Gary-Summer: Little Yosemite Valley

Showing posts with label Little Yosemite Valley. Show all posts

Friday, September 29, 2023

September 29, 2023 - Wawona Meadow and Full Moon

Title: September 29, 2023 - Wawona Meadow and Full Moon
Hike Info : Description : Extra Photo's : Flowers and Plants

Hike Info:

Type: Hiking : Car

Trail head: Wawona Hotel

Trail: Wawona Meadow

Destination: Loop

Distance: 3.75 miles

Start Time: 4:26

End Time: 6:45

Travel Time: 2:00 (1.87 mph)

Moving Time: 1:47 (2.10 mph)

Elevation Rise: 454'

Descent: 442‘

Maximum Elevation: 4,228'

GPS Tracks

Description:

Wawona Golf Course

We thought of going on a hike on Thursday, but we got tied up. Also if we did it Friday, then Steven and Korra could go with us. So that settles things for us. I did my normal lightning stuff in the morning and continued to clean off my desk. Basically I doddle most of the day. We took off towards Yosemite with the idea of catching the full moon. But the forecast calls for the skies to be cloudy so that may not happen. Still we can walk with Korra around Wawona Meadow and see what the skies look like after that.

Korra

I drove and we observed the clouds forming to the north and east. By the time we get to Wawona, it is 4pm. Of course, it takes us a few minutes to get ready for our walk. And also of course, Korra is all excited for this adventure. The skies are getting cloudy, but we are not too concerned with a chance of rain. I do have my rain jacket, just as a precaution. Then again, I almost always carry it.

In some ways, this walk around Wawona Loop is about the same distance as a full walk around my neighborhood. A bit more scenic-my neighborhood is not bad. We have walked this loop so many times it is easy to get lulled into thinking I have seen it all before and not really look at what we are walking. Today is not a spectacular day, so I need to remind myself to keep my eyes open. I try to keep my head on a bit of a swivel, looking around.

Unnamed Creek

Do I see anything? Well yes. It primarily comes in two forms: color and clouds. I think this is a “C” trip. It is not yet deep Fall at 4,000’. The grasses and shrubbery has turned a bit of color, but hardly any tree leaves. Yet the color of straw in the meadow contrasts with the green of the golf course and trees. Some trees will never turn-the conifers. The contrasts do provide a hint of what is to come. Then the clouds give a good offset to the normal blue skies. Especially as the sun sets and the skies slowly turn a bit of red and purple. This is not a fiery show, more of subdued like today is.

Sherri crossing the creek

With the skies being cloudy, chances are the full moon scheduled for tonight will be a bit gloomy, if you will. But we decided to go to Glacier Point anyway. The Park has revamped the road and we are interested in seeing it. So we load up and ride on over there. Gone are the potholes and bumps which have characterized this road. Part of the project was to make it so the buses would have an easier time on the section close to Washburn Point. While it should make it easier for them as the horseshoe turns seem wider than before, they still will block both lanes.

More Wawona Meadow

We stopped at Washburn Point and were the only ones there. All is black, except for a few lights-some in Little Yosemite Valley down past Vernal Falls. They might be Half Dome hikers Besides that, not too much to see with the clouds blocking the moon.

Steven and Korra

Then we stopped at Glacier Point. Now there are a few breaks in the clouds, letting a bit of moonlight through. Half Dome is visible along with the outlines of some of the granite formations. Still pretty dark. It is a bit cool. We looked for about 15 minutes. Steven’s tripod is acting up, so all of our shots were hand-held. I left my small tripod in the car.

Moon playing hide and seek

With that, we travel back to Fresno with Steven driving. There is a quick stop at Carl’s Jr in Oakhurst where we picked up some burgers. By the time we got back to Fresno, it was closing in on 10:30. I am tired. All which I can do is unload the car and dump myself into bed. Glad we did it, even if the full moon was not cooperating.

