R02 TR: 2007 Pohono Loop, Yosemite

[Wandering Daisy]

Since the question came up regarding early season backpacks, here is a trip I did in 2007, a low snow year, but before Glacier Point Road opened. I do not think I have ever posted this trip, but if so, sorry for the repeat.

Also, a 2016 early season trip is posted on page 56. (Sorry, I do not know how to link it here). The photos do not show but I could add them if anyone would like that. (Evidently Photobucket photos no longer show on HST). 2016 was an 89% snowpack year, 2007 a 46% snowpack year. 2016 was very wet with the valley almost flooded when I was there! The 2016 trip was a combination of overnights and day-hikes; 1) Glacier Point-LYV, 2) day-hike Merced Lake, 3) pass through valley and re-permit for overnight above Yosemite Falls, 4) return to valley and valley day-hikes, 5) Four Mile Trail back to car.

Pohono – Panorama – Mist –South Side Trails : Loop from Wawona Tunnel
40.5 miles/ 4 days


April 30, 2007 Tunnel View TH to Taft Point: 9.2 miles/4604 gain

Trail junction 0.6 mi 560 feet gain
Sanford Point 3.0 mi 2030 feet gain (w/side trip Crocker Pt)
Bridalveil Creek 3.4 mi 990 feet gain, 960 loss
Taft Point 2.2 mi 1025 feet gain, 285 loss

May 1, 2007 Taft Point to Quarter Dome Shoulder: 14.8 mi/5500 gain

Glacier Point 5.7 mi 2255 feet gain, 1500 loss
Illouette Creek 2.5 mi 300 feet gain, 1555 loss
Nevada Falls 3.0 mi 870 feet gain, 850 loss
Half Dome tr jct 2.4 mi 1195 feet gain, 135 loss
Qurt. Dome shoulder 1.2 mi 885 gain

May 2, 2007 Quarter Dome Shoulder to Backpackers CG: 7.8 mi/ 248 gain

Half Dome tr jct 1.2 mi 883 feet loss
Nevada Falls base 2.4 mi 135 feet gain, 1195 loss (Mist Trail)
Happy Isles TH 2.3 mi 95 feet gain, 1940 feet loss
Backpacker’s CG 1.8 mi 20 feet gain, 60 feet loss

May 3, 2007 Walk back to car: 8.7 mi/ 1210 gain

Bridalveil pk lot 6.1 mi 200 feet gain, 220 feet loss
Trail junction* 1.9 mi 1010 feet gain, 440 loss
Tunnel View TH 0.7 mi 560 feet loss
Drive home (Sacramento)

* Trial junction of Pohono Trail and the old (1875) Wawona Road. From the Bridalveil parking lot follow this old road instead of walking the shoulder of the new road

This is a good waterfall view trip. You visit several viewpoints: Sanford Point, Dewey Point, Taft Point, Glacier Point, Inspiration Point from which you see Ribbon, Yosemite, Bridalveil, Illilouette, Nevada and Vernal falls. Were I to do it again I would camp on Sentinel Creek the first day. There is a seasonal creek near Taft Point that has water only very early in the season. Sentinel Creek is a more reliable water source. Bridalveil Creek is not very scenic and was really wet and soggy with snow. I have a secret camp spot near Quarter Dome with a fantastic view (camping on the shoulder of Half Dome is not allowed). Getting up to this spot required a very long second day. I just do not like camping at Little Yosemite Valley. However, it may be wise to get a permit that includes Little Yosemite Valley if it is available, so you can stay there if needed. If you have time to go higher, then fine, but LYV is a good backup plan.

This is a 3-day trip with one day to walk back to the car. The walk in the valley (south side trail) and up the old Wawona road is really nice. (I did not include photos of Yosemite Valley- can add them if you request). I ate in the restaurant and bought trail food at Curry Village the last day. Considering the elevation gain, I kept my pack light by using a bivy sack, taking only 2 days food and deleted rain gear. It is a rigorous trip. I also did Pohono last year (2021), a low snow year, and I only walked over snow a few times. Bridalveil and Sentinel creeks dry up later in the season, so this is an early-season hike if you want to camp on the route.

Crocker Point

Dewey Point

El Capitan from Dewey Point

Taft Point

Yosemite Falls

Half Dome from Panorama Tr near Glacier Point

Illouette Falls

Quarter Dome from Half Dome shoulder

Nevada Falls

Vernal falls

[gary c.]

You sure did cover some great waterfall views and got some great pictures.

[balzaccom]

Nice to see those falls roaring. The last couple of times I've been in the Valley have been in the Fall...

[Harlen]

This is great to see, thanks a lot! I didn't realize what the Badger Ridge area would look like in Spring. I've only skied around up there, and camped at Dewey Pt. Someone told me that Crocker is the legal area to camp, and that it has an even better view. Seems so, we love your photos from up there.
From you photos I get a better perspective on my friend's passion for The Valley. He has climbed some of the big walls, and just loves being there. If one can temporarily let go of the desire to be in the Sierra's alpine zone, the Yosemite rim routes can be seen for what they surely are-- among the world's most amazing Canyon hikes.
That day you hiked from Badger Ridge all the way to Quarter Domes must have been a fun challenge-- 15 miles, and 5500 ft.? Why not stay in LYV, Daisy, where the Bears will stick their heads right in your tent? I am going to hope that my route-finding skills continue deteriorating to a dangerous level, then I can get a pass for Bearzy as my guide dog, and we'll hike all around the rims of The Valley.

WD, what did you mean by saying that your 2016 TR can be found on page 56? Thanks again.

[Wandering Daisy]

When you click on the backpacking sub-forum, there is a row of numbers (page numbers) in the upper right. Each page is back in time. Select the page I cited. However, a new page is added for new posts are added, the page number I cited will increase. I have never figured out how to get the link to old reports put in my new posts, otherwise I would have just linked it.

Although I too enjoy solitude in the more remote regions of the Sierra, backpacking through the iconic Sierra scenery often means more crowds and having to share the space with others. Just get the idea of "wilderness" out of your head if you truly want to get the most out of Yosemite Valley and the hikes on the rims. Yosemite Valley in the winter is much less crowded. Camp 4 used to be open year-round, perhaps is also now. Since the bathrooms have running water, they are heated, which makes winter camping at Camp 4 quite civilized, and you can hang out in the lobby in many other buildings. The Yosemite Falls trail is usually open, as is the Snow Creek trail.

LYV campground has no good views. That, in addition to the crowds, is why I try to avoid it.

[rlown]

Find the page you cited, copy the link and repost it in your response. When you copy the link it includes the exact post.

[Wandering Daisy]

Thanks Rlown. It looks like the photos do not show up because they were in Photobucket. Harlen, I can edit the old post and put in the photos. Would you like that?

[rlown]

photobucket is dead.

[gary c.]

photobucket is dead.

Photobucket is dead to me also but I have gotten a couple of email offers of late offering to return access to me again for $5 a month which is a big improvement over what they had originally asked as blackmail.

[Harlen]

WD:

Thanks Rlown. It looks like the photos do not show up because they were in Photobucket. Harlen, I can edit the old post and put in the photos. Would you like that?

Absolutely, if not a lot of trouble. You mention the wet early summer conditions of 2016,

2016 was very wet with the valley almost flooded when I was there!

and it would nice to compare the areas where we all were.

I believe this was that same year you speak of, in May of 2016. Even parts of Tuolumne Meadows, at 8,600' were somewhat flooded.

We managed to find some skiing, but higher up in the Cathedral Range.

The Tuolumne was raging through the meadows.