Gary-Summer: Washington Column

Showing posts with label Washington Column. Show all posts

Thursday, January 6, 2022

January 6, 2022- Yosemite Valley

Title: January 6, 2022- Yosemite Valley

Hike Info : Description : Extra Photo's

Hike Info:

Type: Snowshoe Hiking/Walking

Trail head: Parking area on Northside Drive Yosemite Valley

Trail: Valley Loop

Destination: None

Distance: 1.53 miles

Start Time: 3:25

End Time: 4:56

Travel Time: 1:31 (1.01 mph)

Moving Time: 1:12 (1.28 mph)

Elevation Rise: 100'

Descent: 89‘

Maximum Elevation: 3,983'

GPS Tracks

Description:

El Capitan

Going snowshoeing was not on the agenda for today. We took care of some banking business in the morning. But Sherri's hair appointment got canceled. When we got home from doing our banking around 10:30, we decided there was still enough time to make a quick trip up to Yosemite, probably Wawona. So we got ready, ate lunch and then took off

Yosemite Falls

By the time we fill up with gas at Costco, it is just past noon. Sherri took the first leg of driving up to Coarsegold. Evidently this morning’s business was a bit tiring, so I took over after that. When we got to Wawona, it was about 1:30. There is enough snow to walk with snowshoes, but then the Valley also sounds interesting. The Valley’s siren song won out.

Gary at Ahwahnee Meadow

Highway 41 into the Valley is with an R1 condition-that is: chains are required unless you have snow tires. We have mud and snow tires so we continue on, a bit cautiously. We stopped briefly at Chinquapin and then down to the Valley. Going through Wawona Tunnel is an eye opener-Yosemite is gorgeous anytime. But with it clothed in white makes it even more glamorous.

We stop along the southern side of the Merced-the slow moving water inside banks of snow just yearns to be admired. But the snow is too slippery for my tennis shoes-not icey, but very packed snow with water in it. Further on we stop at the meadow just to the north of the chapel. The view of Yosemite Falls is spectacular from here. We stop long enough to gawk and take pictures.

Sherri admiring a tree

And then we are off. We are looking for a good place to set some snowshoe tracks down. Most places, the parking is very limited and already taken; or we would go about a hundred yards and meet a road or the Merced. On the other hand, Yosemite is giving us a lot of eye candy. So we are content just to drive around. We stop at Ahwahnee Meadow and look at the mist rising there, with the Ahwahnee Hotel hidden behind trees. While Yosemite Falls is visible, it is not the main attraction. Just being here is.

We move on. We have not gotten our snowshoes on today and as the hour progresses, it looks less likely. Still there is hope. Eventually the car ends up on Northside Drive. There is a turnout where we have hiked part of the Valley Loop Trail from. Maybe this will present an opportunity.

The answer is yes and no. The “yes” part of snowshoeing would be there is much snow with a good track and beautiful scenery. The “no” part is that snowshoes would be superfluous. The track is pretty hard packed, but not icey. So walking with our snow boots and poles should be sufficient.

Sherri and I take off walking back eastward. A couple groups of people pass us and we walk on. One is a mother and her two sons. They are hiking to El Capitan. I noted a mileage which was probably too high. They continue on as do we.

Right before Leidig Meadow, I stop and wait for Sherri. While waiting I took a few pictures. And then as Sherri approaches, she scares this large, magnificent bird, like you would see in one of Cindy’s pictures or National Geographic. I believe it is a Great Blue Heron. In flight, it is so awe inspiring. How can such a gangly looking bird look that graceful in flight. Obviously this is a photographic moment, but I was so mesmerized, none was taken.

Sherri on Leidig Meadow

Now that we have our fauna fix taken care of, and there will not be too much in the line of flora for a couple of months. It is time to consider geology. Before we hit Leidig Meadow, we hear the thud and rumble of what we think was either a rockfall or an avalanche on the south wall. We cannot see it, nor any telltale wisp of snow dust. We think it came from the Sentinel Point area.

And now we get to what I consider at least one of the best views, if not the best, of the Valley-the western end of Leidig Meadow. The eastern end of the Valley opens up with Yosemite Falls, North Dome, Washington Column, Cloud’s Rest and Half Dome right there before you. Looking westward is El Capitan and Cathedral Rocks.

Icicles

The fading sunlight comes off of the trees. There is a path broken out into the meadow, which we follow. It is worthwhile turning around occasionally to admire the beauty of God’s creation.

