October 26, 2020 - Glacier Point

 

Title: October 26, 2020 - Glacier Point
Hike Info : Description : Extra Photo's :

Hike Info:

Type: Car 

Destination: Taft Pt and Sentinel Dome

Actual Destination:  Glacier Point

Description:

We got a Yosemite Park pass so that we could go up on October 31st. So we need to make a trip up to Yosemite. Besides, it is good after my birthday trip for a now much older man. Such hardships we endure, woe is us. We are planning to hike over to Taft Pt and up Sentinel Dome. A loop we have done several items. While well within our capability, it will stretch us a bit in our current condition.

View from Washburn Pt

We don’t get an early start, but a start which should get us up there by about 10am. It is a quick drive up. The line at the entrance station is a bit long, but not by Yosemite standards. We make a quick stop at Chinquapin. And then go up the Glacier Point Road.

Oh, Oh! As we approach the parking area for Taft Pt/Sentinel Dome, we see nothing but cars parked on the side of the road, leading up to the parking area. Does not look very promising. After a quick consultation, we decided that area is too crowded for us. Now what to do? For a short term solution, we will go on to Glacier Point and see how crowded that area is.

Horse Fire

On our way to Glacier, we stop at Washburn Point which is pretty open. We are a minority mask wearers, but there is a lot of room, so that does not seem to be an issue. Washburn Point is my preferred overlook. I think it is because we can see far into the backcountry. I can see places I have been and dreama bit about walking there again. Also there are places my feet have not traveled yet. I can only imagine what they like. Looking east, the view is pretty clear. I gaze that way for a while. Half Dome is dominae, and Vernal and Nevada falls are there. But the Clark Range with Mt Starr King is a wonder.

Snow Creek Trail

And then farther back we see the Crest. Such a wonderful view. So glad not that many people stop here. Also, when we look south, we see the Horse Fire on Horse Ridge, right before Ostrander Lake. Actually, Sherri spots it first-hopefully it is because I am distracted with everything else. This fire was started by lightning in August. The Park is letting it burn itself out.

Onward down to Glacier Point, not far. The parking lot is maybe about a quarter full. Looks like we score. We go out to the point. Yosemite Valley is always impressive and particularly from Glacier. There is a haze coming in from the Creek and SQF Complex fires. I start to pick out various places-Camp Curry, Happy Isles, Snow Creek Trail, and where the Hidden Falls probably is. When I look at Ahwahnee Meadows, I am seeing something man made which I cannot figure out. It is only when I realized that it was a Christmas ornament.

 

 

Lunch Time

We have lunch a little ways off, facing out to the Valley. Very pleasant. After a stop at a bathroom way at the end of the parking lot-it is a long lot. So we did get a little bit of a walk in. We started back up the road thinking maybe if the Taft Pt parking area is not busy, doing that walk. Nope. So on we go.

Mysterious design on Ahwahnee Meadow

Sherri wants to stop at the Mono Meadows Trailhead. So we do. Not a great view, but looking through the trees there are places which you just wish for a bit broader of a view. We just wander in an arc around the area and see what we could see. Oh yeah, we were not sure where the trail was-that is a common problem with me. I can wander many places in the backcountry and find where I should be pretty easily. But finding the trail at the trailhead? I have a history of having issues there.

Time to move on. We stopped in Oakhurst at Carl Jr’s. but the power has been out. They said to wait around for about half an hour. We decided not to-we can almost be to Fresno by that time. We order a take-out dinner from Red Robin in Riverpark and have a content dinner.

 

 Extra Photo's

Horse Fire

Closer View of the Horse Fire

Half Dome, Vernal and Nevada Falls and beyond from Washburn Pt

View from Mono Meadow Trailhead-Half Dome on left

The Clark Range "humps" from Mono Meadow Trailhead

Sherri

June 19, 2009 –Illilouette Creek to Mono Meadows Trailhead, (11.9 miles GPS)

We all got up a bit early—around 6, even Sherri. Our goal is to get going by 8:00. I did not sleep well last night. Not because of being uncomfortable, but more from the anxiety of getting an early start. Sherri had said she would get up when I did this morning. I suspect that is the reason why I woke about a bit after midnight and the again at 4am. But even then, I slept for at least 8 hours.

We eat, get packed—the tent top is wet with our perspiration. Its amazing how much you sweat at night. And we leave at the miraculous time of a quarter past seven. I am in the lead setting the pace. I am hoping that we can keep a pace of a little more than two miles per hour. For the first hour we go down some rocky slopes. Sometimes the path is bare granite; sometimes its boulders on the path and then sometimes the trail builders have inlaid stones to make a nice even path. It is pretty good. We make slightly more than 2 mph. All along we are treated with some very good sights looking down the valley or across at the river.

