It was the exact same trip as the one eleven months ago, and it was completely different.
As reported here previously, there were some downed trees just below Harden Lake that required cutting across a few switchbacks. Trail crews had been making some progress here, but had also encountered some equipment challenges:
There were a few mosquitoes near Morrison Creek, but they were not an issue in Pate Valley. Hetch Hetchy Reservoir was still full, but given the feeble inflows from the Tuolumne, it probably won't be for long. Last year (left), the Tuolumne ran swift and deep below Pate Valley; this year (right), in many places with care it could be crossed without getting your feet wet:
The small pond near the bottom of the Morrison Creek switchbacks was dry, and the first bridge in Pate Valley crossed a stagnant pool. Pate Valley was otherwise dry--and hot. We encountered many more people this year than last, and most of the good campsites along the route were occupied. Almost all the parties were travelling down-river, one exception being a small Sierra Club group that we passed near the Cathedral Creek confluence.
Last year, when we arrived at the unbridged Register Creek crossing, thunderstorms were threatening us and had already swollen the creek such that the crossing was a dangerous waist-deep affair. This year (right), a dry-foot crossing even for those with very short feet:
The waterfall at this crossing provided a refreshing break from the summer heat, as did the cool breeze at the top of the Muir Gorge "bypass".
The breeze was unfortunately intermittent, and in the calm, wooded sections, small annoying flies swarmed near our faces.
Many consider the highlight of the GCT to be the series of waterfalls and cascades from Return Creek to the twin bridges above Glen Aulin. While the cascades were still enjoyable, and the low river left much more smooth granite exposed, the infamous Waterwheel was all but missing in action:
Our pace was about the same as last year, and the sun sat just after we left the Glen Aulin trail at the twin bridges to take the "Pothole-Postpile" shortcut. Only near sunset did the mosquitoes return, and only for a half hour or so.
We had left White Wolf at 5:45am and arrived at the Pothole Dome parking lot around 9:20pm; as with last year, the distance was about 30 miles.
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