May 23, 2023 - Yosemite Valley

 

Title: May 23, 2023 - Yosemite Valley

Hike Info : Description :  Extra Photo's : Flowers and Plants

Hike Info:

Type: Car 

 Description:

Steve, Connie, Sherri and Gary

A couple of friends of ours, Connie and Steve-no, not my Steven, have not been to Yosemite for a very long time. While I was at Delilah last week, Sherri invited them to Yosemite. Today is the day.

The last several days my lighting report has taken over an hour to do each day with over a hundred strikes each day. Today, there were only five so it was a breeze. I even had time to tear up some boxes for recycling.

 

 

Bridalveil Creek

 

We leave our house at 8:15 and get to Connie and Steve’s place about 8:40. I then drove us to Oakhust where we stopped for donuts at Judy’s. Then off to Yosemite. On the way up, we spot some dogwoods, which gives me hope that Yosemite Valley will still have a few. The bathrooms at Chinquipin which calls us. Then it is off to the Valley.

We get to Tunnel View at 11:10. It does not disappoint. While there is a slight haze over the Valley, it is a spectacular view. Bridalveil is right there pouring tons of water, looks like a lot of spray. Of course, there is water coming off all the rocks. I play my part of being a tour guide and name various points in the Valley. They are suitably impressed with the Valley-with me, that is an open question.

Gary and Sherri found a sitting tree

We then head down to the Valley. Lately we have not stopped at Bridalveil since there was construction going on. Today we found a parking place and stopped. When finished, the new plaza area will be able to handle so many more people without trampling over everything. I think when finished the Park will have a jewel.

We walked up the path towards the Falls. Bridalveil Creek is raging! Not only is the main channel full, but all of the fingers are flowing high. Fascinating watching. The path is better graded than before. Water is running down the path, but the path has been made to have traction, so the amount of water coming down is not an issue, except for the shoes getting wet. Connie decides to hold off on going up as the spray gets more intense. Then Sherri, stop, leaving Steve and I. When we get to the top, my glasses are almost unseeable. We see the falls, sort of, take a picture and head down, soaking wet.

 

Before we headed up, I had seen somebody spot a climber on El Capitan.

Climbers Gear

Now that we are down, I break out my binoculars and spot the climbers. Connie finds another interesting object which turns out to be a shelter on the wall. Then another group of climbers on the east side of the Nose. This keeps us occupied for about 20 minutes.

 

 

 

 

 

Lunch time is way past. Where to eat?

Sentinal Creek/Falls

Sentinel Beach’s Picnic area is open, so we stop there. I had tried one road, but turned back when I saw the depth of the mud. We find a table and have our lunch, enjoying the Merced flowing about 30 yards off-a bit of a swamp around us. Good to get food in us. In the meantime, we are entertained by someone who did not turn back from the mud. They are stuck and try a bunch of tactics which all fail. They are still stuck when we leave-I do not have any good solutions except having someone pull you out. I do not have the equipment to do that.

On the way out, I hear someone call out “Gary”! It is a person whom I worked with at FUSD, Eric from REA. We talk and exchange places we have been to and what we are doing now. I am surprised to be recognized. And then we are off again.

This time to Camp Curry. The parking area is full.So I drop off Sherri, Connie and Steven, having them go on the tram. I drove through the parking lot and eventually found a place to park. I get to walk up the road to Happy Isles

Lunch at Sentinel Beach

. Along the way I stop and admire some dogwoods. As I am admiring them, a couple of Israelis ask me about getting to Mirror Lake and Half Dome. I disillusioned them about the walking up to Half Dome today-it is a 16-17 mile walk with 4,000’. They understand that it is more than just a few minute hike. They decide that maybe they would do it another day. Later today I get a bit more beta on this trip, but that is too late for these folk.

I make it up to Happy Isles and quickly find Connie, Steve and Sherri. We talk for a few minutes and a tram comes along, so we hop on that tram. Our next stop is the Ahwahnee. Today’s visit is less impressive than usual. The Ahwahnee is getting a makeover, so major parts of the place is cordoned off. Still we wander through the Great Room, but cannot go into the lounge, nor see the dining area. Even outside, it looks like the grounds has had a rough Winter. Usually they are immaculate. Now they look like my backyard.

