Yosemite 4 - the Mist Trail

The Mist Trail has to be one of the most popular hikes in Yosemite.  Expect lots of company at least to the top of Vernal Falls, but from there the crowds all but disappear.  The map shows a nice clockwise loop, but we’ll face the winter trail closures.


As we again cross the bridge over the Merced River at Happy Isles Kg snaps a picture of one of the ‘happy islands’.


The trail will show off several ephemeral falls and a brief glimpse of the shy Illilouette Falls.


This section of the trail is wide and paved to the footbridge below Vernal Falls.


From the footbridge it’s a quarter mile to the 600 + steps of the Mist Trail.


The top of Vernal Falls makes a good lunch stop, even tho we are only about a quarter thru today’s hike.


Kg captured this video from the top of Vernal Falls:

Kg the musician and Aj the cross country runner find no issue with the steps nor altitude.  Jay the bicyclist and Fran the tennis player are able to pace them.  Kami and I took our time and got to see the rainbow – ha to those who ‘feel the need for speed’.  PB&J sandwiches/burritos make a nice refreshing lunch.


Above Vernal Falls is the Emerald Pool and a tempting water slide of the Silver Apron that flows into it.


Kg captured this video of the Silver Apron as it flows into the Emerald Pool:

The Mist Trail beyond the Emerald Pool is closed and we take the John Muir Trail up, and up, and up, to Clark Point.  The switch backs on this section allow many great views to Nevada Falls or back down to Vernal Falls.




After taking inventory of reserves both mental and physical at Clark Point we turn down toward the snow field on the John Muir Trail skipping the selfies on the foot bridge at Nevada Falls.




Meanwhile back at camp … Aj who limped in yesterday has her native shelter finished!


Complete with welcome sign, fire ring and her prized bow and arrow.



During our final night in the valley it rains.  The hanging mist and fog makes for some interesting views that Ansel Adams might like.  We exit the park on 140 toward Merced.  Wildcat Falls is spectacular but we do not tarry long, arriving back at the Walmart camping lot in Bakersfield in time for dinner.


This completes my blog entries on our week in Yosemite Valley.

Yosemite 3 - Mirror Lake Loop and Tenaya Canyon

Let’s be clear there is no longer a Mirror Lake, back in the day … this was  a favorite swimming hole.  The lake got it’s name from the reflections of Half Dome in its waters.  No more!  After the 1997 flood the dam creating Mirror Lake was removed by the NPS, creating a mud flat that was expected to form a meadow over time … we're still waiting for that meadow!  However Tenaya Creek provides plenty of sediment and water flow to get something growing.




The trail starts at the end of the Happy Isles bridge, just a few paces beyond the Mist Trail (next post).  This is an easy 5 mi loop (well 6 for us since we also hiked to Happy Isles ).  We’ll be going right to left in the elevation profile.



The trail is quite well maintained and will join Tenaya Canyon beyond the Mirror Lake.


Altho not known as a ‘scenic’ trail I find it quite nice with the variety of views and vegetation.


… and mule deer scat


We soon reach Mirror Lake just below where the dam was … back in the day.  Fran has pictures of me swimming here, even diving off the rocks … back in the day.


It looks like even the beavers miss the dam, as they take matters into their own ...


Mirror Meadow is not unpleasant, just not well established, there is sufficient sediment and water to support a meadow.  However, it is tho well visited, aka trampled that it will take a long time.   It would be nice to see deer here next visit.


As Aj continues to lead the group we enter the lower portion of Tenaya Canyon.


Where we soon reach the Ahwiyah Rockfall of 2009.  This is the 2nd largest rockfall recorded in the valley.  The trail remained closed for ~2.5 years as the trail was rerouted and tests made for the danger of additional rock falls.




Shortly past the rock fall is a brief view of lower Snow Creek Falls.  This is another one of those elusive falls, in that it cannot be seen at all from Snow Creek Trail!


At this point we are approaching the foot bridge for our turnaround point … and the trail gets to be a bit more technical.


Upstream from the far end of the footbridge there is a rock scramble can be made to Tenaya Creek Falls.  The creek is too high to consider the diversion and we return on the south side of Tenaya Creek here.


Several times along the trail we see these beautiful tiny blue butterflies with their white under sides. 


And while I’m looking at butterflies Kg is taking a few pictures and movies of a young black bear feasting on the bugs it finds in an old log just off the trail.


Kg had the presence of mind to make a video:

I noticed that Fran was now leading instead of Aj when I took this picture, but I did not give it a second thought.


We return to Mirror Lake now on the south side of the lake/meadow.


Kg captured the best picture of the ‘mirror’ that can be seen at the lake when there’s sufficient water.


Carins are fun to see and fun to make.  There are a lot on the south side of Mirror Lake.


This is not just a cute photo of Kg comforting her kid sister, Aj split a toenail on this hike, ah that's why she slowed down, and we have Vernal/Nevada Falls tomorrow … stay tuned!


Next up Vernal and Nevada Falls via the Mist and John Muir Trails ….