May 31, 2023 - Old Wawona Road

 

Title: May 31, 2023 - Old Wawona Road
Hike Info : Description : Trail Lessons : Background : Extra Photo's : Animals : Flowers and Plants

Hike Info:

Type: Hiking 

Trail head: Turnout a little before Bridalveil Falls

Trail:  Old Wawona Road

Destination: Inspiration Point

Actual Destination:  Meadow Creek

Distance:  3.20 miles

Start Time: 9:58

End Time:  1:43

Travel Time:  3:45 (0.85 mph)

Moving Time:  2:27  (1.30 mph)

Elevation Rise:  784'  ¹

Descent: 735‘

Maximum Elevation: 4,486'

GPS Tracks

  ¹There is a significant difference between what I computed and what Google Earth shows. Google Earth shows a 1,368’ elevation gain. I think mine is closer to actual. Also Sheri’s FitBit tracker had her rising up 580’ So take your choice.

Description:

Old Wawona Road at pavement

I don’t think I have hiked the Old Wawona Road in over three years. Also it has been awhile since we walked with Rose. And as a newbie, to hiking with us-not to hiking, is our neighbor Don. I am concerned all the way around. First, am I in good enough shape to go up 1300’? The good thing about this trail is that we can always turn around if I get too winded. Then there are a couple of creeks which will probably be higher than we have seen them before. How high is the question? Will they be crossable? The answer we will find out.

I got up at 5:30 and relaxed for a little while, then had breakfast, and got ready. A little after 7, Don comes over and the three of us-Sherri being the third-leaves to pick up Rose. We get to her house at 7:30. Jeff, Rose’s husband greets us. We introduce Don and Rose to each other. After a few minutes of talking, we drove off towards Yosemite Valley, stopping only at the entrance station and Chinquipin.

Snow beneath that stack

We turned around at the Bridalveil Falls

What the road looks like a third of a mile in

parking lot-under construction-and park at a wide place right across from the Old Wawona Road. We get ourselves ready-putting on boots, setting our poles to the right length, and then putting on our backpacks. The first part of the road has gotten a lot more rocky. Just being careful not to turn an ankle.

Don is definitely in the best shape of all of us as he jumps ahead. But we do pretty good as we go up the road. The emphasis is on up. There are plenty of reasons to stop. We can look across the Valley to see Ribbon Falls and a multitude of unnamed streams coming down the side of the slopes. 

 

 With Don in the lead, he spots what looks like a path looping back, But it almost immediately stops at a dry creek. Wonder what that means. Also at this dry creek is a large area of snow. What is that here?Looks like it was covered with dirt and leaves. But we continue on our way up the road,’

We come to the second unnamed creek. This one has some water, so we only get the bottom of our boots wet. I am

Meadow Brook

staying back so Don gets to examine the next obstacle. This time it is a creek named Meadow Brook. When we crossed this creek before, it was dry. Today, it is a pretty good challenge. The thing which makes it a bit daunting is that it has washed part of the road away. The water then flys over the edge on its way to the Valley floor. Pretty sure I do not want to join the water on this. Don goes up high and is studying the situation. When along comes three young females-for an almost 70 years old, young is about 20 or so. They examine the situation from the other side and decide to cross where Don is. He helps them. When we discuss the situation, the take is that it would be doable with some risk. Our boots and socks would get wet and it would be uncomfortable for the rest of the hike. So we turned around there.

The way down is a lot easier. I stopped by the place which Don saw and was wondering about what it could be-it really looked like a trail and not a bad one. So I went up the dry creek to the trail level. There were some fallen trees

Unnamed trail

blocking the way. Don joined me and we picked our way through the branches. Yep, there is an honest to goodness trail there. Don goes and gets Rose and Sherri. When they come back we start to explore this trail.