The shadows are deepening which indicate it is time to return to the car. We head north to hit the Valley Loop trail again. Northside Drive needs to be crossed before we do. When we cross we meet the mom and teenage sons. They did not make El Capitan-they did not want to get caught out after dark. While holding less fear than the mother, we too would prefer to be in the comfort of our vehicle when darkness surrounds us.

North Dome Reflection

As we walk along the half mile or so of the Valley Loop Trail, we come across this huge rock-we have seen it many times, along with the rock retaining wall of the trail. But this time, there are icicles from the snow melting on top of it and freezing on its way down. Really impressive. We shot many pictures.

When we get back to seeing the Merced River, we notice there is a rubber raft beached on the other side of the River, along with a man. He asks where is Bridalveil Falls? When there are questions like this, I wonder about the sanity of a person doing things like this. At least have a good clue where you are. He has another 2-3 miles more to go.

We got back to the car a little bit before five. It does not take us long to start driving. On the way out, we stop to admire the mist rising from El Capitan Meadow. And then again at Tunnel View. The sun has turned the stone of Yosemite Valley golden. It is a wonderful place. We hit Carl’s Jr in Oakhurst. By the time we make it home it is around 8pm.

Extra Photo's

Gary admiring a tree

Gary

Panorama from meadow in front of the chapel

Yosemite Valley from Tunnel View

North Dome, Clouds Rest, Washington Column and Half Dome from Leidig Meadow

Half Dome from Leidig Meadow

Gary on Leidig Meadow

Evening light on a tree

Eastern end of Valley from Leidig Meadow

A calm Merced River reflecting

Merced River

Evening sunlight catching a tree

Icicles

El Capitan Meadow

Wednesday, May 5, 2021

May 5, 2021 - Middle Yosemite Valley

May 5, 2021 - Middle Yosemite Valley
Hike Info : Description : Extra Photo's : Animals : Flowers and Plants

Trail head: South of the El Captain Road Junction

Hike Info:

Type: Hiking
Trail: Valley Loop
Destination:
Actual Destination:
Distance: 8.53 miles ¹
Start Time: 9:51
End Time: 3:59
Travel Time: 6:07 (1.39 mph)
Moving Time: 4:34 (1.87 mph)
Elevation Rise: 568 '
Descent: 585‘
Maximum Elevation: 4,060'

GPS Tracks

¹There was a wide range of mileage readings. This particular one is from our Garmin 60CSX. My Garmin Foretrex401 9.94. While Rose’s InReach was above 10 miles. The 8.53 is more in line with the expected mileage. The Valley walls can sometimes play havoc with GPS signals.

Description:

Rose and Sherri examining a climber's van

It has been a couple of weeks since we have hiked with The Sisterhood. First Betty had a commitment. Then Carol had a hard week at work. So she begged out. So Rose is stuck with Sherri and I.

It has a potential of being a long day, so we get off to an earlier start than usual. We had planned on leaving Fresno at 7:15, but got off a few minutes late. We will meet Rose at Chinquapin. But first, we need to get through a couple of construction sites, but we get to Chinquapin only five to ten minutes after Rose. We continue onto the Valley. I had suggested that we park at the lower end of the Valley so we walk downhill on the way back.

El Capitan and the Perced

We found a place to park right before the El Capitan Road on the south side of the Valley. We will go clockwise on the theory that with it being predicted to be warm today, we should be a bit more in the shadows in the afternoon.

We get ready to go just before 10. We head north along El Capitan Road. Just before the bridge, we see a climber’s van. How do we know that it belongs to a climber? There are routes drawn on the side of the van up El Capitan. We stop and look with interest.

Dead Tree Disguised as a Rope

But as much as we want to wonder about the owner, we have miles to go. Off we go. We turn east along the north side of the Merced. We move pretty good. After a short way, we met a couple. We talk and wonder if there are climbers on El Capitan. It does not look like it. I think I see a rope hanging from an overhang-Rose points out that it is a dead tree. Imagine a dead tree disguising itself as rope.

A short distance later, we hit the Valley Loop Trail and continue east. The trail follows the road, but then it leaves the road, following the river. But there is a need for some personal necessity. The El Capitan Picnic Area is a short ways ahead, so we continue to follow the road.

