Took the scouts on a trek up to Little Yosemite Valley from 08-10 June. The original plan was to backpack up to Little Yosemite Valley the first day, hike Half Dome the second, and then hike back out on day three. With the Half Dome cables not being up, we had to modify.
After doing 1.5 loops around Yosemite Valley in order to pick up our wilderness permit, we squeezed into trailhead parking, loaded our packs and headed for Happy Isles to eat lunch and use the restrooms before we started any serious hiking. The trail up to the Vernal Fall footbridge quickly got the blood pumping. Fortunately it was a weekday, so we weren't in the constant parade of people that trail becomes on weekends. Shortly after the JMT/Mist Trail split, we donned rain gear to protect ourselves and our packs from the upcoming soaking. And wow, did we get wet! Vernal Fall was booming. After a short break to remove rain gear above Vernal Fall, we continued our ascent of the Mist Trail. Nevada Fall was impressive as well. The mist and spray coming off the fall was so thick it was hard to differentiate it from the falling water... creating a near white-out background when you looked through the trees toward it. After slogging our way to the top of Nevada Fall, the scouts were more than happy to see the easier trail on the last mile to Little Yosemite Valley. We had some light but persistent rain as we cooked dinner and crafted our Plan B for day two activities. We had one adult and scout in our group who had hiked out to the diving board on a previous trip, so we decided to try scrambling out there the next day.
Starting out on the trail to Vernal Footbridge
Approaching Vernal Fall
Passing by Vernal Fall
Climbing past Nevada Fall
Unfortunately, the next morning we had to figure out a Plan C. Late that night one of the scouts had stumbled and twisted his ankle pretty badly while climbing the stairs to the LYV pit toilets. Yep, we got the scouts all the way up to Little Yosemite Valley safely, past the uneven and slippery steps on the Mist Trail, and it was the stairs up to the pit toilet that did us in. (I shouldn't say anything, as I almost faceplanted when I missed the first concrete half-step during an evening trip to the pit toilets). After discussing it with the scouts, they agreed that the best course of action was to take a "zero day" and just hang around camp to let the scout rest his ankle. There was plenty to keep us occupied between bird watching, climbing rocks, playing cards, soaking feet in the river, and watching the two resident mule deer (they might have been camp hosts as they seemed to wander around the campground 24/7). While it was sunny most of the day, the clouds gathered just enough to scatter a few drops around as the sun was setting and we were starting our campfire.
Our campsite in Little Yosemite Valley backpackers' campground
Half Dome reflected in a vernal pool
One of our camp hosts
Another view of Half Dome and the subdome
Believe it or not, it was raining when this picture was taken.
Day three we tried to focus on getting on trail early. We cooked breakfast, packed up, swept camp, and hit the trail by our target time of 8am. That may not seem early to many, but for a group of teenaged boys it is. On the way out we stopped at the bridge over the top of Nevada Fall. For me, feeling the granite vibrate from the force of all that water rushing past was a little unnerving. The JMT through the Ice Cut was closed, so we descended the upper half of the Mist Trail, then climbed up to Clark Point (a Wilderness Volunteer checked my permit on this section of trail) and took the JMT the rest of the way back to Happy Isles. This was a Saturday, so the crowds on the Mist Trail were quite a bit thicker. After getting back to the vehicles, we loaded up and headed back to the Bay Area, with a stop in Groveland for pizza.
Above Nevada Fall
Crossing the Merced above the Silver Apron and Emerald Pool
Vernal Fall overlook on the Clark Point cutoff trail.
Yours truly at Clark Point
I am labeling the trip "The Epic Failure" because, while we failed to make it to the top of Half Dome, it was still totally epic! The Little Yosemite Valley area was beautiful. Best of all, the scouts want to return next year for another shot at summiting Half Dome! ("Sorry honey, I have to go back again. It's not for me... it's for the scouts, honest!" )
