April 18, 2012 – Alder Creek

Starting Place: Wawona

Destination: Deer Camp

Actual Destination: A Spot on the Alder Creek Trail

Miles Traveled: 7.3 miles

Elevation Rise: 2,233'

Travel Time: 6:41

Moving Time: 4:26

Yesterday afternoon we decided to go on an overnight trip up to Alder Creek, close to Wawona. While we went up to Point Reyes last month, this feels like the first trip of the season. So our equipment is still in a bit of disorder. Food is still to be thought of. Consequently we got to bed at 11:30 last night.

It is up again at 6:40. Did a bit of last minute checks. Had a shower, breakfast of granola. Then loaded the car. By the time the engine started, it was 8:45. Go the the ranger ration in Wawona around 10 and did a self registration for our wilderness permit. Hit the trail at 10:45.

We expect to go to Deer Camp, 8.5 miles, 2000' rise. But judging by the snow on the way up, we may be stopping before then. It is a good rise, in chaparral. The day is warm, but not oppressive. So it is a good time to go through this—definitely not a summer trip.

We do pretty well and about the time we get out of the chaparral, our stomachs remind us that in order for the body to move, they must be fed. For those who have been with us, they will recognize what we pass off as lunch, which is really a modified candy bar in disguise. It is Peanut Butter, Nutella and a Ritz cracker. Love it. We finish around 1:15 and continue on.

Our travel is slower. At two, we meet up with the trail from Hwy 41. But we are tired and still have 5 miles more to get to Deer Camp.

We start to hit snow in small patches around 5400'-signs of more to come. Lots of down branches and small trees. We come to a creek with three small, but pretty falls. Most of the year, this will be dry. The snow gets longer in stretches, but still is not deep, only a couple of inches.

But then we break out onto the old railroad grade. It is flat. But now there is snow and the snow has accumulated on this piece of level ground. In places it is 2-3' deep. We are tiring and when we come to a creek, about half a mile from the falls, we make a decision. The snow is getting deeper, with being tired and there is no dry place to camp, we decided to head back to find a flat, dry place with water. Sounds sort of funny with all the snow around wanting water. Actually, we have a new three gallon gravity filter, so as long as we are a quarter or mile or so from water, we should be good.

We have traveled 5 3/8 miles, rose 1,800', trudged through snow. We are beat. But we have done good.

Flat places are not too available—covered with snow. We pass three falls creek and find a place about an 1.8 of a mile further.

Sherri pitches the tent. I cook Mountain House Freeze Dried Chicken Tetrazzini. Actually a pretty decent meal. I had the arduous task of finding and filtering the water. Did I say that we now have a gravity filter? What heaven will be like!

We are the only ones around. So we hit the sack at sunset. Reading The Help on my Nook.

November 2, 2011 – Alder Creek Falls

10.3 miles
4:04 time
2.5 mph
1,400' elevation rise, one way

We left Fresno at 10 and got to the Mosquito Creek trail-head around 11:30. Then got on the trail just short of noon.

The first part of the trail is pretty steep. For the first ¾ of a mile it rises 630', or about 15% slope. The first time we hiked this trail, it was with backpacks and the trees were all green. Now a lot of dead, burnt trees stand as stark reminders of times past. But there is brush taking root and starting to encroach upon the trail. A reminder that this trail is not heavily used.

We get to the trail junction from Wawona. Steven is ahead of us. The junction can be a bit confusing and I signal to him to take a left. But it gets misconstrued to mean he cannot take the 30' of trail north, but must descend and go back up the two sides of a triangle.

We do not see Steven again for the 3.2 miles to Alder Falls. The trail from the junction flattens out and we go up some gentle rises. Even though this is halfway through Fall, the little streamlets are still going well. Still the Fall colors are out—lots of reds and yellows play against the evergreens.

The final 1.3 miles is flat as we travel on the old railroad bed. The ties lay around, some even still embedded in the trail. By the falls, there is an old piece of iron rail. But I have not been able to come across anything talking about the railroad. I assume it was an undertaking of the Washburns in connection with the Wawona hotel.

