August 11-13, 2013 - Ostrander Lake

August 11-13, 2013 - Ostrander Lake
It has been three weeks since we have put a backpack on. The previous time was coming down Mt. Whitney to finish up the JMT. The question which was entering my mind was, "Am I ready for this?" While the body was in pretty good shape, except for a sore side, would I mbe mentally up to it. On the other hand, Ostrander is a good hike which I have enjoyed. As an added plus, Carol W and our son Steven is coming with us. So it should be a pretty nice three days.



Title:August 11, 2013 - Bridalveil Campground to Ostrander Lake

Hike Info:

Trail: Ostrander Lake

Starting location: Bridalveil Campground

Destination:  Ostrander Lake

Distance:  7.14 miles

Start Time:  3:05

End Time:  7:07

Travel Time:   4:01 (1.78 mph)

Moving Time:  3:18 (2.16 mph).

Elevation Rise:  2,118'

Maximum Elevation:  8,615'

Description::

I went to church  and hear Jeremy's sermon on shepherds and lambs. Picked up Carol and went home. We did the last minute packing and was able to leave Fresno a little after noon. There was a stopped in Oakhurst to pick up Subway sandwiches-both lunch and dinner. Then got our permit, from this year's favorite ranger Heidi P. She has been helpful each time I have gone in and today was no exception. The Ostrander trail head was full, but she suggested an alternative--Bridalveil Campground. This was where we used to leave from many years ago, so it was fine with us. We had our Subway lunch then on the lawn in front of the Wawona Hotel. Then it is on to the trail head.

Carol and her backpack

Left the car around 3:00. Instead of starting at our normal trail head, we started at Bridalveil Creek Campground. The first three miles are pretty flat, rising about a hundred feet. Bridalveil Creek is just a small, muddy trickle.  Actually, going this way is a bit prettier than coming up through the Ostrander trail head.  I start a few minutes later than the rest of them, but get caught up by the first junction. I am feeling pretty good about my walking; the stride is good and the cadence feels like I can keep it up for awhile. At the junction, we make a decision to go the prettier, but longer way to Ostrander. We continue up the west side of Bridalveil Creek until the second junction. This is the one which if we continued on goes to Turner Meadow and Deer Camp. We then cross over and meet the Ostrander trail in about three-quarters of a mile.

Fliterary

At this junction, we have a rest break, before the big climb up Horizon Ridge. There is a burnt out section of forest which each year seems to be recovering pretty nicely, finally, from the 1994 fire. The first mile and a half rises up 800'. This is a section which always tires me out, but this time I am able to do pretty good on it. Must be the 23 days on the JMT which makes this climb easier. Even though I doubt I will ever so climbing 800' is a piece of cake. When we get to the top of the ridge, we take another break. 

Climbing a hill

We have about 700' more to climb to get to Ostrander and the hour is getting closer to sun down. So Steven and I take off to see if we can find a camp site. Carol and Sherri will come up the trail as they can. I must be feeling really good as after a half of a mile, Steven steps aside and I pass him. One step at a time makes it up the slope. With the exception for a few minutes of gawking at the scenery, I make it up to Ostrander without stopping. Not bad for an old man.

Half Dome

When I get to the lake, I decide to go to the east rather than the more popular west campsites. But everyplace I look, people have already camped in those spots. By this time, Steven has caught up with me, so we go across the lake's outlet to the west. There are some campsites available, a bit crowded. but still good enough. We pick a spot between a family of about six or seven and two females looking like they will be taking pictures of the meteor's tonight.

Ostrander Lake

Steven goes back and gets Sherri and Carol. We set up camp-Carol and Sherri in the tent, Steven with his hammock and I under the stars. Dinner is the rest of our Subway sandwiches. We watch the glow on the mountains as the sun goes down, then turn in. A good day.