Royal Arches Falls

As we were walking back towards the hotel, I saw a woman waving at us. We have already had a strange encounter with someone out of my past, who could this be? As we get closer we see that it is a friend named Ellen. I was on a board with her for our daughter. Also her husband, Micheal is a fellow hiker. Ellen tells us another friend, Suzanne, is in the Valley as well, hiking. I guess half of Fresno is here today as we know our hiking group, the Central Valley Hiking Group has a hike here today as well, but we do not run into them.

We now hope onto the Green Tram and head to Yosemite Falls. On the bus Sherri and I strike up a conversation with a guy who just got done hiking up Half Dome. He confirms that there is still a lot of snow, making it hard going. Also that the cables are still down. The falls are roaring and spectacular. It is a pleasant walk. The shadows are growing, but the temperature is agreeable. I am expecting to get drenched but when we get close to the bridge, we experience only a drizzle. At least at the start. Pictures get taken and the roar of the Creek is heard. What a good way to be in Yosemite.

Yosemite Creek

We now need to walk back to the Village. I think we are excited by the day, so the walk is good. Excess water from Yosemite Creek crosses our path, providing a temptation which even at the end of my seventh decades I find too hard to resist. There is a large child inside of me who wants to splash in the water. So I jump, making a splash. Unfortunately the splash was mis-directed and went up, covering Steve. Apologies made. Not sure what Steve thought of the expedition's fearless leader after that.

But we made it to a purple bus stop with no more mishap and only the additional foolishness of telling the story of Lost Arrow. When we boarded the tram, it was the same bus driver as we had two weeks ago! I make a comment and she recognizes me. Once again a good person for Yosemite to be ferrying around visitors. We make it back to Camp Curry and load up the car. 

 

 

 

Yosemite  from Valley View

But that is not the last of the stops this tour makes. First there is the stop for the viewing of Horsetail Falls. It still looked more outstanding earlier in the year. Still the spray which comes off of there is really impressive. Then we travel down the Valley to near the Pohono Bridge at Valley View. The water has come up several feet from when we were there two weeks ago. Now the water laps right at the edge of the pavement. I wonder if the Park will close the road if things really heats up? The resulting view is breath-taking, the contrast of straight up walls with the falls coming down, the still grasses with the rapid flowing river. It is just there giving a reminder of change and changelessness.

We continue on to what seems like lately our stopping place for the Valley: Fern Spring. If anything, there is more water flow now than there was two weeks ago. I cross the road and stand beside the Merced. So swift, so high. Also the water from Fern Springs is flooding the trail. I suspect there are many places where the Valley Loop trail is flooded this Spring.

And now we are off, going back to Fresno. First, we stop at Round Table Pizza in Oakhurst and devour a large pizza. We reach Fresno after 7, dropping off Connie and Steve. Then back home for a bit of a rest.

Extra Photo's

Horsetail Falls

Bridalveil Falls

Yosemite Falls

Ribbon Falls

El Capitan

Bridalveil Falls

Gary

Bridalveil Creek and mist

Horsetail Falls from the West

Sentinel Creek/Falls

Yosemite Falls

Sentinel Rock

Royal Arches Falls

Connie and Sherri crossing Yosemite Creek

Gary and Yosemite Falls

Sherri and Gary at Yosemite Falls

Sherri, Connie and Steve admiring Yosemite Falls

Bridalveil Falls

Yosemite Valley from Valley View

Bridalveil Falls

Fern Springs

Merced River at Fern Springs

 
Flowers and Plants-All Dogwoods

May 4, 2019 - East End of Yosemite Valle

Title: May 4, 2019 - East End of Yosemite Valley or A Creek Runs Through It
Hike Info : Description : Trail Lessons : Background :  Extra Photo's : Flowers and Plants

Trail head: Camp Curry parking area

Hike Info:

Type: Hiking

Trail: Valley Loop Trail

Destination: Yosemite Falls, Loop

Actual Destination:  Yosemite Falls

Distance:  10.3 miles ¹

Start Time:  9:30

End Time:   5:30 

Elevation Gain: 1,676’

 ^{1 Looks like the the GPS did not accurately pick up the points, particularly within Tenaya Canyon. Consequently the points recorded were way off and could not be used accurately. The data above is derived from plotting the route on Google Earth.}

Description:

Staircase Falls

I got up at 5:15 and we left the house a little after 6:00. 10 out of 11 people show up-the 11th turns out thought she had dropped out of the hike. We left Fresno at 6:40. Jessi is riding with Sherri, Steven and I. We get to Oakhurst at 7:25, filling up with Starbucks and picking up Sonya. Then it is off to Yosemite with a brief stop at Chinquapin for taking care of some personal business. The line getting into Yosemite was surprising short-about a ten minute wait. Pays to go early. Camp Curry comings into view around 9:15.