 

 

I have walked marked trails which were a lot worse to travel and to follow than this one. It gets me to wondering about how long ago this trail was laid down. Usually these unmarked trails are overgrown with shrubs and trees across them, but this one is clean. It is a puzzlement. It wanders away from the road with a slight decline. As we travel, I begin to speculate that it will end up at the Bridalveil parking area. As we are the only ones on this trail, it is quiet and nice being away from everyone when I know how close people are just a quarter mile away. I comment from one of Sherri’s authors:

We sly hikers know that just because a trail vanishes

from the map doesn't mean it vanishes from the face of the earth.

- John McKinney, A Walk Along Land's End, pg 163

Evidently I must be either more observant or more curious than the others. I noticed two things. First, a fresh pile of bear scat by the trail-I quickly look around to see if the Ursus americanus is still around, but do not see it. A little ways further, there is cairn, a duck on what looks like the place where water has run off. Now why would there be something like that? So I wander off, following the little rivelet and come across more ducks. Eventually I find a great view of Bridalveil. This puts me about ten minutes behind the rest. They dutifully are waiting for me.

Gary and Rose on unnamed trail

We now have confirmation that this trail leads us to the Bridalveil Parking area. But it is closed to the public, except on the way we came in. How do we get beyond the barricades? Don sets off cross-country (what is going cross-country when you are on an unmarked trail?) I tag along, but he quickly outpaces me. I try to keep contact with Sherri and Rose. I have spotted a trail to the Falls below, but there is a rather steep decline. Then I see Don on the trail coming back to the parking lot. I make my way back to Sherri and Rose-Don beats me there.

The report is that what Don was following is blocked off. So we descend into the parking area and go up the old path, hoping we look inconspicuous. Nobody challenges us, so I guess we are successful. We set over a barrier and now are legit. Don went up to the Falls overlook. I had been up there last week so I did not go and Sherri and Rose did not seem inclined to go that way. We found a place below the path to eat, by the creek. A good place. A Stellar Jay tries to make friends with Rose and her lunch, but evidently Rose does not want to be that friendly.

Don on his log

From comments earlier, I think we are ready to go back to Fresno. Well that is except for Don. In his heart he would really like to tackle the Old Big Oak Flat Road. But that is in the sunshine and even I do not like the idea of all of the radiated heat on us. After lunch, we tried taking a shortcut to meet the road. This works out fine, mostly. Zeno may have been right about how you travel, but even in showing you can never get someplace by his dichotomy paradox, I can show that you will always have obstacles getting anyplace. In our case, the going was easy until we got

Cascade Falls

close to the road. There is a tiny branch of Bridalveil Creek runoff which is blocking our route. Nothing insurmountable. We just did not want to get our feet wet-remember running into this earlier? Don finds a log he can get on. Rose is able to use his technique, but Sherri does not want to. So Sherri and I splash through the creek.

Now it is only a third of a mile up the road back to the car-how uneventful. We go through Wawona Tunnel, but stop on the overlook a mile later. Here Don takes me down onto a shelf where I can get a full view of Cascade Falls. That is simply awesome-in the older sense of the word. I find Don talking with a father-daughter team from Phoenix. They are looking for a place to go kayaking in the park. Neither of us can think of a good place, so Don recommends Bass Lake, close enough to the Park.

We get back into the car and head back to Oakhurst, stopping at Reimers for some well deserved ice cream. A reward for a hike, even if the hike was different than expectations. We make it back to Fresno, dropping off Rose and Don, by 5:30.

While today was not much in the way of miles or elevation gain or even accomplishment, it was a good day. We discovered a new trail. Even more so it was good to walk with Rose and Don-and of course, Sherri.

 

Trail Lesson: Be open to a different adventure, even if it is a trail you have been on before or in our daily lives.

Background

That unmarked trail? I could not find it on older maps. As I was talking with a ranger later, I am thinking this may be a new trail they have not opened up yet. The Old Wawona Road Trail got removed from maps several years ago. I noticed Thursday in Wawona that it is back on a map. We will find out in a couple of months if my speculation is correct. I hope so.

