High Sierra Topix

Last year I asked for advice about a June Yosemite trip to take advantage of Glacier Point Road being closed.
viewtopic.php?f=1&t=22296

I ended up having a great trip that was inspired by trip reports from HST as well as helpful advice from @Wandering Daisy, @maiathebee and @LMBSGV. This trip report is my way of saying thanks
I'm only posting a couple photos here, but there are a lot more on my blog (no ads)
https://backpackandbeer.blogspot.com/20 ... -2022.html

If anyone can correct my flower IDs, I'd appreciate it

June 10 - 20, 2022
Camera: Sony a7ii and Sony 24-105 lens and some cell phone shots

One night in the Backpackers Camp in Yosemite Valley
1st trip: Echo Valley, Sunrise Lakes, LYV, South Rim - 5 nights and 56 miles and 13000' elevation
One night in the Backpackers Camp
2nd trip: North Rim - 2 nights and 28 miles and 7800' elevation
One last night in the Backpackers Camp

Lots of miles in the valley between Curry Village, Backpackers Camp, Wilderness Office, Mirror Lake

Day 1: Valley to Echo Valley
Early start meant that I never felt crowded on the hike to Nevada Falls, I didn't feel lonely either Beautiful way to start a trip




Day 2: Echo Valley to Sunrise Lakes
Woke up to amazing underlit clouds, but I could not get out of the tent fast enough, picture every cloud here glowing like fire underneath


Middle Sunrise Lake is very pretty, I wish the weather had cooperated more


Day 3: Sunrise Lakes to Clouds Rest to LYV
I was surprised at the number of dayhikers at Clouds Rest. Amazing views


Day 4: LYV to Glacier Point to Pohono Trail
Panorama Trail has quite the views






Day 5: Pohono Trail, McGurk Meadow to Stanford Point
Yosemite Falls in the distance




Bear in McGurk Meadow




Day 6: Back to the Valley
Lots of flowers for the whole trip and not many bugs






Pizza and beer tastes great


Backpackers Camp for the night
I hiked up to Mirror Lake
Fire up Snow Creek




2nd trip - North Rim
Day 1: Yosemite Falls to El Cap
Way too many people at Yosemite Falls, but still glad I got to see it


I was warned that a bear was up ahead and was told that he had ignored them, so I hurried up the trail to see if I could get a good view. My best bear photos ever




El Cap was super windy, pretty sunset though


Eagle Point was a good side trip, I heard that the fire had shut down the Snow Creek Trail which I was planning on using


Day 2: To North Dome
Yosemite Creek above the falls


North Dome views








Day 3: Back to the Valley, I had planned on descending the Snow Creek Trail, but not with the fire, so backtrack to Yosemite Falls.


Backpackers Camp one more time
Next morning a pretty view from the bridge near North Pines Campground


And finis, off to Point Reyes

That's some great scenery--you really hit the highlights! And the bear photos are great.

What fun!

Beautiful

Wonderful report and tremendous pictures! You certainly captured the beauty and allure of the valley. Thank you for sharing!

That's wonderful you had such a great time. I really enjoyed the long version on your blog. That’s great you ran into Cicely Muldoon. It’s such a striking contrast to go from the “millions of people” during the day to the quiet solitude at sunset and sunrise when doing the north and south rims of Yosemite.

Thanks so much for sharing with us! Those bear photos are knockout!!!

@wsp_scott -
Nice report (and even better photos !).

As for the wildflowers, I am no botanist, but I do use the INaturalist app quite a bit. Your Pussypaws I.D. is correct (not sure which species) and the Mariposa Lily is a Leichtlin’s Mariposa Lily. Your Penstemon is probably Mountain Blue Penstemon (Penstemon laetus); Showy Penstamon (Penstemon spectabilis) can be found mostly in southern Cal (Ventura, LA, Orange, San Diego, etc counties and down in Baja, but doesn’t seem to occur as far north as Yosemite.

Your Goldenrod also looks a bit like Ragwort (Senecio). Your “no idea” photo looks like Corn Lily / False Hellebore; would be super-obvious if in bloom.

Your “no idea?, but pretty” shot is Purple Mountain Heather (Phyllodoce breweri).

> @Harlen or @sekihiker - either of you care to weigh in ?

Nice! Reminds me of the time when I was at Yosemite in the spring just before the Glacier Point road was opened, and we hiked up the Mist trail, over on the Panorama to Glacier point, and had Glacier Point all to ourselves.

@ wsp_scott
So where did you get the pizza, it looks yummy?

Ed

Grampy's comments:

@wsp_scott -
Nice report (and even better photos !).

That's the most important point, and I'll sure second it.... or 4th it, or 5th it-- everyone has enjoyed your report!

Grampy also wrote:

As for the wildflowers, I am no botanist, but I do use the INaturalist app quite a bit. Your Pussypaws I.D. is correct (not sure which species) and the Mariposa Lily is a Leichtlin’s Mariposa Lily. Your Penstemon is probably Mountain Blue Penstemon (Penstemon laetus); Showy Penstamon (Penstemon spectabilis) can be found mostly in southern Cal (Ventura, LA, Orange, San Diego, etc counties and down in Baja, but doesn’t seem to occur as far north as Yosemite.

Your Goldenrod also looks a bit like Ragwort (Senecio). Your “no idea” photo looks like Corn Lily / False Hellebore; would be super-obvious if in bloom.

Your “no idea?, but pretty” shot is Purple Mountain Heather (Phyllodoce breweri).

> @Harlen or @sekihiker - either of you care to weigh in ?

Generous to include me and Bill, but between yourself and wsp_scott, so many of the flowers have been accurately named. The phrase "damn yellow asters" is much used even by serious botanists, and that can cover your goldenrod/Senecio flowers (I'd go with the latter), and that unknown, frilly looking yellow aster, which strikes me as a chicory of some sort. Corn lily is correct for the beautiful leaves. I wonder if the other "no idea" flowering bushes are the same Western azaleas that you captured so nicely in a couple of closeup photos?

I envy your luck with the Bears, and thanks again for such a fine and colorful trip report. Cheers, Ian.