A concern which I have is that parts of the Valley can be very wet during the Spring. With as much water as we have had this year, this concern can become a reality.

Merced River from Happy Isles

After taking a group picture, the ten of us start off. We went through Camp Curry and hit the road to Happy Isles. Normally when we hit the backpacker’s parking lot, we will take a back way in. But there is usually some water on the trail, so we just continue up the road. At Happy Isles, we stop for some personal maintenance before setting out.

Coming into Yosemite, we started noticing dogwoods along Highway 41. We were wondering if it would be too early for them in the Valley. The answer is NO! They are everywhere, from eye level to 30-40’ off the ground. The effect is mesmerizing. So many of them and they are at full bloom. We certainly hit it right for the dogwoods. What a wonderful year.

Tenaya Creek

We walk on the Valley Loop Trail, on the easternmost side of the Valley. Already the cameras are coming out. The dogwoods are really putting on a show. We come to the junction where I know I will need to make a decision-do we go around Mirror Lake or go directly to Mirror Lake up the road? Sherri asks a woman who just came down the trail if she has gone around the lake? Yes. How passable is it? My shoes are dry. Maybe taking advice from strangers may not be a good idea.

 

 

Washington Column

So off we go. I stay back with the photographers. The rest are quickly out of sight. But the photographers are enamoured by the blossoms and falls. They are always finding a better perspective.

Seasonal Water Fall

Seasonal Waterfall

We pass by Mirror Lake with the obligatory stopping for pictures. By now, the three of us are well behind the rest of the group. But there is so many more pictures to be taken.

Use Trail

We get to Ahwiyah Point rock fall. And now things get interesting. What I feared occurs. The trail is flooded. But there is a use trail around this section. This statement is a bit misleading on two counts. First the around is at least a quarter mile long. Which leads to the second point. The word "trail" conjures up an image of a well manicured path through lovely trees. While others have gone this way and several are following us, this is a route going over rocks, under fallen trees and through brush, climbing up about 50' above the real trail.

Tenaya Creek

We successfully scrambled over this, taking awhile to get around the flooded area. The reason for all the water? The Tenaya Creek has found a temporary route down the trail. So with apologies to Norman MacLean, I am titling this hike as A Creek Runs Through It. The three of us have a discussion about how far it was-300 yards or a quarter mile. So what is the difference? 100 yards.

How far back are we? I hope to catch up to the group at the bridge. But getting to the bridge, no group. But more pictures. Which means a bit more waiting. I do voice a concern about how far ahead the rest of the group is and a nudge to move on.

Illilouette Falls

We pass by the Snow Creek Trail and continue on. But there is so much to enjoy our walk is interrupted with more observations, both of the memory type and the photographic. We finally come up to Mirror Lake and catch up with the rest of the group. They have been waiting about 90 minutes.

After a brief lunch-I had Sherri's and Steven's-we are off again. We backtracked to the Stables Trail and take off up it. Now it is a bit up, but not much. It goes over a ridge where Indian Caves are-we do not see them, but Jody has been too them. She talked some about the legends associated with them.

As we come down the ridge, there is a pit toilet which people makes us of. The consensus is that they are yucky, but functional.

Now the question is what do we want to do to finish up the hike? The Ahwahnee? Yosemite Falls? Straight back to Camp Curry? Yosemite Falls wins. No need to stop at the Ahwahnee. 2.5 miles more, according to the sign.

We make some pretty good progress. After awhile, three young ladies pass us by and ask me about Royal Arches. I give them a general location and tell them that it is better from across the way. In unison, they say, “Thank you John Muir.” Sherri had put them up to it.

In a short order, we go under Royal Arches. Then get to cross Royal Arches Creek. There is enough water to make things interesting, but not very dangerous. The worst which will happen is we will get our ankles wet. But we all make it across safely. The Ahwahnee is close by, but we do not stop.

But on the north end of Ahwahnee Meadow, there is a bathroom, which we stop to give everybody an opportunity to take advantage of it-nobody does. The three ladies are there and we talk for a few and I direct them to the south end of Ahwahnee Meadow for a better viewing of Royal Arches and they scurry off.