One of the truly amazing parts of this trail is that you are walking along, with an occasional flow of water pleasantly trickling down past the trail. But you round a corner and you are greeted with the sound of falls. Then after a few more steps, Alder Falls is in full view. To me, Alder Falls ranks right up there with Vernal and Nevada Falls. If it was located close to the Valley, you would hear about it. But since you need a four mile hike with 1,200' rise, you are left pretty much alone with your senses to enjoy the sight and sound.

Because you are on the level with the falls, you do not get a good sighting of the base and there is not an easy way down the 250' slope to the base. So we just enjoyed the sight, had lunch, which is what we did and return. Well with the slight addition of walking a bit further up the trail to retrieve Steven.

On the way back, I took a few pictures while Steven and Sherri went ahead. Probably got about 10-15 minutes behind them in all. Also tried to see when the trail left the railroad. But there is a lot of manzanita brush preventing easy passage that way. So it remains a secret to me.

When we get to the trail junction—yes I do catch up—I am thinking I would like to go on to Wawona—about 2 additional miles. Steven seals that decision with a comment. So on I go. Within 30 yards, I do a belly flop –tripping over a small rock. Not a good way to start off. I am not hurt, except for my pride. But this little faux pas was not observed, except by the animals. Onward I go. I really need to learn how to walk without Sherri. I am rushing too much, feeling clumsy and ungraceful. When I stop to take a picture, I get caught up in my hiking poles—not going down. But I am having a good time walking alone. I am going at a 3 mph pace and enjoying it. When I get close to the trail-head, I see the Rav4 go towards the end of the trail. Then a couple of minutes later, I see it go back down the road. Am I being abandoned? No-I see the Rav4 come again. This time they stop and I am there within a couple of minutes. We go on and eat at Todd's in Oakhurst and then back to Fresno.

Oct 25, 2011 - Dewey Point

It is my Birthday!!! I got up at 6:45. Then went to a teeth cleaning at 9. After an hour, got home to take off to the mountains. McGurk Meadow in Yosemite is our destination. If we are energetic, we will make it to Dewey Point.

We go to the trailhead at 1:00. The trail starts at McGurk Meadow, or more precisely, about three-quarters of a mile before the meadow on the Glacier Point road. It is a pretty level trail. We quickly walk the three-quarter of a mile to McGurk Meadow, and his cabin. The man must have been small because I am taller than the cabin and the door way was about three feet tall. We eat a little after the meadow.

Onward we go. A little bit of downhill and we reach the Pohono Trial junction—1.9 miles into our trip. It is pretty quiet—except for a couple of female hikes coming out, we do not see much animal life. The two miles to Dewey Point is uneventful. We exchanged greetings with a father/son team. The son works as the Camp4 host. He also chases bears in the Valley. He noted that these was a lot of fresh bear scat around Dewey Point.

Coming in, it looked like most of the forest was getting ready for Winter. There was only a few wildflowers left in bloom. The ferns were turning brown. But there was an abundance of mushrooms and fungi. I guess I need to figure out what these things are.

We made it to Dewey Point, right about my turn around time, 3:30pm. The Point gives great sights all the way around. El Capitan is right in front of us. You can look up the Valley to Half Dome and Senteniel Dome. But the closest scenic beauty, Bridalveil Falls, you could not see. It is just below us, out of sight.

We spent around half an hour there. While we were there, a peregrine falcon a lighted in a tree, thirty yards away. We got several good shots of the bird.

We got back to the car at dusk, 6:00pm. On the way back down the Glacier Point Road, we got to see a pretty good, prescribed burn, enhanced sunset.

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.

June 18, 2009 – Givens Lake to Illilouette Creek, (8.6 miles GPS)

Got up 6:15. Good quiet time with Psalm 8 and Invisible, Immortal, Only Wise God. Its beautiful morning with on side of the ridge you look down into Buck Camp and then on the east wide its gazing onto the back of the Sierras. The other side you see Given Lake (N37.58210 W119.46686)—not the best lake, but an attractive lake.

