Yosemite Falls

30 June 2010

On our last day before driving home, I hiked up to the top of Yosemite Falls. Ingrid's knees were bothering her from the long downhill yesterday, so she stayed on the valley floor.



This was the first time I'd ever climbed this trail. It is a long, steady uphill, with many, many switchbacks. There are three main portions, each ascending roughly 1000 feet over the course of a mile or so. The first section goes through a scrubby forest on a dusty trail. Then after a traversing section the upper falls first come into view (top two photos).



The second section is also forested, but with larger trees that are supplied water by the mist from the falls. The trail here is amazingly groomed with a granite stone base and often bordering rocks as well. It is cool and shady -- magnificent for hiking on a warm day! There are also extraordinary views of the falls at many points during this ascent (third photo).



The third section is south facing with little tree cover, so it gets warm. The views across the valley are impressive as is the sight of the towering rock wall to the west. But the falls can no longer be seen.



Finally, at the top is a short, precarious descent to an observation platform (fourth photo). Over the railing, one can look down and glimpse the upper falls from above, with mist forming a rainbow, and a white ribbon leading south to the lower falls (fifth photo).



I ended the hike by climbing another mile (more gently rising) to Yosemite Point, which afforded great views of the eastern part of the valley including Half Dome (sixth photo).