Dr. Wellington Yueh
Well-Known Member
I could swear I saw a thread titled 'Sometimes We Hike' but I can't find it now. As a consequence, I'm punting.
This will be a photo-heavy TR, since I find no words adequate to the task that also don't sound cliche. I'm in the second phase of my move up to Groveland, swapped boots for bike so I could fully load the car. Did lotsa work Thursday, so Friday was available for a full-fat adventure. I've been in Yosemite a few times since wife and I inauspiciously honeymooned in the Ahwahnee. Today I'd planned a loop that is thrice special simply from the reminiscence aspect. I've not hiked the Mist Trail for 32 years, and that last outing is what I was attempting to repeat, but in better style.
Sometime shortly after I was born, my mom backpacked this loop with my late aunt Mary (dad's sister). I showed her the pics and she did a lot of 'yep' and 'aha!' and nodding. Throughout my childhood, 3+ visits to Yosemite yearly, brother and I and the other kids in our circle were allowed to run free on those trails, and I've many trips up the Mist Trail, favorite!!! It's not what it used to be in those days, rough and dangerous. The stairway has been completely reconstructed, railings most of the way. It's like the steps of the state capitol.
The loop is Curry Parking->Mist Trail->Panorama Trail->Glacier Point->Four Mile Trail->Valley Loop->Curry Parking. (TrailForks link, map and stats)
Last pass was at Thanksgiving, snow at higher elevation, cold. We got to Nevada Fall bridge and someone in the trio suggested we continue. The other two would not be shamed, so consented. We found ourselves at Glacier Point lookout at sunset, last of the pink rosy fading from Half Dome. Road is closed, so no chance to cheat. We crawled down the Four Mile Trail in the dark, one of our party behind Coke bottle glasses. Huge cliffs, patches of ice on the partial pavement, views to the twinkly lights of Yosemite Village 500m below us. We missed half the scenery, and much of the incredible trail build that is Four Mile. If you haven't been...
Anyway, here are pics, some text interspersed.
Low on the Mist Trail, not in sight of Vernal Fall yet
Some of the usually wet and slick stairs at the headwall, folks snapping pics of Vernal Fall
Better view of the fall, currently low but I've seen it completely dry at times
Staircase up the headwall, not near as spicy as days of yore
Nevada Fall, view from switchbacks between the 2 falls
Some of the nifty new switchbacks
Nevada Fall bridge
Back side of Half Dome, viewed from Panorama Trail
Same, with a little more context - Liberty Cap at right, Mt Broderick center, some peaks of Tuolumne Meadows area at background
Yosemite Fall, the other icon of the park, completely dry
Relief!!! Illilouette Creek at the bridge above the fall. There were a buncha trout in these pools.
Bridge over Illilouette Fall
Illilouette Fall - A winter favorite among ice climbers, easier catch than the ephemeral Widow's Tears
Another shot from Panorama Trail just prior to reaching Glacier Point. You can see the switchbacks into Illilouette Creek on the slope lower right
View west from Four Mile Trail down the Merced - Cathedral Spire at left, El Capitan in profile right of center, Three Brothers left behind Cathedral
Partly obscured view from Four Mile Trail up Tenaya Canyon - Cloud's Rest at center background, Royal Arches at lower left
Last words: I'm happy to report that the dirtbag climber culture is alive and well in the Valley (long live Sunnyside!). The Curry Village gas station has been replaced by the Curry Village charging station. There's a brand new Rivian charging station in Groveland, an absolute eyesore, breaks the small town charm. More folks are bicycling in the Valley than I expected.
This will be a photo-heavy TR, since I find no words adequate to the task that also don't sound cliche. I'm in the second phase of my move up to Groveland, swapped boots for bike so I could fully load the car. Did lotsa work Thursday, so Friday was available for a full-fat adventure. I've been in Yosemite a few times since wife and I inauspiciously honeymooned in the Ahwahnee. Today I'd planned a loop that is thrice special simply from the reminiscence aspect. I've not hiked the Mist Trail for 32 years, and that last outing is what I was attempting to repeat, but in better style.
Sometime shortly after I was born, my mom backpacked this loop with my late aunt Mary (dad's sister). I showed her the pics and she did a lot of 'yep' and 'aha!' and nodding. Throughout my childhood, 3+ visits to Yosemite yearly, brother and I and the other kids in our circle were allowed to run free on those trails, and I've many trips up the Mist Trail, favorite!!! It's not what it used to be in those days, rough and dangerous. The stairway has been completely reconstructed, railings most of the way. It's like the steps of the state capitol.
The loop is Curry Parking->Mist Trail->Panorama Trail->Glacier Point->Four Mile Trail->Valley Loop->Curry Parking. (TrailForks link, map and stats)
Last pass was at Thanksgiving, snow at higher elevation, cold. We got to Nevada Fall bridge and someone in the trio suggested we continue. The other two would not be shamed, so consented. We found ourselves at Glacier Point lookout at sunset, last of the pink rosy fading from Half Dome. Road is closed, so no chance to cheat. We crawled down the Four Mile Trail in the dark, one of our party behind Coke bottle glasses. Huge cliffs, patches of ice on the partial pavement, views to the twinkly lights of Yosemite Village 500m below us. We missed half the scenery, and much of the incredible trail build that is Four Mile. If you haven't been...
Anyway, here are pics, some text interspersed.
Low on the Mist Trail, not in sight of Vernal Fall yet
Some of the usually wet and slick stairs at the headwall, folks snapping pics of Vernal Fall
Better view of the fall, currently low but I've seen it completely dry at times
Staircase up the headwall, not near as spicy as days of yore
Nevada Fall, view from switchbacks between the 2 falls
Some of the nifty new switchbacks
Nevada Fall bridge
Back side of Half Dome, viewed from Panorama Trail
Same, with a little more context - Liberty Cap at right, Mt Broderick center, some peaks of Tuolumne Meadows area at background
Yosemite Fall, the other icon of the park, completely dry
Relief!!! Illilouette Creek at the bridge above the fall. There were a buncha trout in these pools.
Bridge over Illilouette Fall
Illilouette Fall - A winter favorite among ice climbers, easier catch than the ephemeral Widow's Tears
Another shot from Panorama Trail just prior to reaching Glacier Point. You can see the switchbacks into Illilouette Creek on the slope lower right
View west from Four Mile Trail down the Merced - Cathedral Spire at left, El Capitan in profile right of center, Three Brothers left behind Cathedral
Partly obscured view from Four Mile Trail up Tenaya Canyon - Cloud's Rest at center background, Royal Arches at lower left
Last words: I'm happy to report that the dirtbag climber culture is alive and well in the Valley (long live Sunnyside!). The Curry Village gas station has been replaced by the Curry Village charging station. There's a brand new Rivian charging station in Groveland, an absolute eyesore, breaks the small town charm. More folks are bicycling in the Valley than I expected.
Thanks!