I thought David was up. But also Steven had gotten up and climbed up onto the ridge, over-looking the lake to the north. Looks like he probably got 300 to 400’ above the lake. When he came back, he was covered with sweat. But content looking.

We eat, get packed and leave around 8:40.

The trail out of Givens Lake (N37.58210 W119.46686) is an unofficial trail. Some times we are on the trail, other times we go along a sort of a trail to discover it is not. We come across a real nice meadow where I took several pictures.

We hit the main trail (N37.58069 W119.45590), and start our trip back to the car. Next couple of miles we go up over a ridge, then descend a forested area until we reach a trail junction. On the top of the ridge, David went to a knoll (N37.58486 W119.44671). He caught up with us just before the junctionHe was able to see a 360 degree view from the knoll.

We had lunch at the junction(N37.59442 W119.44059). and started a 600’ climb up to Merced Pass (N37.61633 W119.44293). About a half of a mile later, we saw the ranger from Wawona Station, Patrick Roe. We exchanged reports of snow and trail conditions. Then it is off up the trail. Snow covered a lot of the trail, but not enough to make it hard to pick up the trail after each snow patch. Steven and David went to the top. Sherri and I made it to the top around 1:30. Passed a very nice meadow. We had a Cliff bar, then left the top—lots of fly’s up there. Unfortunately/fortunately there are lots trees, so the views are limited. The top is sort of rounded.

There is lots of snow on the way down. I think Sherri is starting to get the hang of this snow walking. Of course, she is not sliding down the slopes like some of us. The snow does make traveling slower. We do find one place where there is a rock outcropping where we can get a real nice view down Illilouette Creek drainage.

Around the 8,800’ mark we escape the snow. Then comes the first of our creek crossings for the afternoon. The creek (N37.62619 W119.44386)comes out of Upper Merced Pass Lake and was going down the hill pretty good. Sherri waded across in her croc’s. The rest of us went across on logs.

Then the first crossing of Illilouette Creek (N37.63163 W119.44988) takes place. I got Sherri on a pretty big log. She crossed between David and myself—safely I might add, but a bit tense. We sort of looked like a polka line dancer going across. After recovering from this traumatic crossing, we continue out way down the trail.

We had meant to stay at Lower Merced Pass Lake (N37.62608 W119.44914) tonight. But we zoomed past it without stopping, seeing, or at least on my part, knowing that it was there. (In retrospect, looking at the map, we were about 200’ away, but it was hidden behind a ridge.) This is just as well as every step which we make further along the trail today means a shorter trek tomorrow. That trail will be putting in a few miles—at least for us.

We get to the second crossing of Illilouette Creek (N37.63584 W119.45811). There is not a suitable log in sight and Sherri probably would not be happy with us anyway if there was. The creek was running strong and there was no good places to rock hop across. So off comes all of our shoes and on comes the sandals and crocs. Water is cold and fast. Fortunately it is not deep. I slip a couple of times across, but not bad enough to fall. Sherri makes it across last.

After drying off, we head on the trail, but looking for a campsite. David found one (N37.63724 W119.45852) just a hundred yards down the trail. Looks pretty good. I had gone to examine an area up the trail, but no real luck, except to find some magnificent falls. We settle down and set up camp. Dinner and rest. There are lots of mosquito’s and fly’s. These are pests which so far we have had only at a minimum. Probably a blessing from the cold. No fire tonight, but we did go out for a couple of walks.

We walked out to the creek. Then sort of headed up, which is easier said than done. Lots of fallen logs and marshy stuff. So we maneuver around. The objective is the falls I had seen earlier. As we get closer, they are magnificent. Not high—maybe 30’ high, but just the number, width and whiteness. There are at least three creeks coming down at this place. Each one having a great deal of white water coming down. Just really a wonderful sight. Hopefully pictures come out—even though I suspect that they will not do justice. We can only see the falls partially because of the trees. Steven and David go up higher above the falls. David reports the scene up there is just as wondrous. I go up a little ways with him and then we return back to camp.

