Panorama Trail, Yosemite Valley

[mrssanta]

Summer 2010 was our last summer before number one son set off for University, and we decided to have a "normal" family holiday, instead of our usual habit of visiting relatives in various parts of Scotland. so we had a family discussion about where we might go, perhaps France or Spain. the kids decided that the place to go was Yosemite National Park. Righto then, we will just empty the savings bank and we can just about afford the air fare, but we will have to camp as there is no way we can afford accommodation as well.
It was a fabulous holiday. the Americans certainly know how to camp. we stayed in National Park campsites which we had to book five months in advance, and on the day booking opened the only place we could get was an hour's drive from Yosemite Valley but it suited us just fine. Older son wanted to go climbing, daughter wanted to ride a horse, younger son wasn't that bothered as long as he got to see the General Sherman Tree - the largest tree in the world - not far away in Sequoia national park, and husband wanted to go into the wilderness and camp. Me, I wanted to go up Half Dome, but that's another story.
so this is a report of the walk we took from Glacier Point at 7214 feet back down to Yosemite Valley at 3500 feet over about ten miles or so.

we took a bus trip up to Glacier Point, which was an experience in itself. the bus driver told us a lot about the history of the area and the importance of natural forest fires to the diversity of the forests and ground cover plants. he dropped us off to make our own ways down

the short way down from glacier point - straight down nearly 4 thousand feet!!

the views from here were absolutely tremendous, across the glacial trench of Yosemite valley and over to Half Dome.

Across the valley, Yosemite Falls on the left, Cathedral Arches in the middle and Tenaya Canyon on the right

north Dome on the left, and the side of Half Dome on the right.

And Half Dome dominating the views all the way from different aspects. what an amazing spectacle it is.

Half Dome from Glacier Point

and then to the right of Half Dome the enormous cascades of Nevada Fall above and Vernal Fall below.

half dome again, vernal and nevada falls

Nevada Falls, Vernal Falls

the other thing we learnt on the bus was how to distinguish a Jeffrey Pine from a Lodgepole, the former smells of chocolate.

sniffing the jeffrey pine

and all this before even setting off on our walk!!
Anyway, the path soon led us along the edge of a cliff then down a lovely path through open pine forests with fabulous views. It was hot and we were glad to be going mainly downhill.

the Falls from the edge of the cliff

half dome from further round the trail.

we were aiming for the bridge above Illilouette Falls for a picnic lunch,

Illilouette Falls through the trees

we're not used to all this unbroken hot sunshine, and we opted to sit under the trees on the near bank of the river rather than cross over and sit in the sunshine. we'd just got ourselves sat down with our butties when we heard shouts across the water - somebody had spotted bears coming down the hill behind us and we hadn't. Quickly we stuffed all our things into rucksacks and rushed across the bridge. I don't think the bears had spotted us, but if they had they would certainly want our picnics. Panic over, we had a fantastic view across the water of a mummy bear and two cubs rootling around where we had been sitting.
Unfortunately in the rush I could not find my camera anywhere. We looked all over the place, in the river, in all the rucksacks, around the rocks, back at the picnic place (once the bears had ambled off again) but no sign and I though it was lost. (Happily it turned up later in the bottom of my son's rucksack). so the pictures after this are from my son's camera, quality not as good but better than nowt.

honestly there is a bear in this pic, perched on top of the rock above the warning sign

Another three miles or so following the trail around the side of the mountain, till the point which my husband left me with the kids to go off on his two night adventure in the wilderness. At this point we joined the John Muir trail to the top of Vernal Fall and then the Mist Trail down to the valley.

Looking down Yosemite Valley, Glacier point on the left

Nevada Fall from the John Muir Trail

Huge cliffs

Rubbish picture, but pleased to see this in Yosemite Village shop

All these amazing and enormous waterfalls are fed mainly by snow melt and the ground everywhere was very dry. It's much harder on your feet than good Scottish bog, but an experience I will never forget.

[morag1]

Great memories of an amazing place

[malky_c]

Looks spectacular

Did you do Half Dome then? That's something I'd love to see (and do as well).

[mrssanta]

no sadly, we didn't make it to the top of half dome. I was supposed to go with the boys but I couldnt get them out of bed early enough, you have to start before it is light to get the most exposed bit done out of the heat of the day.
We got about half way and realised we were not going to have time.
that means I get to go back! perhaps when the kids have left home I'll go back with the other half.
This is me at the point where we turned back. I was very hot! Still a fantastic day at Vernal and Nevada falls and beyond.

bottom of vernal fall. earlier in the season you will get soaked here, we just got a rainbow.

[ChrisW]

Great report and photos Mrs Santa (though I'll have to take your word for there being a bear ) I have literally just arrived in California this evening ...I have no need to worry about the heat of the sun though but the Pacific Coast Highway still looks pretty good without it

[fraochydug]

Yosemite looks stunning! i dont like the idea of bears though

[mrssanta]

The black bears in Yosemite are mostly interested in food, not aggressive like brown bears but they can be very destructive to property. it's a pain having to put everything with a scent in a locker all the time and it is not advisable to let them get close!! But apparently the only animal that has killed any humans in Yosemite in recent years is a jackass deer - they let you get close to them then kick without warning. And they look so cute, quite small with ears like donkeys.

[Mal Grey]

Great stuff! Sounds like a fantastic holiday to have.

I went to Yosemite in '96, utterly amazing place, and it wasn't difficult to get away from the hordes. We didn't do the same trail, but we did Glacier Point then walked up to Sentinel dome and around a loop. We also walked up to just above Vernal Falls. All fantastic.

We too ended up camping a fair way out (Crane Flats I think), but it really didn't matter, and it meant we could also get to the Tuolumne Meadows area, which still to this day stands out in my mind as one of the very few most beautiful places I have ever been.

Thanks for sharing.

[mrssanta]

Thanks Mal.
We also went to Tuolomne meadows, which was quite different and much more peaceful. I'd love to go back some day, but will have to do a lot of saving up first. I would definitely camp again.

[KeithS]

Mrssanta

Awesome pictures!

What an amazing area, I would love to see it.

Looks like you had a fantastic time.

[maryhillmoose]

Wow, what a brilliant report, just spotted it now
We are off to California for 3 weeks at the end of August and are backpacking the first 60 miles of the John Muir Trail inc Half Dome - your pics have made me super excited!!!!

[HighlandSC]

Indeed, what a great report! Stunning place... it's already on my list of places to get to while I'm living the in the US... will move it further up the list now...

[raykilhams]

Loved report , brought back good memories .Went to Yosemite 2012 , did a bit of walking up to nevada falls , would have loved to stayed longer , but had to move on to death valley , the place is just superb , even saw a bear ( kept my distance) . If anyone's thinking of doing Half Dome it's important to make sure permits are avaiable , as there's a day limit on how many people can take the tourist route , ( the only other way up is to climb it , and that's only for experienced mountaineers)
Thanks again

[Sarah86]

Stunning photo of an amazing looking place, love the rainbow at the bottom of the falls.