April 19, 2024 - Yosemite Valley

 

Title: April 19, 2024 - Yosemite Valley
Hike Info : Description : Trail Lessons : Animals 

Hike Info:

Type: Hiking

Trail head: Camp Curry Parking area

Trail:  Northside Drive, Yosemite Village, Valley Loop Trail, Lower Yosemite Falls Trail, Cook’s Meadow, Southside Drive

Destination:  Loop

Distance:  4.39 miles ¹

Start Time: 2:10

End Time:  5:10

Elevation Rise:  678'

Descent: 676‘

Maximum Elevation: 4,107'

 ¹I forgot my GPS. So I plotted out the route on Google Earth. So this will not have been the exact mileage and time. Steven’s Strava recorded 5.5 miles. He did make an extra trip of about half of a mile. So I think the truth is someplace between 4.4 and 5 miles.

Description:

This was going to be a long day as I needed to repair a sprinkler pipe before we went to Yosemite. It got even longer that evening. The first was planned while the second was thrust upon us.

Lunch at Cathedral Beach-Sherri and Steven

I got up at 6:30. I finished repairing the pipe, then let it set while I had breakfast. After that I tested all of the sprinkler lines and they looked good. I got all of this finished by 8:30. So why didn’t we start sooner? First, I was relaxing a bit and then I think everybody was waiting for everyone else to say they were ready. That was the state until Sherri came in at 10:40 and asked if we were still going to Yosemite? Yes was the answer.

So we got ready in about 25 minutes. Sherri got us out of the garage by 11:05 and drove us to Costco to get gas. Then she drove straight through to Chinquapin. By this time, she had enough of driving and Steven took us down into the Valley.

Vows were said here

Unless we have company, we usually do not stop at Tunnel View-usually too crowded for our tastes. Today we did not stop, but there was plenty of room. It will not be that way in a couple of weeks. The Bridalveil parking area is open, looks crowded, but a lot better than before the construction of the past couple of years.

Steven has a destination in mind for lunch. That would be Cathedral Beach

Mist from Yosemite

. We arrived there at about 1:45. This picnic area has a special place in our hearts. It is where Andrea and Lawrence got married last October. Certainly looks different without the table covering. Also the Merced River is higher, much higher than in October. If they had gotten married now, the water would have been above their boot tops.

We continue on to Camp Curry’s parking lot. This area is also under construction. But fortunately there is a lot of parking. We only decided what we were going to do a few minutes before driving in. The thought was to go up to Vernal Falls. But I suggested just walking around the Valley. A couple of days ago I strained my hamstring muscle and I am not sure about doing any steep climbing. It is too late to go around Mirror Lake. The decision was to walk around Yosemite Valley, heading towards Yosemite Falls. By the time our boots hit the pavement, it is 2:30. Sherri has discovered she is missing her phone. I guess she will need to rely on Steven and I for pictures.

Gary, Steven and Sherri

 

 

 Our goal is to walk the relatively level route to Yosemite Falls. The road by Stoneman Meadow is being revamped. Maybe into a bikeway connector? It does change the traffic patterns, for the better. We get a good view of the Royal Arches. But it is a relatively unshaded area. So after a quarter mile, Steven decides he needs his hat and goes back for it. 

Sherri and I continue on towards the Visitor Center. We passed by Ahwahnee Meadow and into the Yosemite Village area. It is just pleasant walking and surprisingly there are not the usual crowds of visitors on this Spring day. When we get to the Visitor Center, actually by the Ansel Adams Gallery, we wait for Steven. But there is a new Welcome Center and Steven thinks we are there. So Sherri and I get a good rest before Steven joins us. By this time it is about 3:20.

 

 

Yosemite Falls

We head west again, getting to the Yosemite Cemetery which Sherri starts to head through. This is OK with me as I am interested in the names I have seen here. While the cemetery is not well protected and has a very low fence to mark its boundaries, it does seem wrong to purposely use it as a shortcut. That is not Sherri’s intention. So we go around the cemetery, past the Law Enforcement area and up the short trail besides the stables. This leads us up to the Valley Loop Trail.

Yosemite Falls

Along the way up to the Loop Trail, we spot a mountain quail. Much more attractive than the quail we see around Delilah. Once on the Loop Trail we continue our westward trek and come to the bridge crossing Yosemite Creek. But before that, we see signs that the Falls are coming. First, there is the mist flowing well above the trees. Then there is Yosemite Creek thundering past the trail. And now crossing the bridge, we feel the wind created by the force of the falls. The sight of Yosemite Falls never fails to elicit a sense of awe.