Title: August 12, 2013 - Hart Lake

Hike Info:

Trail: Cross Country

Starting location: Ostrander Lake

Destination:  Hart Lake

Distance: 3.29

Start Time:  10:11

End Time:    3:08

Travel Time: 6:56 (.47 mph)

Moving Time: 2:47 (1.18 mph)

Elevation Rise:  770'

Maximum Elevation: 9,180'

Description::

What a great night! Woke up at 1:40, in time to see three meteors from the Pleiades shower streaking across the sky. Went back to sleep until the alarm went off at 2:15 to watch the main show. The prediction was 60 meteors every hour, but I think we got more than our share. The meteors would come in groups, then stop for five minutes and start up again. Annie Dillard is right to say the least we can do is show up when we have this kind of show going on for us. You will need to trust me that it was as spectacular as what I think it was. Took pictures, but unless you like shots of black, nothing came out.

Eventually went back to sleep, maybe after an hour or so. The morning sun woke me up. But the slug I am, I stayed in the bag for the next hour just enjoying the light playing with the trees; shadows hiding from the sun. But around 7:30 got up and had my quiet time. Sherri and Carol got up shortly afterwards. We do not have much on the schedule, so we just sort of lolly-gag around.  Eventually we have breakfast-oatmeal and stuff. Steven gets up around 9 and has breakfast as well.

Sherri and Horse RIdge

Today we will go on a short cross-country trip to Hart Lake. As we are leaving, we see that our neighbors with the better campsite have left. We decide to take over the camp. So we lug everything over before setting out to Hart Lake. This is a cross country trip of about two-plus miles. We go past the Ostrander Ski Hut, then start to follow the ridge. As we went, we went higher and higher up on it. We passed the large pond east of Ostrander and then climbed up higher still. The walking on granite was pretty easy and the climb was not strenuous. Along the way, we could look over much go the Clark Range, Half Dome, Clouds Rest, and most of the center of Yosemite.

Hart Lake and the Clark Range

Then things started to get interesting. I saw Steven going a bit upward and then lost track of him. But he then went contouring across and down. Sherri and I continued upward until we came to the top of the ridge. We were able to look down on Hart Lake, as expected, and on Steven and Carol, which was unexpected. So down Sherri and I came. We went down one narrow place where we needed to stretch always, not bad. Sherri was not happy with that piece. But we met up with Carol and Steven.

Happy Sherri after boulder descent

There was a lot more down to go-a lot of boulders to make Sherri unhappy. I think the previous down took something out of Sherri, because she became a lot more tentative around the boulders. But we made it down OK. Steven and Carol were waiting for us by the lake.

Steven, Carol, Sherri and Gary at Hart Lake

We ate lunch-peanut butter, Nutella, crackers and pepperoni sticks. Took some pictures and then was on our way back. We stayed a lot lower coming back, contouring more. The walking was good, and the rocks did not give us trouble. We did run out of water when we got to the little ponds above Ostrander Lake. But that was not too bad. It was only about half an hour back to camp, around 3:30.

Hart Lake

We sort of had a leisurely rest of the afternoon. Steven and I took a dip-I to my knees, Steven up to his waist.  Read some, wrote some and helped Carol with her crossword puzzle. Steven and Sherri took a nap. Sun shine relaxing-not too warm, not too cold.

Ostrander in the background

Tonight's dinner is a combination of Szechain Noodles and Mountain House Terriaki Chicken.

Title: August 13, 2013 - Ostrander to Ostrander Trail Head

Hike Info:

Starting location: Ostrander Lake

Destination:  OstranderTrail Head

Distance:  6.34 miles

Start Time:  9:53

End Time:  13:23

Travel Time: 3:30  (1.81 mph)

Moving Time: 2:28 (2.57 mph)

Elevation Rise: 350'

Maximum Elevation: 8,518'

Description:

Last night was another night of watching the meteor shower. But I did not stay up nearly as long and I think that there was about a third of the activity of the night before. So I was ready to get up pretty early. Carol wanted to see the sunrise on Half Dome--I also enjoy watching this as well. Sometimes the whole dome turns pink. So I woke her up and we walked on the other side of the ridge which separates Ostrander Lake from Illilouette. Not a long or hard walk. We found a rock and waited for the sun to start shining on the dome. But it was a bit longer than expected. Still the air was warm enough. When the sun finally lite some of the far away peaks, it was more the bluish-yellow, not the hoped for pink. Still it is awesome watching Half Dome come into the light, followed by the surrounding domes and mountains.

