R02 TR: 6/23 2021 Up and back dayhike: Bay Area to Yosemite 120 country

[giantbrookie]

Judy and Lee won't be able to get out much this summer, whereas Dawn and I are poised to begin our summer backpacking schedule next week (Monday). In order to properly celebrate Judy's 60th (the day before), I figured we should return to a special, albeit popular, spot in Yosemite off of Hwy 120. Part of the charm of this destination for us lies in the entirely off trail route we take in. Whereas big crowds come in by way of the trail from Tuolumne Meadows, we hike directly up the waterfall from Hwy 120 far enough east to come around the backside of Pywiack Dome. Judy and I first tried this route in 1996 in a memorable up-and-back dayhike from Hayward in which we hiked up the waterfall and then to Matthes Lake (six years before our oldest child, Lee, was born).

Our Castro Valley home is about 20 minutes closer to the Sierra than our old Hayward residence, so such up-and-back dayhikes are a bit easier. We made it to the kickoff turnout in about 3 hr 40 min including a 10 min plus delay a few hundred yards short of our parking area owing to road construction. We left Castro Valley at about 545 am and returned at about 9 pm. We were able to relax at our hiking destination from about 1030 am to about 4 pm. Weather was breezy and cool. The strong winds kept the mosquitoes away too, in addition to being refreshing. We did a bit of fishing. Lee had the best overall success, I caught the same number of fish with slightly smaller overall size, but Mrs. Giantbrookie caught the biggest fish, a 15.5" brookie. Today (day after trip) Lee will cook the first of the three dinners planned for these fish.

The fun of this hike is in the hiking route, here viewing the lower waterfall/cascade.

Judy, Lee, and Dawn just above the "lower step"/waterfall.

Views are stunning on this short off trail climb

The beauty of this place and accessibility no doubt accounts for much of its popularity.

A truly nice place for relaxing and having a snack.

Dawn and Lee at the base of the lower step/falls during descent.

Lee and Judy with their fish; Mrs. Giantbrookie gets biggest fish honors for the trip.

[RiseToADry]

GiantBrookie indeed. Great fish. Did you catch them in any specific locations? I've often had the most success towards the outlet on this lake for some reason.

[MitchellK]

What an amazing route to see lower cathedral lake without as many crowds! This made my list of future hikes .

[sekihiker]

Beautiful fish.

[SSSdave]

Best fish I've ever seen coming out of that highly fished lake, surprising. The caltopo Map Builder topo now shows that route as well as the trail along the Medlicott bench I normally take that backcountry rangers use.

[giantbrookie]

GiantBrookie indeed. Great fish. Did you catch them in any specific locations? I've often had the most success towards the outlet on this lake for some reason.

Outlet area has never worked for me except for two nice ones in 2015 that were a consolation prize for getting broken off in the upper lake. I have tended to focus on the N-Central and E sides (I was N-Central on Wednesday, family was E-side), but this may simply be habit. I recall on one trip firing a few casts off the southern shore and having some spine tingling strikes, so I think the bottom line is that it works along almost the entire perimeter.

[giantbrookie]

Best fish I've ever seen coming out of that highly fished lake, surprising. The caltopo Map Builder topo now shows that route as well as the trail along the Medlicott bench I normally take that backcountry rangers use.

I did the Medlicott bench route once, too (in 2016) and it's a pretty neat route, but it's a smidge longer and I like the views better on the "waterfall" route.

[windknot]

Great report and photos! Nice way to optimize a day trip for views, fishing, and cool weather.