Like this:

[DAY-BY-DAY ROUTE REPORT]

Day 3:  (5430′ Elev)

============

Topographic Route Maps: CLICK “My Topo” in top right corner of map

E by NE and up along Tuolumne River.

Start Map: http://www.mytopo.com/maps.cfm?mtlat=37.9298&mtlon=-119.5097&z=15

Turn E then E-by-NE (this is the start of the “Grand Canyon of the Tuolomne River)

Junction map: http://www.mytopo.com/maps.cfm?mtlat=37.9336&mtlon=-119.5002&z=15

Turn E-by-SE (Waterwheel Falls & LeConte Falls)

Junction map: http://www.mytopo.com/maps.cfm?mtlat=37.9276&mtlon=-119.4693&z=14

Stop below California Falls. (7700′ Elev)

End map: http://www.mytopo.com/maps.cfm?mtlat=37.9191&mtlon=-119.4461&z=15

---

(photo by Rae Douglass)

NOTES: This was the day to hike past huge waterfalls, a footbridge and one or two very small stream crossings. We passed the gigantic Waterwheel Falls and equally enormous LeConte Falls and were 10 minutes north of California Falls when we stopped.

At this point in the trip many of us were comfortable to spread out along the trail so that we traveled in smaller groups at different paces (or maybe that was all just in my head). Anja and I found that our bodies worked best if we kept moving at a steady pace with four or five 5-minute breaks for water and food. Our muscles didn’t cool down so much. Others needed two to three 20 minute breaks to stay moving on trail. And others were somewhere in between. We moved ahead of the group and scouted for campsites.

Our total 1-day mileage 6.5-7.5 miles (not sure on this). Total trip miles ~26 miles.

There was also a big relief to the group because the elevation gain was spread out along the entire planned day’s trek. We gained over 2000′ of elevation over 7 miles (instead of 1000′ in 1.5 miles). Whew!

(photo by Rae Douglass)

Our campsite was practically right on the trail (one tent was 10′ away) but we had the most beautiful view of this minor waterfall (heh heh, only 40′ high and 20′ across) descending into the emerald green and blue pools below.  We were surrounded by sheer walls on two sides and our little site, peppered with Redwoods and Pines, was able to accommodate our 6 tents and kitchen setup. The trees in our site gave us lots of shade in the morning and the evening. We looked downstream and down canyon from the campsite right onto the most picturesque monolith [descended from Wildcat Point - 9455' Elev]. The evening light fell on the canyon, the canyon walls, the river, the trees in our little grotto, and on to the monolith in such a perfect, bucolic, and serene way that we each marveled to another about it.  Arriving at 3:30PM gave us many more hours to rest.

(photo by Rae Douglass)

Although the roar of the falls made sleeping a little difficult for some in the group, many of us relished sleeping so close to the view of this magnificence. The added benefit was that there were very few mosquitoes. Our first visit from mosquitoes came on the next morning as we prepared to leave. We think there was a mosquito hotline to announce “‘packers in the tree grotto by the waterfall!” and the small swarm didn’t arrive til we were on our way the next morning.

Tempuratures were cooler because we at a higher elevation and because this part of the valley was in the shade.  During the evenings we all donned our fleeces or long-sleeved shirts.  I really expected the night to be as warm as the previous two nights and wanted to keep the rain-fly off of the tent as we had the night before. Anja said that around 4AM the temp dropped significantly and she had been particarly cold after.  Two of our group had decided to sleep out of tent and up on the slab rocks above the campsite. They ended up feeling the same cold at 4AM. If there is anything to be aware of, I guess, it would be to have your extra layers (or a warm person) close by.  :-)

DAY 4 –>

Advertisement