Rattlesnake on trail - Photo by Sonya

Now for the big excitement for the day. For those of you who do not know where we are, we are only about 100-125 yards from Yosemite Village, the main place where you are going to have visitors-only about 150’ from the medical clinic and are on a paved trail where there is virtually a continuous stream of people during the summer. Sonya sees a snake, a cute, baby rattlesnake close to Steven’s feet. Steven is able to get out of the way when the snake lashes out. But that was close. I expect something like this in less populated areas, not here. Just goes to show Yosemite is a wild, even in the more populous parts. 





 

Now we go behind the village, but re-emerge in front of the Visitor Center. We do not stop there, but continue on. But we do stop at the Yosemite Cemetery-or more properly known as the Pioneer Cemetery. Here many of the pioneers of Yosemite are buried: Clark, Hutchings, Lamon-not Muir though. We are a bit fascinated by the graves.

Yosemite Falls and Lost Arrow

Then we move on back up to the Valley Loop Trail. This brings us to the Falls. While I have seen more spray than this, it was wet enough for me. Nobody sticks around for very long to get wet. I think we are beginning to get tired. Being cold, wet and tired just does not sound fun. But the Falls are so awesome. Even coming up into the Falls, Lost Arrow standing, shining in the sun besides the spray of Yosemite Falls gives us all pause to appreciate how special this place is. I told the group to lookout slacklining Lost Arrow for some excitement.

Yosemite Creek

Now we come down from the Falls base towards Northside Drive. But first, it is time for a bathroom break-flush toilets here. Yipee! After all have gathered, we go over to where the buses load. When the bus pulls up, I count off eight people from our group getting on board. Wait! Didn’t we start with ten? Oh yeah the two photographers are still looking around. I tell the others to go ahead and I will catch the next bus. One photographer comes up. Then just before the bus is going to take off, the other one comes up. We ride around for the next 20 minutes until we get back to Camp Curry and our cars.

Yosemite Falls

Now comes the hardest part of the whole trip-getting out of Yosemite Valley. Fortunately it is too early in the season for the Yosemite Gridlock to take place. But we just get in line and progress through. Until Camp 4, we move at 10-15 mph, but then it becomes the usually trip out. On the way back, we stop in Oakhurst at Plazuelas Mexican Restaurant. See below for more. We get to Fresno, tired and happy. When I start to unpack, I find a mysterious wallet in my backpack. Sunday, we reunite the wallet with its owner. A pretty good trip.

Trail Lesson:

Definitely not one of the one line spify statements which usually come under “Trail Lesson”. But definitely something which I am pondering. We have a couple of photographers on this trip. That is really a good thing. I learn so much from watching others taking pictures. Both from the standpoint of the craft, but also seeing things from a different perspective.

But to do the craft right takes time. A few minutes here and a few minutes there adds up. The trick to giving people time to do their craft while respecting the time of the non-photographers, so they do not have to wait a long time, I have yet to master. I have much to learn as an organizer of hikers.

Background

Plazuelas Mexican Restaurant This is a mixed review and I suspect that with a smaller group than nine people, the review would have been different. My group came in after hiking 10 miles in Yosemite, hungry, but jovial. The positive, the food was delivered fast and it tasted really good. For the food, I would go again. I had a plain chicken burrito and enjoyed it. But I suspect that Plazuelas was not accustomed to serving that many people at once. They seemed to charge extra for each and every item-extra chips, $2.50. You want sour cream a couple of dollars more. Just put a damper on how we felt about the place.

Lost Arrow. During our hike, I mentioned that for a real thrill, to Google SlackLine Lost Arrow. Two which might be of interest is the first woman who slackedline-she falls a couple of times. The other is a person who free walks the slackline-it shows how the slackline is set up..

Extra Photo's

Staircase Falls and Dogwood

Merced River from Happy Isles

Mirror Lake and Glacier Point

Top of Washington Column

Meetup People on Valley Loop Trail

Mirror Lake and Staircase Falls

Seasonal Falls

Seasonal Falls

Tenaya Creek

Snow Creek on upper wall

Work around path

Illilouette Falls

Wall of Death area

Yosemite Falls and Lost Arrow

Yosemite Falls

Yosemite Falls

Gary, as always, pontificating

 
Flowers and Plants

Fungi

Dogwood

Dogwood