 

 

 

We continue on our walk down to the Yosemite Falls Bus Stop. There are two women parked in the bus place, but it looks like they are pretty agitated and there is no bus while we are waiting. And while we wait, we consider the new bus routes. This bus will go all the way to the Pohono Bridge. So we decide to cross Cook’s Meadow and go to the Sentinel Bridge Bus Stop. Crossing Cook’s Meadow gives a great view of the eastern end of the Valley. So we take our time and walk through there.

Briefly after arriving at Sentinel Bridge we enjoyed its seats. That is until we realize that this is no longer a bus stop. Yosemite has been working on getting a better traffic flow around the Valley. It looks like as part of that, this stop has been discontinued. The traffic looks like we are in England as the flow has vehicles going on the wrong side of the road, that is the left side..

Indian Canyon Falls

So what to do? Sherri would like to go to the Chapel, so we go there. It is a short walk to it, maybe a quarter of a mile. The chapel is the oldest building in the Valley. But it used to be a few miles west of its current spot. The doors are open and we go in. There is a group in the front pews of the chapel, so we stay back. The interior is pretty basic. If we were expecting large windows with stained-glass, this would have been a disappointment. But remember, this was to serve a purpose and that purpose was a wilderness chapel.

Having walked this area several times, I know that a short distance from the chapel is the other side of the Valley Loop Trail. And that is where we go. A short walk puts us back onto the bike path for Southside Drive. And then an even longer walk back to Curry Village and the parking area. I am dragging during this last part. I would like to think that it is my hamstring bothering me, but I think it is only a minor contributor. Ae all make it to the car by 5:10.

Fortunately, Steven drives us out of Valley and there is not much traffic. I do one misdirection on a roundtable, but after that it is Steven all the way into Oakhurst. We talked about where to eat. Steven is interested in Southgate Brewery. But I am thinking that there may be a long line since it is Friday night. When we got there, we were quickly seated. The service was a bit slow, but that just gives us time to revive and relax.I indicate I wanted a Deadwood BBQ Burger. Evidently that sounded good to everybody as they also ordered one as wel. When the Burger came out, it was piled high. But with a little scrunching, it all fit in my mouth and my mouth was ready for it. There was no disappointment.

Royal Arches Falls

I drove home and we got home a little after 8. I was looking forward to a nice and relaxing shower, when Sherri comes in with an urgent piece of news. You know how she was without her phone which serves as a camera? Well it is missing and the Apple Find Me app has it around a restaurant in the northern part of Fresno, about a half mile from the Costco gas station. We figure it must have fallen out when we got gas this morning.

And now for the truly frustrating part. We try to get a hold of Verizon to tell them the phone is missing. But they are not available until morning. You can go through their automated system, but in order to do anything with the phone, they want you to respond on the phone which is lost. Seems a bit circular, doesn’t it? So we try to go into their web pages. Same thing. We are not getting anywhere fast. Sherri does have the presence of mind to lock the phone through Apple.

So what should we do? Ask Rachel, of course! We figured out a plan which included driving up to the restaurant and seeing if the phone was just laying on the ground-it as not. Also how to proceed in the morning. It did not get better then, so Super Rachel called up Verizon and got things settled there. The long story is that Saturday Sherri got a new phone with a lot better camera.

Finally about 10:30 I got my shower and was asleep by 11:30-I was one tired big boy.

 

 

Trail Lesson: We will lose things. But learn from the experience about what is important and what is replaceable.

Animals

Mountain Quail

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

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

Mountain Dogwood

 

 

 

 

March 28, 2018 - Yosemite Valley Wander

Title: March 28, 2018 - Yosemite Valley Wander
Hike Info : Description :  Extra Photo's

 Trail head:  Camp Curry

Hike Info:

Type: Hiking

Trail: Vernal Falls-both trails, trail along Merced

Destination: None

Distance:  5.08 miles  ¹

Start Time: 11:26

End Time:     2:23

Travel Time:  2:57 (1.72 mph)

Moving Time:   2:27 (2.07 mph)

Elevation Rise:  938'

Descent: 784‘

Maximum Elevation: 4,553'

GPS Tracks

 ¹My GPS lost signal for a ways while I was in the trees.

Description:

Sherri and Steven at Yosemite Falls

We leave our house around 8:30 for Yosemite Valley. Sherri is driving. The plan is for Sherri and Steven to ride their bikes around the Valley while I wander around a bit on foot. We stop in Oakhurst to change drivers and gather in some donuts at Judy’s. Then it is off to Camp Curry.

We arrive there about 11:15. And now we split up. I get my boots on and am off by 11:30. This is going to be more of a wander than a set plan.

I head off towards Happy Isles, taking The Fen trail. Along the way, I wonder if I can get above the tree level, maybe on the apron of Glacier Point. I go up a ways, following a flow of a creek. But the more I go up, the more brush I encounter. So I turn around and return to the trail.