Meadow Brook Also found out that this creek is the source for one of the hidden falls of Yosemite, Silver Strand Falls.

Extra Photo's

Bridalveil Falls

El Capitan and Ribbon Falls

An unnamed creek

Ribbon Falls

Unnamed Trail

Bridalveil Falls

Cascade Falls

Animals

 

 
Flowers and Plants

December 24, 2022 - Yosemite the Day Before Christmas

  Title: December 24, 2022 - Yosemite the Day Before Christmas  

 Hike Info : Description : Background : Extra Photo's

 

Hike Info:

Type: Hiking 

 Trail head:  Seventh Day Adventist Camp at Wawona

Trail: Swinging Bridge

Destination: Swinging Bridge

Actual Destination: Swinging Bridge and beyond

Distance:  1.30 miles 1

Elevation Rise:  360'

Descent: 360‘

Maximum Elevation: 4,209'

 ¹I did not GPS this trip. So the figures and map are calculated based upon Google Earth. Looking at the map, I think we did about a quarter mile farther, but this is the last picture I have with coordinates.

Description:

This blog entry is a bit more than the night before Christmas and all through the house entry. For one, not everything was quiet and definitely there were creatures stirring. So this entry will include the night before the “night before Christmas” through Christmas.

 

 

 

Andrea, Rachel, Edrees, Friday and Lawrence came in Friday afternoon, joining Steven, Korra, Sherri and myself in Fresno. Sherri had previously made bierocks. So that is dinner tonight. Then off we go to the Fresno Chaffee Zoo for its Illuminature. This is an update to the previous Zoo Lights. Instead of outlines animals in lights, these are lighted forms, almost like a blown up colored nylon animal or plant. Very well done. We had met Rachel’s friend Joseph and his partner. We stayed from after seven to the end of the night, nine. Well worth the night there.

Walking to Swinging Bridge

Saturday David is coming up from Eureka. So he will join us this evening. But we will be taking a day trip to Yosemite. We have been in conversation with my best man’s wife. Their daughter, Moriah, is in Yosemite, at Wawona meeting a friend-turns out that friend is the one who was at the entrance station this morning. We left a bit later than expected, around 9:40, which puts us at Wawona a little after 11. After coordinating where we were to meet, we got the joy of seeing Moriah.

 

 

 

 

Dam on South Fork of Merced

She had a couple of hours and was interested in a hike. Where to go? Well, there is the Wawona Meadow Loop. But Moriah just did that one. Or Alder Creek, but that is a bit long, also she just did this trail yesterday. There is an easy hike just down the road, up the South Fork of the Merced. So we will do this one.

 

 

 

 

 

The Family

We drove up the road to the Seventh Day Adventist camp. There is a parking lot across from there, where we park. We follow a service road up the river. We note the burnt trees from the Washburn Fire, but it is not as bad as I feared. The walk is easy and we quickly get to Wawona’s Swinging Bridge. We enjoy the view, both up and down the river. Up the river we see snow on the south side. We enjoy also the bridge swaying a bit as well as bouncing. 

 

 

Sherri leading the pack

 

 

 

This was a pretty short walk and we all felt like we wanted to go on. There is a deer track, or maybe just a worn piece of ground. Or it could be part of the 100 year old trail which Tony Krizan once described. There are some up and downs, but none are more than 20-30’ variation.

Returning to the car

It is a pleasant walk. We stop often to look over the river, even seeing an old dam. I have wondered if this was a recent development or does it date back to the Washburns when they ran the Wawona Hotel. It looks like it may have been made to divert water for their ranching operations in Wawona Meadow.

We cross a small creek, head up a hill and over dale and down another ravine. When we reach the top of this small ridge, we come across a series of downed trees. I see we could continue on, but I asked how far do people want to go on for? There is a general consensus that we have had a good time stretching our legs. So this is a good place to turn around.