Sherri, Gary, Carol, Steven

When we got back, Sherri and Steven were still asleep, but not for long. We made breakfast of oatmeal and stuff. Then broke camp a little after 9:45. First we stopped by the Ostrander Ski Hut. Yesterday we found out that the hut was nominated to be included on the National Registry of Historic Places. These were the NPS carpenters who were working on the place. So a few more pictures were taken and we started off.

Half Dome and Beyond

On the march

Ghost Forest

The next three miles went by pretty quickly. We returned the same way we came up. Through the same ghost forest-which we will also see lower on. But when we reached the first intersection, we headed off towards the Ostrander Trail Head rather than the way we came.

Fireweed

Buckwheat

This area, particularly earlier in the Summer can be a glorious show of color from all of the flowers. Now, it is drying up a bit. Still there is enough flowers--lupine, buckwheat and some goldenrod to make the scenery worth looking at. Also an amazing number of fritillary flutter around.


When we reach the second junction, about a mile away, we make a decision. Sherri and Carol will go on to the Ostrander Trail Head while Steven and I get the car at Bridalveil Campground. We  make some pretty good time. Then reached the car and went over the mile-plus to pick up Sherri and Carol. Then onwards to Todd's in Oakhurst.

June 15, 2009 – Turner Meadow to Lower Chilnualna Lake, (8 miles GPS)

Got up just a tad before 7. Sun is already coming through and just about has reached our camp. David and Steven got up shortly afterwards. Breakfast is oatmeal, tang, and tea. This will be the standard breakfast throughout the trip. Pretty basic, but warm and filling.

Tents, tarps, and sleeping bags all are wet. There is a lot of moisture in the air and on the ground. But it did not rain last night. Drying takes a couple of hours. Played a game of cribbage. Lost something terrible.

David and Steven put a phase II repair on Steven’s pack. David found part of an aluminum walking pole. He used it as some additional bracing for the frame—more duct tape and string. But even with this additional bracing, we are still reducing his pack weight—I am taking the lunch canister; David the tent.

We set off at 9:45. We see a flock of deer in Turner Meadow, across the trail from where we camped. Shortly after we started out. The trail is mostly downhill.

We see and talk with a family we saw last night walking through. So far the only humans since we left the Ostrander trail.

Lunch break (N37.58608 W119.58651) is around 11:20, after 1 ½ miles. Its peanut butter, nutella, crackers, bagels and more. We are off again at 11:45.

After the trail junction (N37.58451 W119.58468), we start an easy to moderate climb. With the additional weight, I can feel the climb more than yesterday. Later on, we get steep. Scenery while not spectacular is good. Trail is less mushy. Right before we cross, Chilnualna Creek (N37.59151 W119.56695), we cross one of the many rivulets flowing across the trail.

Steven stops and tells me to look left—I had been scanning for a good place to cross the creek. There are two startled bears, golden in color. The first bear immediately senses us and runs away. The other bear still has his head down eating vegetation, then senses that his partner had run off. He starts running, without looking up, directly at me. About twenty feet away, he stops, looks up, and realizes the mistake. He veers to his right and runs up the hill out of site. So that is three bear, eight deer and four people on this trip, already.

After cross the creek, we take a short break. Its 12:45. David had found a small waterfall so we trudge over to it. Then we start our uphill for the next 2 ½ hours. The grade is not bad. Its just the pack is heavy. We get into Lower Chilnualna Lake (N37.59342 W119.54121).

We rest for a little while. Then David and I set off to Upper Chilnualna Lake (N37.59918 W119.53659) to see if it is a better lake (yes) and if the camping sites are better (we did not find any sites). The Upper Lake is a bit bigger and deeper and the backdrop more mountainish. But we did not find any camp sites. So back we came and circled the lower lake. We found a few places with fire rings. One is wide open and on the trail (N37.59437 W119.54162). We see how that is. If a little wind should blow, we are ok. But much more than that, it could be cold and miserable. By the way, the lake is ok right now, but it is shallow. Probably will be dry by August.