Extra Photo's

Half Dome at Night

Wawona Meadow at Dusk

Wawona Meadow and Dome

Devil's Peak with Signal on top of it on the left

Moon trying to break through

Half Dome in the Night Sky

Moon hiding behind some trees

Flowers and Plants

Maybe Rubber Rabbitbush

Speculation has it as being an apple

Columbine

Mountain Dogwood

Thursday, February 7, 2019

February 7, 2019 - Little Yosemite

Title: February 7, 2019 - Little Yosemite
Hike Info : Description : Extra Photo's : Animals

Trail head: Sunol Valley Regional Park

Hike Info:

Type: Hiking

Trail: Canyon View Trail, Geary Road

Destination: Little Yosemite

Distance: 5.06 miles 1

Start Time: 10:15

End Time: 2:18

Elevation Rise: 1,329'

Descent: 1,329‘

Maximum Elevation: 854'

GPS Tracks

¹The GPS was not working properly. There was no track for the first mile and a half. Also the elevation never showed up. The mileage and elevation is based upon Google Earth’s calculations. The times are my approximate start and stop times.

Description:

Not that Little Yosemite! Last year we discovered another Little Yosemite. This one is in the Sunol Wilderness. While it is not as spectacular as the Yosemite, it is a pleasant find.

We were to go backpacking Thursday and Friday but between the predictions of rain for Friday and appointments scheduled, we decided to do a day hike. Andrea suggested going to Little Yosemite. Sounds about right. But we discovered that we had two different trails in mind. We shall see how we do about which to go on. Her’s is a 7+ mile look of over a thousand feet gain. Mine is 5+ with about 600+ of gain. With how I have been lately, I have some serious qualms of the longer more strenuous trail.

Crossing the Alamedda

We plan to get to the parking lot around 10:00. But we were both a few minutes late. The visitor center is closed, so after taking care of a few things we head out. We cross over the green and then cross a bridge over Alameda Creek. We come to the start of the Canyon View Trail.

The first quarter mile is pretty easy, then we start our climb. The thing about these trails in this Wilderness area is that there is little grading of the trails. So we just go up to the top of a ridge, then climb along its spine with maybe a short downhill and start it all over again. I make steady progress, but I am hoping that we are getting close to the top of the hill. My lungs particularly are being well used. The legs ache, but seem to be OK with the climb.

Cirrus Clouds

We get to the McCorkle Trail. This is about halfway to Little Yosemite. Now it gets easier as we are mostly going downhill. With the recent rains, the hills are all green with new grass. The air is clear and a few mountains a ways away are topped with a fresh coating of white. It is a good time to be out hiking.

Looking down into the Sunol area

We come to the spot where last April we joined this trail-can tell because of the fence. We know that right beneath us is Little Yosemite. But we decide to continue on the Canyon View Trail until it meets Camp Ohlone Road. Not much exciting to report, just pleasant walking-except we did venture off onto a cow path for a short distance.

The "W" Tree

There is a short, sharp descent into a small, unnamed creek bed. Only thing notable is that on each side of the trail is poison oak. We hit the Camp Ohlone Road and decide to continue on up it a ways. There is an interesting tree shaped like a “W”. So it is a little wonder that there is a sign saying the “W” Tree which is beside the “W” Tree Creek. After a half of a mile walking along the road, we come to a rock outcropping which Steven and Andrea climb. David and I walk a hundred yards farther and come to the other end of the McCorkle Trail. Also a trail marker indicates that we have almost come to the end of the park area. So we head back.

Little Yosemite

Walking down the road is a lot easier than before. I am able to even loiter and take a few pictures and then catch up. We stop at Little Yosemite and have lunch. I note that I am thinking of going back via the road. Some have talked about heading up to the McCorkle Trail and making that loop. But everybody decided to head back down the road.

Alameda Creek

I will admit the road is not very exciting. We meet a few people walking their dogs, also a few trucks which are servicing the project up at Calaveras Dam. But we walked pretty well, relaxed. Even a bit slow for me.

Around 2:00, we got back to the main part of the Sunol Park area and by 2:15 was back at the car. A pretty delightful family hike. Now to decide what to do.

Sherri’s cousin likes Niles Ice Cream Sweets and Eats. Sherri and I split a brownie sundae. Totally rich, totally enjoyable. I will say that I it did affect the tummy some-not that it was bad. But just caused me to feel a bit like I will never have to eat again. And this is with about eating only a third of the sundae. Enjoyable, but be careful is the moral of this story. Andrea is returning to Oakland and we go back to Mountain View. A good day.