Re: Rock Slide in the Valley Today

Not uncommon I assume, but I witnessed my first rock slide in the valley today. At 8:51 am on our way up to Oh My Gosh Point, we heard a loud crashing sound and spotted a rock slide in progress on the south side of the valley. I didn't have access to my camera as it was in my daypack and we were in the lower treed area, but I was able to spot where it looked to have originated. I did take a photo when we reached a clear spot. The arrow points to the origin. Dust lingered in the air for at least 30 minutes after. What is the name of that falls?





Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 04/19/2012 07:45PM by Calaveras.

I believe that is Sentinel falls. Good report.

Yes, that appears to be Sentinel Fall next to Sentinel Rock.

I don't think the rockslide originated exactly where your arrow is pointed since that granite is too dark for a fresh rockslide. I suspect it might have originated where I circled in red:

No question that it's Sentinel Falls.

I don't think you are right Peter. If it was that big... there would be some serious repurcussions below...
(i.e. trees would be a flying)

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No doubt you could be right in regards to where the rockfall originated. I was looking for a fresher looking section of exposed granite. There's a small portion of fresh looking granite up by the snow too:

My arrow could certainly not be in the exact place but I don't think it was where your red circle is. We saw the slide while the crashing was still being heard and there was a column of dust to the left of the falls. Could be that it was too small to see the scar from my viewpoint.

It's incredibly difficult to find the scar, etc. Last year after the Yose Falls rock fall wife and I
went up there and looked and looked and it just doesn't jump out.
That being said... I had it in my noggin that I wanted to hike to the base of Sentinel long
before you posted this... (esp. after going up Ribbon and all that talk... not to
mention Sentinel is mostly an ignored falls).
Anyway, hiked to the base yesterday and I certainly didn't see anything where your arrow
is and no srapnel below really by the fall itself. Lower to the left where the
scree field ends there was a lot of recent rock smashing... where Peter drew his first
red circles is actually probably right. Only caveat is that it was prob. just a very "small" rock
that fell and just splattered. The right oval def. is all rockfall... how recent is difficult.
Just look at Awiyah Pt. rockfall...

Anyway, thanks... (and where is the Oh My Gosh new pan please)

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Any details or pictures from the base of Sentinel Falls. Sentinel Falls is one of my favorites and definitely overlooked. I went up Sentinel Creek a ways, a few years ago for a pretty good view of the falls. Seemed like you could keep going up the creek over a lot of rocks, or is there a better way?

Our favorite chick-on did post a couple of short videos from the base of Sentinel Falls on YouTube:

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chick-on





and

Awesome, Awesome, Awesome!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Even cooler than I thought it would be up there. I had wondered if you could still see the upper falls when you get closer to the lower falls.

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yosemitejim
Awesome, Awesome, Awesome!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Even cooler than I thought it would be up there. I had wondered if you could still see the upper falls when you get closer to the lower falls.

Kewl. I'll put a different post and some other pix together tomorrow perhaps with some words.

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Base of Staircase Falls is nice spot as well. Short Scramble.

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boomtown
Base of Staircase Falls is nice spot as well. Short Scramble.

Uh... yeah... why didn't I think of that! It certainly should be very quick.
Got any pictures?

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chick-on

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boomtown
Base of Staircase Falls is nice spot as well. Short Scramble.

Uh... yeah... why didn't I think of that! It certainly should be very quick.
Got any pictures?

Here are some from 2003:






I hope you can see these. I just learned how to post photos on this forum. Good spot to takie a shower if the line is too long at Curry

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boomtown

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chick-on

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boomtown
Base of Staircase Falls is nice spot as well. Short Scramble.

Uh... yeah... why didn't I think of that! It certainly should be very quick.
Got any pictures?

Here are some from 2003:






I hope you can see these. I just learned how to post photos on this forum. Good spot to takie a shower if the line is too long at Curry

No, we can't see them. They are configured as private on flickr.

Lemme try again.






Thanks eeek!

3rd try is a charm



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 05/19/2012 10:24PM by boomtown.

Thanks for taking the time to share your photos. They're wonderful.

Once you get the hang of it, it's pretty easy to share your photos on this site.
.

Thanks. I went there 2 weeks ago and got my own.

Maybe 10 minutes tops for Curry Za Deck and yer there.

Even cooler thing for me was seeing the start of The Lege Trail still intact.
So I ended up going that way for a bit and then zigging over.
Staying right all the way is no scrambling though in comparison.

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Ledge Trail is our list for this Summer. Have you done that hike?

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boomtown
Ledge Trail is our list for this Summer. Have you done that hike?

Yeah. I enjoyed it immensely...

http://yosemitenews.info/forum/read.php?3,25265

and an older thread... before I dooz it:
http://yosemitenews.info/forum/read.php?1,2743

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chick-on

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boomtown
Ledge Trail is our list for this Summer. Have you done that hike?

Yeah. I enjoyed it immensely...

http://yosemitenews.info/forum/read.php?3,25265

and an older thread... before I dooz it:
http://yosemitenews.info/forum/read.php?1,2743

Good stuff. But let me reiterate my warning. I've quit doing that hike since I have seen several really large rock falls cross the lower half in recent years. The face seems to be more active for loose rocks than it used to be. Of course, even when the trail was maintained, people died on it from falling rocks. Though those were often rocks kicked off by people above them on the route. The upper half is an avalanche gully that leaves you no place to go if you see something coming at you....

See http://yosemitenews.info/forum/read.php?3,25265,25996#msg-25996

Sorry to sound like an old geezer. Wait...I am an old geezer.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 05/20/2012 09:31AM by wherever.

Thanks for the info guys. I think I'll leave the wifey and chillens behind on this one. Or have them take the shuttle to GP and then join us for the 4 mile trail descent. I'll be sure to post a trip report. We are going to be in the Valley July 7-14th for my Mom's 75th birthday (this will be approx. her 50th visit to the Park!) I have always wanted to do that trail based on her descriptions from when she first did it as an 8 year old.

On some of the hikes, there are mentioneds of potential rockfalls. How dangerous is this, or how regularly does this happen?