We pretty much return the way we came. The sun is on our side of the river and it is a nice walk back. There are a place or two which turned a bit slippery. But besides a knee which got banged, we navigated the trail without mishap. We cross the bridge and walk back to the car. The Fresno group has our lunch. Moriah will probably eat when she gets back to her friend's cabin. But we all are enjoying each other's company, so we do not break up very fast. Eventually, we all hug Moriah and bid her farewell.

And now our group is off to Yosemite Valley. By the time we get there, it should be about 3pm. Just enough time to drive around the Valley and marvel at the snow. First we stop at Tunnel View. This is a stop which Sherri and I avoid half the time. But it is well worth stopping today. Crowded but we do find a parking spot. Around the overlook, the snow has been well packed and is a bit icey. So the two older folks proceed with caution. But the view is worth it. Bridalveil is running well. Silver Strand is frozen which provides a different aspect to a Yosemite fall. I do not see Ribbon though. The sun is glancing off of El Cap and Half Dome.

We continue on down into the Valley. The road is clear of snow, but the Floor is covered. Just a beautiful sight.We go up the southside of the Valley at a leisurely pace, allowing us to take in the Valley walls. We circle past Curry Village and stop at Stoneman Meadow to enjoy the view of Half Dome. By now, the sun is getting lower and we start our way out of the Valley, going along the Northside. There is a line of cars with the same idea. But we are one of the few with the idea of stopping at the El Capitan Picnic Area. Definitely not to picnic, but there is an outhouse there. Not only that, but this area has a great view of Horsetail Falls. In two months, if there is sunlight, it will be a prized shot from this location. The sun’s rays refract, turning the falls into a golden red at sunset. Today, it is the rock of El Cap which has turned golden.

And with this, we leave the Valley. By the time we get to Chinquapin, it is dark. We stopped at Wawona for a bathroom break. Then on to Fresno. David makes it to our house 15 minutes before we arrive. We arrived at 6:35. After unpacking David, we have an assortment of food for dinner: clam chowder from Humboldt, salad and left overs. It is good to have family all in one place.

Background

Service Road. After we walked up the road and crossed over. Steven noted a retaining all near the small dam across the South Fork of the Merced. In looking at Google Earth after our walk, you can see where the service road continued on to where the dam is.

Archie Leonard Trail 1914

This trail extends from the Wawona Ranger Station paralleling the South Fork of the Merced River for several miles, then bears to the left to the main Buck Camp trail at the Buck Camp Ranger Station. This trail is named in honor of Ranger Archie Leonard, as a slight recognition of his many years of faithful service in Yosemite National Park. He was a guide for the U. S. Troops and later ranger with the National Park Service. When the Troops came to take over the protection of the Yosemite National Park, he was assigned as scout and guide for the Troops. During the winter months when the troops were out of the park, Archie and Charles Leibig took over the responsibilities of patrolling and keeping law and order. It is thought Leonard first blazed this trail in the early 1900’s. He was one of the “First Rangers” in Yosemite.

From Chapter V in Pathways: A Story of Trails and Men (1968), by John W. Bingaman.

Extra Photo's

Rachel in the Kaleidoscope

Butterflies and Bubbles

In the Zoo, the Lion Sleeps Tonight

South Fork of the Merced

South Fork of the Merced-above the bridge

Yosemite Valley from Tunnel View

Glacier Point from Stoneman Meadow

South Fork of the Merced

Edrees and Rachel on Swinging Bridge

Snow on the south side of the river

Crossing the Swinging Bridge

Sherri on the Swinging Bridge

Dam across the South Fork of the Merced

Sherri crossing a small creek

Andrea walking a log

Our group

Sherri going down a slope

Sherri coming down a slick slope

Moriah

Going back to the car

Love

All on the swinging bring

Yosemite Valley from Tunnel View

Frozen Silver Strand

Steven and Yosemite Valley

Steven and Yosemite Valley

Rachel and Edrees at Tunnel View

El Capitan and Horsetail Falls

Rachel, Edrees and Half Dome

Steven and Half Dome