Gary meets a friend

The picnic area was a bit further away than imagined in my mind. The principal attraction of the picnic area is the outhouse, but not the only attraction. As we leave we see a lone redbud, but looking pretty nice. Looking around, there is El Capitan and Sentinel Falls, and of course, all of Yosemite Valley.

Sentinel Falls

We find a path back to the Valley Loop and continue on. The path is still pretty level. We come to a parking area and see a few more people. A bit beyond is a tree which has split--I call it the Tree of Doom. We need to walk right under it. I approach a bit apprehensive and proceed to scurry below it. Rose and Sherri come after me with none of that apprehension. A short way further we cross the Northside Road.

Now we pass by the site of the old Indian village. There is construction going on. But there is also a sign talking about an event taking place. We go past the SAR village and into a deserted Camp 4. We decide this is a better place to have lunch rather than going on to the

Tree of Doom-Rose and Sherri walkign

Yosemite Falls picnic area. Lunch is our normal stuff. But the bathrooms are not open, so we continue on.

It is a short walk to the Falls. They are beautiful like always. Maybe not as full as it should be in mid-Spring, still a thing of beauty. Also it is not too crowded, at least by Yosemite standards. Even with the decreased amount of water coming down, there is a nice wind being generated. Evidently it is enough of a breeze that if a person is not attentive, they may lose her hat. I do grab mine, but Sherri is not as quick. Her hat goes over the bridge onto the rocks before-at least not into the creek. Then yours truly, your faithful narrator, a chance to play super-hero. So he does an old man type of waddle around and down and picks up the hat. He gets a hero welcome.

Lower Yosemite Falls

The Dogwood patrol

We continued on going the long way back to the Falls bathrooms.Maybe I should say this was the scenic route. Usually not as many people, but today there is a fair number of people. There is a slight mix up at the bathroom-we were looking for each other and not finding us. Eventually we hook up and are off.

Gary Rescuing a hat

There is a decision that we should do the shorter route back to the car. So we cut through the Yosemite Lodge area. Even here we are blessed. I think we come across the epitome of what a dogwood should look like-unfortunately our pictures are not of the same quality as this tree. It seems like everywhere we look there is a dogwood gracing our vision.

And there is a fireplug. And what is one of those things good for?

Wow! Such a nice shaped dogwood

The next point of interest is the Swinging Bridge. Here we meet a guy who wants to know about some of the floods as well as landmarks in the Valley, also where is it-we are standing on it. But this is not the original which got wiped out during floods. I spend some time giving my impression of a tour interpreter. Seems to impress the guy enough. But I do think this bridge and a bit of the area gives one of the better views of the Valley. Half Dome and Clouds Rest, not to mention North Dome, Washington Column, and Glacier Point are all in view. Looking the other way, El Cap and Cathedral Rocks all dominate view to the west. What a place! I like to think that God created this place to perfection. It is up to us not to spoil it.

Fireplug

View From Swinging Bridge

Sherri and Rose spot a set of falls to the side of Indian Canyon. I do not know what creek that it-I do not think it is Indian Creek as that runs down the canyon. Later when I get home and look at a topo map, I figure out that it is Lehamite Creek which has a pretty good size falls, even if it is ephemeral.

The south side of the Valley Loop Trail greets us. We know that we are on the home stretch-even though we know we have a ways to go. I am beginning to feel my legs want an end soon. I do not hike as well in warm temperatures and it is over 80⁰ today. My theory about walking on the south side is not true, at least during the Spring, and probably the Fall. Still there are miles left in them.

Crossing Sentinel Creek

We come to the Four Mile Trail, and pass by it. Then it is up and down some small ridges-this does not do much for my legs. And then I hear what looks like a chainsaw. What is one doing in the Valley? A few minutes later, we spot a fire crew working on bringing down some of the dead trees. We briefly talked with the leader and he said it was OK to go through-the guys (and gal) will pause when we are near.

Valley Loop on the Southside

A ways later we come across a couple who we talked with earlier (I do not recognize them, but they do us.) They have also picked up a person as well. We tell them about the crew ahead. They seem to have enjoyed the trail as much as us-always a good thing.

And now we come to the trail junction which leads us back to the El Capitan Road. And then a short walk back to the car! Glad to get back. After getting our hiking stuff stowed, The three of us talk-seems like we do not want to part. After 45 minutes we do seperate, going our own ways. We stop in Oakhurst for a bite to eat before heading home. Another good day.