to get up to the mountains to hike-doing fire lookout does not count since that is much more sedentary. But anytime you get up to the mountains, it is a real blessing, so there is many things I am excited about: the hike, the people and the Fall colors.

Fall Colors on Tenaya Creek

We met at Kohl's at 8 and stop at Starbucks in Oakhurst around 9. There we pick up two more hikers: Nat and Stephanie, making us a group of 17. I am not driving as both my wife and my son needs cars. So Matt G is taking Dana and myself. We hit Yosemite Valley after 10. Some of our travel discussion was about places in Yosemite where it would be suitable to intern a person's ashes. We park at Camp Curry and take care of some basic human needs. So by the time we get moving, it is after 11.

Steve B takes the lead. Karol is having some shoulder issues so she will be cutting short her hike. We take off for Happy Isles. This is the normal hike along the paved path. When we reach Happy Isles, we don't stop. Here we go under the cliffs of Half Dome-Grizzly Peak. It is a dirt trail and here we start noticing the Fall colors. The frondescence are just starting to turn from their greens to yellows on the broad leaf trees.

Our Trail

When we hit the Mirror Lake trail junction, we discuss going up there, but our hike today is long enough without including this diversion, so we head off towards the Ahwahnee Hotel. Spirits are high and conversation flow. I enjoy talking with Cindy, Nafisa, and Theng Theng. Several people have not been to the Ahwahnee so it is an eye opener for them. Maybe not the splendor of the building, but how the building blends in with the Valley and the walls just magnifies the buildings aesthetics.

Before Yosemite Falls

But there is not much time to stop and gawk as there is a trail to be walked, hopefully before dark. So we continue on the loop. This goes above the Valley by a couple hundred feet, which does some things for us:

Opens up the canopy, letting in light
Gives us views of the Valley
The trees are now oaks and we feel the chaparralness of the area
It is warmer.

Yosemite Falls-Dry

So several of us shed the outer layers of clothes. Now the wisdom of Duran comes into play because I had shed my outer clothes back at the car and was feeling comfortable now. But the sights looking west compensate for the temporary warmth. By this time it is only Karol, Beth, Dana and myself at the rear. The main group has lost contact with us. So we continue on to the Falls. I should say the wet spot on the rock cliff because falls creates a picture of water pouring down. But we do not see the rest of our group so we continue on to the bathrooms. Still no group. Where did they go to? After looking around for awhile, here comes the group, coming from the direction of the shuttle.

Half Dome

We stop do have lunch-I break out my bear canister of Nutella Brownies, much appreciated by the group. Then it is time to say goodbye to those returning back. We are eleven hikers now and going on towards El Capitan bridge. I was not expecting to go this far west-note to Gary: read the hike description rather than assume. But I am feeling good and so on we go. Steve takes the lead and navigates us through woods and Meadow, along the side of the Merced and the cliffs of the Valley. He sets the pace and I am the sweep.

Climbers

We pass through Camp 4 before crossing Northside Drive. This brings us to the remains of the Merced which in places looks like it is barely flowing. When we come close to El Capitan, I spot some climbers-a ranger later on tells me there is 15 parties on this face, but I only spot two of them. I do start to understand the settings on binoculars and why you care about the field of view.

We finally come to the bridge, crossing the Merced and now are 4 1/2 miles from Camp Curry, the home stretch. Dana's new shoes are starting to give her problems. By the time we reach the Four Mile Trail junction she is in pain and she stops at Swinging Bridges-we will pick her up later. Matt and I continue on, catching up with the group shortly after.

Gunsight and Cathederal Rocks

El Capitan

I am at the back again, but we are now nearing the end, only a mile and a half away from the car. I am joined by Cindy and Stefanie as we do the final leg of our walk. I can feel the effects of the 13 miles. The right hip is starting to feel a bit sore-it will feel more sore the next day. We pull in well behind everybody else, but are victorious in finishing the hike. Matt swings around and picks up Dana and we meet the group in Oakhurst at the Southgate Brewery. We reach Kohl's at 9pm, tired but good.

Trail Lesson:

Half Dome

The trail is long, enjoy the now and do not worry about catching up.

North Dome

Tuesday, September 2, 2014

September 2, 2014 - McGurt Meadow-Dewey Point-Pohono Trail-Artist Point

Title: September 2, 2014 - McGurt Meadow-Dewey Point-Pohono Trail-Artist Point

Trail head: McGurt Meadow Trail Head

Hike Info:

Type: Hiking

Trail: McGurt Meadow, Pohono Trail, Old Wawona Trail

Destination: Bridalveil Parking Lot

Distance: 10.81 miles

Start Time: 10:06

End Time: 4:53

Travel Time: 6:47 (1.59 mph)

Moving Time: 5:13 (2.07 mph)

Elevation Rise: 1,323'
Elevation Decrease: 4,115'

Maximum Elevation: 7,389'

Description:

Fresh eyes on a much visited place opens the eyes which are jaded. That is what today's travel is about for me. Sherri met Kevin on the LoseIt site. He is from the Boston area and brought his adult son Connor with him to visit a California and more particularly, Yosemite, our stomping grounds.