Then David asks if I want to see a little discovery he and Steven made. David then took me down the creek a little ways. The creek enters a 70 yard chute where the water rushed through this V. I do not know if it is the evening sun and shadows or just the effect of seeing this after the falls above, but this area is just wonderful. One could get lost here.

Shortly after, even before it gets dark, we go to bed. Its early and warmer. For awhile there we laid on top of the sleeping bags. A bit of a difference from the cool to cold evenings earlier in the week.

June 17, 2009 –Royal Arches Lake to Givens Lake, (6.8 miles GPS)

Woke up at 6:00, but laid in bed until 6:50. Sort of a lazy morning. David is already up. A few clouds, but nearly blue. Sun comes up over the arches above the lake. Nice. We have marmots around here. Looks like we will be leaving around 9:30.

We descend through patchy snow to the trail junction (N37.56789 W119.50693). Even in this area, the trail is underwater. But that quickly disappears as we go on a 500’ climb. Steep—these trail makers should have learned how to make switch backs. It was straight up the side of the ridge until we met the saddle. Was not hot, but in a month, this trail definitely would be an early morning trail or it being hot and dusty. We should have contoured around from Royal Arches Lake.

When Sherri and I get to the top (N37.56791 W119.50023), David and Steven are reclining against a couple of rocks, acting like a couple of content hobbits. I did ask if they had any Longbottom Leaf. They did have Nutella and Peanut Butter. Or more accurately, I brought it up with me.

Given that we would be descending steeply into Buck Camp (N37.56303 W119.48962) next via the trail, then do a 1,000’ ascent, we decide to go cross-country and contour around to Givens Lake. The first part was on a steep dirt grade, which we cut across. Nothing too bad. Then we crossed a small boulder field and head for a small saddle (N37.57503 W119.49075), which would give us entrance into the Given Creek drainage. On the way, we got a view of what I believe was Chain Lakes. We dropped down to a shelf at the 8,900’ level instead of traversing across large boulders with full backpacks. This turned out to be a good decision.

We hit some snow on the north side of the ridge, but it largely disappeared as we went lower and hit more sunlight.

We followed the base of a large boulder field into a forested area, crossing many creeks. We stopped for Cliff bar break by one of the creeks. Steven filled up our water supply there.

A word about the guiding. David is guiding us, trying to keep us from dropping down too far or rising up to aggressively. With all contour hiking, it is a challenge to find an acceptable path. David and Steven were up ahead about 20 yards with Sherri and I following. We basically kept level while going around the Given Creek basin.

As we got to the end of the basin, we came across a pretty steep, rocky place. Sherri was not too happy about this situation. David and Steven came to a cliff so we were forced to descend about 100’ down to easier walking. We crossed the lower side of the basin. This was very pleasant as we walked through a forest of small trees—developing trees, not dwarfs or anything like that.

But then we start walking up the ridge separating the Given’s Creek area from the Given’s Lake. This was about a 200’ elevation rise, not bad. Just towards the end of the day, it was a bit tiring. But we top the ridge (N37.58862 W119.46948)—as far as ridge tops are concerned, not as scenic as you would hope. But you know, anytime you clear a ridge, it is a good feeling.

We dip down to go towards Given’s. I come across a mud hole, But fortunately, or unfortunately Given’s Lake is beyond this. As we go towards the lake, Sherri and I come across the bone remains of what looks like a deer. No meat only bones.

We caught up with Steven and David above Given’s Lake. After eyeballing the shoreline and not finding anything obvious, we decide to split and go around the lake separately— Sherri and I to the north; Steven and David to the south. There was nothing too much on the north side of the lake—there looked like some campsites below a ridge, about an eight of a mile away. But David and Steven struck gold. Directly east of the lake, there was a good campsite (N37.58210 W119.46686) on the ridge so you could see the lake and look to the south and east and see the splendor of the area.