Then we hit wooded area. The path is dirt and well marked. We make good time going pretty close to 3 mph. I think this is the fastest Sherri has done for a long period of time with a pack. She is doing pretty good. We see more flowers today than we have in the past five days. Of course we are at a lower altitude now than we have been since the first day. Also it is warmer than it has been all week.

We come to Red Creek (N37.67684 W119.49832). It is log walking time again. Not too bad. But we stop for the first lunch there for the Sherri recovery time after log walking experience. Then we go about a quarter mile to Clark Creek (N37.67960 W119.50138). David and Steven decide that they don’t want to get their feet wet, so they go across some logs. I follow Sherri’s lead and take off my shoes. The crossing is not bad. We get across it without incident.

We have met a couple people. So we now know we are getting close to coming out of the backcountry. The third hour we slow a bit, but are still traveling well for us. A little under 3 mph. We come to a trail junction (N37.68443 W119.52091)—going to Little Yosemite Valley or down to Illilouette Creek. Its down we go. This part is a bit of a difference than what we have been travelling through previously. Its dry, sandy and a bit exposed to the sun. Plus, this area was badly burnt in a fire over ten years ago.

Now maybe Sherri slowed down a little to play a game called pinecone soccer. Steven and David, with a few assists by yours truly, would kick a pinecone down the trail. Sometimes a score would be made by having the pinecone going through Sherri’s legs. What a wonderful game. Sometimes I thought Sherri did not quite appreciate it.

When we get to the second junction (N37.68815 W119.54561), there is a sign on the mileage markers. The sign warns us that Illilouette Creek is running full and can be dangerous. After coming 50 miles, crossing snow, cross logs, walking down creeks disguised as trails, do we let a little sign turn us back now? No! So on we go! After a couple hundred yards we drop to the creek (N37.68720 W119.54536). Where is the log? Where are the rocks to cross with? After looking up and down, we decide its time to take off our shoes. David goes wading in the water first. He takes along the rope. After a bit of a tenuous crossing—at least tenuous for him—he makes it across, to the very end of the rope. Steven goes across well. Then its Sherri’s turn. Not much problem there. She is cautious, but the important thing is she made it. I am the last, and I untie the rope end and tie it around my waist—not a good knot. Then it’s the journey across the creek. Rocks are slippery, water is cold, but I find some places where there is sand on the bottom. While running pretty swiftly and the water come mid-thigh in the deep places, it is not bad. Make it across with both mine and Sherri’s packs.

So it is time for a Cliff bar celebration. Now it is time for the final 2+ mile leg of our trip. This time, it is up about 900’ to David’s car. We start up this grade. David and Steven will go ahead to the car. They will then go back and pick up Sherri’s car. They start going in a hurry. But Sherri must be moving pretty good since we keep them in sight for awhile.

The scenery is nothing but burnt forests. But even here in the destruction, there is an eerie sense of wonderment. As Sherri and I huff and puff up to the top of the 600’ ridge, we are glad for a brief reprieve from the climb and the scenery. The fire had stopped at the top. We now descend into Mono Creek (N37.67704 W119.56795). But as Sherri notes, every step down is a step back up again.

We come to the last creek crossing. But this one is even relatively easy, even for Sherri. There are four logs laid across the creek, we can just walk right across. For a short ways it is pretty level. Then we start our final upward trek. I have to say, the trail makers never must have known about grades or switchbacks. They could have lengthened the trail or created switchbacks. Instead, they took a shorter, pretty steep incline. This left me thinking, Sherri, when will be stopping to make one of your famous every 100’ breaks. Finally she stops and I can breath.

We make it to the top (N37.67153 W119.58496) around 2:30pm. David and Steven already have the car and have busted out the JoeJoe’s, think Oreo’s. We all enjoy a time of celebration of out successful trip. We drive down Glacier Point Road until it T’s. From here, David leaves us and heads over Tioga Pass.

We head down to Oakhusrt and Todd’s Cookhouse. Oh heaven it is for hungry backpackers. We order and enjoy real food for the first time in close to a week. After a suitable eats, its time to make our way back to Fresno. It is good to be back at home.

Now for the brutal stats. My pack weighed about the same as when I started. This is sort of phenomenal since I had dinner. But I suppose adding Steven’s food canister after his pack broken. Then this morning taking some of Sherri’s pack to get some speed, I guess I should be lucky I was able to come out even. My eight you might ask? Well, on initially the scale said I was down 10 pounds, but I think most of it was water loss. By Monday morning I had lost a pound. But I ate well and enjoyed things.