Dinner’s concoction was cabbage wraps with beef and noodle filling. Probably a little more would have been good. Finished by about 6:30. Nice fire to take some bite off the cool evening. We played a hand of cribbage—Steven and I won. Yeah! Onward to Mille Bourne—we lost.

Its getting cold and its time for bed. About 8:30.

June 14, 2009 – Ostrander Lake Trailhead to Turner Meadow, (9 miles GPS)

Got up around 6:40, which is pretty good since I did not go to bed until 11:30. We had stayed up to finish packing and to clean up. Caution—Gary’s Gripe coming up: A lot of time we leave a mess when we go out backpacking. Thought that it was a good thing to try to clean up. Lets see if it helps when we come home. Gripe mode off. I was surprised that I woke up when I did.

Sherri’s pack weighs in at 25-28 pounds, while Steven’s David’s and mine are between 40 and 45 pounds. My starting weight is a little above 253 pounds—goal is under 250.

We got all packed and ready by 8:00 and went out to eat the Fresno Breakfast House. I had the meat lovers omelets; Sherri the Double Dipped French Toast; Steven and David had Toriso Orozelo (sic). By the comments, all are satisified. We left there around 9 and the bank at 9:30. Got to Wawona Ranger Station for a backcountry permit at 10:30. The ranger who issued the permit, Patrick Roe, we would eventually met Thursday.

We dropped David’s car at the Mono Meadow Trailhead. This is where we will be exiting, if things go well. Then we go back to the Ostrander Lake Trailhead (N37.66671, W119.60421). We start at 11:45—so much for an early start. This is later than what we wanted, but is still ok. This first day is pretty light.

This section of the trail we are well acquainted with. Ostrander is a hike we love and gone on a lot. This first section is fairly flat. We pass by the first junction (N37.64882, W119.60310), having decided to take the longer, but hopefully easier creek crossing. We get a little rain and some small, pea sized hail. Not enough to get poncho’s on for. It’s the only rain we get today.

Its 1:30 and we have made the Ostrander Lake junction (N37.63842, W119.58689). Stopped for a rest and some lunch. The rain stopped when we hit the trail junction. There is a nice breeze. So far we are doing ok, about a 2 mph average speed.

We leave the known trail and head westward for a bit. We cross Bridalveil Creek (N37.63915 W119.59215) on logs. But we all do ok. The second leg of the trail’s triangle is definitely a trail less traveled. But that is what makes it nice. We are probably the first ones on this small section of the trial this season. Even coming up this the trail is wet.

As we leave the trail junction (N37.63802 W119.60066) coming up from Bridalveil campground, Sherri sees a bear. A medium sized black bear. It is heading in the same direction as us, in its trudging, or as Sherri says, it is sauntering, along the trail. We let it get a head start, but catch up in five minutes. The moment it hears us, it runs off the trail and up the mountain side.

For the next several miles, the trail follows the creek as it gently climbs towards the end of the valley. We start over the moderate rise. I do a fair amount of huffing and puffing. But it is not long. From the top, we see the Chiluaniha valley area and its drainage, but not actually into Wawona. It is hidden behind the edges of the valley.

We meet a couple trails. At the last junction (N37.60882 W119.60657), we take a break. Steven’s pack falls apart. It’s the part which holds the frame to his waist. When it gets put on, it gouges Steven. He decides he can make it to the campsite about half a mile away (in reality, it was about a mile).

We stay at a ridge to the west of Turner Meadow. The campsite (N37.60135 W119.60174)is nice. Of course, the next morning, David in his wanderings will find a class A campsite about 50 yards away. Dinner is Szechuan Veggie Noodle with Chicken. Its OK tasting-Steven likes this meal the best. We build a fire and get warm and rested by it. Bed time is when sunsets.

Place: CA-Turner

Turner Meadow (quad)
(Long, Lat)

Description:


Trips:

• June 15, 2009
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Pictures:

References:

• Examiner - Best Wildflower viewing in the Sierras
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