(19.5 miles--10 hours)
This is a strenuous one-day climb. The advantage of taking the trip as
follows and seeing the sunrise at ~Mirror Lake~ is more than offset by
physical penalty of climbing the hot and steep ~Tenaya Trail~ zigzags.
The trip is better taken in the reverse direction (Trail Trip 3). If
the following route is adhered to, it is best to leave Yosemite as
early as possible, carrying a canteen which should be filled about
three-quarters of a mile above Mirror Lake.
~Mirror Lake~ is three miles distant by road from Yosemite. Here our
trail leaves the end of the road and skirts the west shore. Following
up the canyon beneath the dense forest about one mile we suddenly turn
left and start the 2500-foot ascent. From the 108 switchbacks are many
fine views. After a long, tiresome climb the trail passes over the
canyon rim between ~Mt. Watkins~ (Alt. 8235) at the right and ~Basket
Dome~ (Alt. 7602) at the left. A short distance takes us to ~Snow
Creek~, which cascades beautifully further down its rough canyon.
Turning upstream we soon arrive at a trail fork where the ~Tenaya Lake
Trail~ (Trail Trip 6) turns right. We turn left, following up the west
branch about a mile further. In high water ~Snow Creek Falls~ is
especially attractive. The trail now makes a wide detour to the north
of ~Indian Rock~ (Alt. 8526). If desirable, pedestrians may leave the
trail and climb to its summit, from which are good views, thence
following south down the long open ridge to the summit of ~North
Dome~.
The trail keeps at a lower elevation, passing thru almost level fir
forests and meadows with a charming diversity of wild-flowers and
trees. Gradually bearing southward our trail follows down the ~East~
or ~Little Winkle Branch of Indian Creek~ from its source. The main
~Snow Flat Trail~ continues down this stream, but we turn left on the
plainly blazed ~cut-off trail to North Dome~. Passing thru the dense
forests on the west flank of ~Indian Ridge~, we finally emerge on the
open disintegrated granite at the crest of the long slope leading
southward to North Dome. Here the ~Yosemite Falls Trail~ joins from
the west. The rounded summit of ~North Dome~ (Alt. 7531) is now easily
reached by a walk thru the open forest and over granite pavements,
which here exhibit very well the geological phenomenon of exfoliation
or weathering in concentric shells. Near the summit and to the north
of the trail is ~Slipper Rock~. From the top is a vast outlook,
especially westward toward the ~Gates of the Valley~ and eastward
where the great wall of ~Half Dome~ dominates the entire landscape.
The floor of ~Yosemite Valley~ is partly hidden by the projecting
~Royal Arch Cliff~. Daring rock climbers who have made the descent to
the edge describe this dizzy precipice as one of the most impressive
in the park.
In returning to Yosemite we take all main trails to the left.
Retracing our path for about half a mile up ~Indian Ridge~, we turn
westward. One mile more thru dense forest takes us past a small stream
and to the ~Little Winkle Branch of Indian Creek~, where the main
~Snow Flat Trail~ joins from upstream. The steep canyon below was
called "Le Hamite" by the Yosemite Indians because of the arrowwood
which grew there. Their main trail into Yosemite followed along the
precipitous east wall of the canyon.
A climb of 400 feet thru the forest now takes us to the summit of a
long ridge which we follow southward, finally paralleling the edge of
a deep precipice just westward from ~Castle Cliffs~ and emerging
abruptly at ~Yosemite Point~ (Alt. 6935). This is one of the justly
famous view-points of Yosemite and offers a remarkable combination of
depths and distances. The granite spire just below and at the right is
the ~Lost Arrow~, the "Le Hammo" of the Yosemite Tribe, the story of
which is one of their most charming legends.
Returning a short distance to the main trail we descend to ~Yosemite
Creek~. On the open ridge just beyond the crossing is a secondary
trail which leads to the rim of the ~Upper Yosemite Fall~, a few
hundred feet distant. The wonderful view from this point is most
thrillingly described by Muir.
Returning to the main trail we cross a small stream where is the
junction with the ~Yosemite Creek~, ~Eagle Peak~ and ~Ten Lakes
Trails~ (Trail Trips 11, 9 and 10). There is here a government
telephone (Central 1 ring). Turning left we descend abruptly 1600 feet
by sharp, dusty switchbacks, finally skirting the bottom of the almost
vertical cliff west of the falls. At this point one can leave the
trail and climb to the foot of the upper fall, in times of low water
even entering the cave beneath its base. The climb is dangerous
because of the slippery rocks.
The trail now passes southward along a granite ledge beneath the shade
of oaks and laurel. A short steep descent at the left of the trail
takes us to ~Valley View~, an excellent lookout point. Less than
one-half mile further is ~Columbia Point~ (Alt. 5031) from which is a
particularly wide and effective panorama. The following 2000-foot
descent to the floor of Yosemite Valley is first along granite ledges
among scattered Douglas firs and golden oaks, and finally beneath the
dense laurel and oak forests of the lower talus slopes. At the foot of
the trail is the ~El Capitan Road~. Auto busses run between this and
other valley points on half-hour service. ~Yosemite Lodge~ is a short
distance eastward and ~Yosemite Village~ is about three-quarters of a
mile distant via Yosemite Lodge and the foot-bridge.