(warning: way too many pictures)
My food shipment did arrive (3 days late) so retrieved that, packed the bear canister, and headed back to the park. Started at White Wolf trailhead around 3pm. Descended to Pate Valley. Great views of the Hetch Hetchy reservoir and the GCT opening up along the way. Met a nice bear on the switchbacks. Towards the bottom of the descent my knees were starting to hurt, having descended about 9,000 ft the day before and today. Camped first night in Pate Valley.
Next day continued through Pate and then made a wrong turn and headed up the Piute Creek trail. At least there were good views from the first set of switchbacks. Looped about 3 unnecessary miles before back on the GCT trail. Missed the petroglyphs. Continued up the GCT, through the Muir Gorge and camped before Return Creek. Next day continued past Waterwheel, LeConte, and California Falls, up to Glen Aulin.
Overall the water flow was much better than I expected given the drought, possibly it was just temporary from the big storm earlier in the week. There was water in Morrison Creek, and there was a little bit of tumbling at Waterwheel and LeConte Falls.
Through the GCT I did not see any rattlers and no issues with skeeters, but gnats were absolutely horrible. In the forested/shaded areas. Relentless swarms that would hover an inch in front of my eyes and end up in my eyes, up my nose, down the back of my throat, etc. I ended up wearing my headnet much of the time.
Harden Lake:
Descending from Harden, the trail was choked with overgrowth -- at times I couldn't even see the trail:
Uppermost crossing of Morrison Creek:
Obligatory Hetch Hetchy shot:
Second crossing of Morrison -- looking straight down a small waterfall:
Met a friend on the switchbacks down from WW to Pate:
Bridge crossings in Pate Valley:
From the Piute Creek trail first set of switchbacks:
Rodger's Canyon Creek was dry, but Register Creek was flowing: EDIT: This is Rodger's Canyon Creek:
This fall was dry: EDIT: This is the Register Creek crossing:
Moby Dick:
Return Creek crossing:
Waterwheel Falls:
LeConte Falls:
California Falls:
This looked like an old artist's paint box, just sitting beside the trail:
In Glen Aulin:
- Billy Joel
Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 08/20/2014 08:32AM by JRinGeorgia.