The area was nice and protected—even though the sky had cleared up nicely. The tents were away from the eating area. And the dinner was, in my humble opinion, the best of the entire trip. It was a beef-veggie roll with salsa and a tortilla. I went back for seconds, and then a third. Felt soooo good.

We played cribbage and Mille Bourne. Then for the first time this trip we got an alpine glow sunset. While not top notch, an alpine glow is always something which you quiet for and wonder. When the mountains around you turn yellow, orange, pink and red, you gaze and draw inspiration from. Shortly afterwards, we went to bed.

June 16, 2009 –Lower Chilnualna Lake to Royal Arches Lake, (7.4 miles GPS)

I got up earlier than I thought it was—6:25. Cold last night, in the 30’s. Had my quiet time.

Usual breakfast. Leisurely start. It is a clear, beautiful morning. It is about 9:15 before we got started.

A word about the weather, There has been a lot of overcast during our days of hiking. But except for a brief hail and sprinkle the first day, we have been dry, but cold. We have been fortunate.

The first part of the day is a climb up to the junction (N37.60378 W119.52220). Its about two miles and 600’. We do it in 2 hours. What a view! Saw the backside of Half Dome, Clark, Starr King, and many others. Nice place for lunch. But it started to get cold again.

Buena Vista Lake (N37.60002 W119.51752) is an “Oh Wow” lake. Maybe it is three days hiking; it may be it’s the 9,077’ elevation; or the cliff side of Buena Vista Peak, but this is one fine lake. Right now snow is very much part of its show. We just gawk as we pass by. Stopping only to take pictures.

On up to the top of the saddle (N37.59977 W119.50974). Its another ¾ mile and 300’ climb up to 9,350’. Towards the top, snow covers some of the trail. Steven and David come down and take our packs. We were just about at the top when they came to us. But it was nice gesture for them.

Because of the snow, they went a non-trail route—designated the Dead Chipmunk Trail. Some bones were found along the way. I went off and took a few shots of Buena Vista Lake.

Coming down the south face of the saddle, there was lots of snow until about the 9,000’ level. We were able to follow the trail from a distance or crossing it with snow on the trail. We did pretty well going down, that is until a large patch of snow hid a left turn made by the trail. It crossed the creek. But we kept looking on the west side of the creek. When we went low enough, we realized where the trail was. So across the creek we went, and found the trail pretty quickly.

While we were coming down, it started raining for about an hour. Can’t say we were soaked, but it chilled us with a cold rain. There was a couple sounds of thunder—a ways away.

We came into Royal Arches Lake (N37.57809 W119.50439) as the clouds were descending. Got even colder. David got his tarp out and we pulled the tents under it—of course at this point, it stopped raining.

Dinner was beef stroganoff. Pretty tasty. We are about half way through our fuel. We will see how this works out.

David and Steven start a fire. It felt really good. Perfect would be hot chocolate and cheesecake. Clouds are starting to rise.

We have company! Two people came in. Sort of unsociable folks. They even buried their fish guts close to our camp.

The fire is dying. Its getting cold, and still cloudy, but breaking up. Bed time is around 8:30.

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.

Overview of June 2009 Vacation

From June 14th through June 19th, 2009, I went backpacking with my family. More specifically, with Sherri—my wife, Steven—my son, and David—my brother. My two daughters had other obligations and could not go. Our travels took us through southern Yosemite, starting at the Ostrander Lake Trailhead—even though we did not go there—to the Chilnualna and Given’s drainages and then back down Illilouette Creek. Even though the mileage was not great—according to the map, 36 miles—the GPS says a lot more—it was fun and we had enough miles to have us tired at night. Along the way we meet three bear, ten deer, and 18 people. The 18 people only count those away from the trail head area. During the trip we encountered rain, hail, snow, cold and heat. But we were able to enjoy tour surroundings and each other.

It was special time with my brother. David and I are close. Being with David and the way we worked together was a reaffirmation of the things our Dad taught us. We gave way to each other as appropriate and discussed what was needed. A lot of times I thought, Dad would be proud to see this. It is a blessing to have a brother who you genuinely enjoy being around.