Valves along the trail

North and Basket Domes

At Happy Isles, I take off towards the Nature Center, but do not go in. Instead I continue around on a service road until I get to a trail. This is paved, but gentle. The trail pleasant and I travel quickly. Unlike the trail across the river, this one keeps close to it. Consequently, I follow a couple tracks to the river. One leads me to a sand beach.

Very pleasant being by the Merced, on a sandy beach, looking up at a paved trail with many people going by. Wonder if they see me? Actually I am not hidden, more accurately, does anybody notice this sole figure below them? Isn’t that how things are? We wander through our life, noticing only those things which almost hit us in the face? But ignore the fascinatingly? The interesting? The beauty? O Lord, help me to observe that which you placed around me, particularly that which you want me to see and understand!

Vernal Falls Trail above the Merced                                             My little beach from the trail

Water Tank

Now the question to me is: do I stay here and enjoy the day on the beach reading and meditating and praying and the like? You know that sounds like a good day, doesn’t it? Or do I continue on up a trail I have not seen before? Both sounds like a good day, now that I think about it. While I plan this more as a day of wandering than hiking, it feels like I should continue on. Maybe another time relaxing at the beach will win out.

Illilouette Creek

The service road continues to parallel my trail. What could so interesting this way? Shortly I see some valves, then a large pipe, looking like it goes to the river. Then the service road ends and there is a large water tank. I continue on and there is a trail junction saying I had gone a half of a mile from Happy Isles-and I not having met one person!

Illilouette Creek

The other trail, which looks well maintained comes from the water tank. Not that my trail is unkept. But why is this part of the trail so well kept up? Why the good bridges over Illilouette Creek? What are these red flags doing along the trail? Oh! There is a power panel back here as well. Why the panel? That one I do not know. But my guess is that the trail for this quarter of a mile is all part of the infrastructure of the Valley-maybe going up to the bathroom at the base of Vernal Falls.

The one disappointment I found on this trail was that Illilouette Falls was not visible-its creek was very nice, but not the Falls. After crossing the fantail of the creeks, the trail moved back from the Merced and I started my ascent up the the base of Vernal Falls. For some reason, it does not seem as steep as the other side, I still have to go up the same elevation though, so it must be better graded. The Merced is really nice from this side-I am still closer to it than on the other side. Also a lot of it is paved.

As I get close to the top, Four things happen:

Fan Tail on the Merced

• First, I meet my first people, a family who is going down the trail.
• Next, I meet up with the John Muir Trail. At that place, there is a sign saying Horse Trail, No Foot Traffic. Of course, there is not anything I saw at the base of the trail. (As a note, I have sort of reconciled in my mind that if I go up this trail again, it will only be when the stables are not open.)
• Third, when I come down to the junction with the Mist Trail, up to the top of Vernal Falls, there is a gate which indicates the trail is closed due to rock falls. I see at least four groups of people go up, with at least a dozen people total. The smartest one of the whole bunch was a four year old who begged his parents not to go that way. (Note: I would think that another sign would be appropriate. it would say: Hiker’s Intelligence Test).
• Last, I found myself a nice rock away from the trail and had lunch.

Illilouette Falls from Vernal Falls Trail

Then it is off. Both since the sign going down says No Foot Traffic and I am interested in making a loop, I go down the popular way, paved way. I group of four people seem to be struggling, except for one female who is encouraging them on. The guy says I am encouraging to them-must be the age thing. Illilouette Falls shows up good and I take several pictures. Also I stop at the place I saw from the bottom and take a picture there as well. One guy zooms by me, nothing unusually, but he is really fast-not a runner. When I get to the bottom and meet up with road at Happy Isles, I have a decision to make-to go straight back or do I have enough time to do more wandering?

The Merced River

Since I have about 40 minutes, I decide to wander along the Merced River until I reach Clark’s Bridge, then cut over to camp Curry. Pretty peaceful, even with the Spring break crowds. I only meet three groups of people. The first are some people speaking a foreign language. The second is a trail runner. But the third I have a conversation with. You remember the guy who passed me coming down from Vernal Falls? This was him. He asked me if I knew where he had parked. After describing where he did, I told him he was in the backpacker’s parking area and gave him instructions to get there pretty quickly-actually the same way I was going. But he was sure it was in a different direction. So I told him to backtrack and go past Happy Isles. That seemed to satisfy him.

Now it is off to Camp Curry and the car. It is only a short ways there. I cross Clark’s Bridge which brings me right to Camp Curry. I follow the path to the parking lot and there is the car, as well as Sherri and Steven. When I look at the time, it is 2:27. Not bad since I was aiming for 2:30. Steven and Sherri had been there only five minutes or so before me. Good plan. We pack up and go on home via Oakhurst where we stop at the Southgate Brewery for dinner.

Extra Photo's

Merced River

Pool by my beach

Glacier Point

Illilouette Creek