Kevin

Connor

We met Kevin and Connor at the Bridalveil parking lot. Kevin asks, where are we going? I only point at a high cliff directly above us-he thinks I am kidding, but that is Dewey Point. But first, we take them up to Glacier Point for an initial view of Yosemite. But to our surprise, there are two small fires burning in back of Little Yosemite Valley. Unbeknownst to us, in less than a week later, the little 4 acre Meadow Fire would blow up to a 4,000+ acre fire! Closing down the JMT and Half Dome trail. But today, all which it is doing is spewing out smoke and choking the Valley.

We then do a brief stop at Washburn Point, which normally is one of my favorite views. But between the smoke covering the landscape and the drought drying up the Merced, the view is sadly degraded. So we take a look and continue on our way to the McGurk Meadow trail-head, just a little west of Bridalveil Campground.

Now our hike begins. We move quickly along the trail, passing McGurk's cabin. The meadow, which I think on older maps is called Peregoy, there is a sense of serenity cast by is meadow. It stretches on for about a mile, but being Fall, the vibrant greens is being replaced by the drying yellows and gold.

Gunsight and Royal Arches

At the Pohono Trail junction, we turn west towards Dewey Point. We go through a series of rolling ridges before dropping down to Dewey. I am half expecting to see a falcon, which we do not-several years ago, we were blessed with a falcon sighting at Dewey Point. When I see something unusual in one place, I somewhat always expecting to be there. Kevin and Connor are amazed by the view. There is a photographer in Kevin and he gets his camera going. And there is good reason for this. This is a view which people will do an eight mile round trip for, with El Capitan facing us and Cathederal Rocks so close. When looking at a topo map, one name pops out, The Gunsight, and so it is, taking aim on Royal Arches, as if we were not smart enough to find it on our own.

El Capitan from the south

El Capitan from the west

Crocker Point

We do decide to continue on with our hike-the alternative is to go back the way we did. One thing this hike will not be and that is pointless. In 3/4 of a mile we come to our second point-Crocker Point. Here we see the Valley from a slightly different perspective. We are a bit more out into the Valley, so we have a little longer view to the east. When exiting this point, I take the trail back to Dewey, but only for a hundred yards or so. But then I realize my mistake and we go the next two-thirds of a mile to Stanford Point. More drop-dead gorgeous views.

Now to a place of historic significance and I get to pontificate on it-Old Inspiration Point. This is where the first white men saw Yosemite and where Ayers if sketched the Valley and showed its wonders. But the area has gotten a bit overgrown so the views are inferior to the three others we have seen.

Yosemite Valley

The Pohono Trail does a nose dive and starts a steep downhill. It has been over 30 years since I walked this part and I am anticipating it to be hot and dry and some what exposed, as well as a knee jarring drop. But there is a nice forested cover bringing temperatures down. So the walking is enjoyable, as much as a prolonged descent can be. Kevin and Connor have moved ahead of us so Sherri and I hike alone.

Slowly we change from the conifer forest into more of the chaparral oaks and manzanita brush. But the trail is clear and the walking good. Eventually we get to the current Inspiration Point. I will say I am not too impressed with the view. After stopping and resting-Kevin and Connor were waiting for us there- we continue on down. I find a little social trail and follow it for 40-50 yards when I come out onto the classic Yosemite Valley View. Just so good! Too bad everyone else missed it. But it is enough to take it all in.

Classic Yosemite Valley View

A little ways further we come to a junction where the Pohono Trail continues on to Tunnel View. But our route is to follow the Old Wawona Road. From what I can tell, this junction is close to the old Ft Monroe. I will need to find out more of this.

Old Wawona Road

End of Old Wawona Road

Going along the Old Wawona Road has been a desire of mine for the past several years. I keep seeing this road just above Bridalveil parking lot and have been wondering what it looks like. We will be exiting here after walking down the old road. The trail down is pretty good. Most of the road is there, but in a few places we climb over downed trees or follow a narrow path. One place close to Artist Point, we get another good view of the Valley.

When we get back to the car at Bridalveil, we realize how tired we are. But it is an enjoyable hike. Kevin and Connor take us back to our car where we say farewell. Sherri and I return back to Fresno, but not before stopping at Todd's in Oakhurst.