Re: Will there be Labor Day Falls in Yosemite 2011?

Based on the variables going on right now at various drainage points in the high country what is the general opinion of all on what the falls may be like on Labor Day 2011? Some of you folks in here are avid hikers that may have wittnesed the variables as of late up close so you may have the better knowledge to estimate what will be flowing and what won't. All of us Labor Day visitors await your responses.

They should be better than usual. But I wouldn't want to say anything more than that.

Wow. You going out on a limb there...

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Maybe perhaps, I dunno, maybe not... they might be ok.

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chick-on
Maybe perhaps, I dunno, maybe not... they might be ok.

You were saying something about limbs (wings?)?

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eeek

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chick-on
Maybe perhaps, I dunno, maybe not... they might be ok.

You were saying something about limbs (wings?)?

You said you didn't want to say anything else... I take it you are recovering from your death march... ???

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chick-on
I take it you are recovering from your death march... ???

I'm working on it.

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eeek

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chick-on
Maybe perhaps, I dunno, maybe not... they might be ok.

You were saying something about limbs (wings?)?

Make that fried wings.

OK, my real prediction:

Vernal and Nevada will still be very very very nice.

Yosemite will still have water flowing ok. (there's still a decent amount of snow W of Hoffman)

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chick-on
OK, my real prediction:

Vernal and Nevada will still be very very very nice.

Yosemite will still have water flowing ok. (there's still a decent amount of snow W of Hoffman)

When was the last time the Merced River was dry?

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y_p_w
When was the last time the Merced River was dry?

Technically Merced Lake and Washburn Lake comprise part of Merced River....
so...
Over 1500 years ago when it was covered by Tioga Glacier perhaps...

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chick-on

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y_p_w
When was the last time the Merced River was dry?

Technically Merced Lake and Washburn Lake comprise part of Merced River....
so...
Over 1500 years ago when it was covered by Tioga Glacier perhaps...

Isn't a glacier just a river of ice?

I also wouldn't consider a glacier to be "dry".

Well... I was gonna say way over a million years... but the glaciers ebbed and flowed...
so someone like plawrence would then bustfry my balls on that statement

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I've day hiked Yosemite since I was a teen in the early 80's. I have NEVER seen the falls dry at Labor Day, never anything close, even in drought years.

Having said that, the falls will be much less dramatic in viewing in September than in May. But that's like saying Liz Taylor looked better at 20 than at 40. That's true, but she still looked damn good at 40.

Really...

Sept. 7, 2002:


Also was atop in mid-Aug of 2005... by Sept. it woulda looked about the same.... purty darn dry

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He might have been referring to Vernal and Bridalveil Falls, and not Yosemite Falls.

I for one have seen Yosemite Falls bone dry, even in late August. One massive wall — not one drop of water in sight.

The creek will have water in it year round... so obviously you are wrong.

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chick-on
The creek will have water in it year round... so obviously you are wrong.

Does it matter if the creek has water in it, if it's below the falls, or even above the falls, if there's no water actually going OVER the falls?

I never thought of taking a photo of it before, but remind me when the next dry year rolls around and I'll hike up and take a photo of Yosemite Falls at its brink when there's not a drop of water going over it.

(Yosemite Creek does run dry some years.)

You'll find water in it somewhere. Almost guaranteed.
(I was just busting your balls)

Mid October:


Water still present in pools up atop.

I've heard stuff like this before:
"There's no water in Snow Creek"

Complete and utter bollocks. There's fish in Snow Creek.... so it just means you didn't look very good.

Now... it IS possible that Yosemite Creek becomes nearly complete dryed out... but PROBABLY there is some
puddles here and there along the creek...

Anyway, many years... by Labor Day... I contend that if you took someone who had never been to the park
they certainly wouldn't call it a waterfall.

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Mid October 2009:


http://yosemitephotos.net/main.php/v/yosemite/sh-dscn3822.jpg.html

Sorry dude. But THAT mid-October was special. We got a very big dump at the beginning of October
which kick started all the falls. Want to see Vernal then?

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Here it is:

October 18, 2009:



(notice not a single person down there)

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chick-on
Here it is:

October 18, 2009:



(notice not a single person down there)

Where's the fence?

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eeek
Where's the fence?

or



or ... (different trip later that year in November):

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chick-on
You'll find water in it somewhere. Almost guaranteed.
(I was just busting your balls)

Mid October:


Water still present in pools up atop.

I've heard stuff like this before:
"There's no water in Snow Creek"

Complete and utter bollocks. There's fish in Snow Creek.... so it just means you didn't look very good.

Now... it IS possible that Yosemite Creek becomes nearly complete dryed out... but PROBABLY there is some
puddles here and there along the creek...

Anyway, many years... by Labor Day... I contend that if you took someone who had never been to the park
they certainly wouldn't call it a waterfall.

Chick-on-buzzard, that photo of yours depicts exactly what I see when I visit each September. When I was a kid visiting Yosemite my old grandpappy used to tell me "Yosemite Falls never stop flowing". I really never new what the hell he was talking about until later on when I was a bit older that when one views the side of the granite wall when the falls are dry they can see an image of a flowing Yosemite Falls etched into it seemingly in forever perpetual flow motion. Well, simulation is ok but I hope to see the real deal this time around.

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ezlivin
Chick-on-buzzard, that photo of yours depicts exactly what I see when I visit each September. When I was a kid visiting Yosemite my old grandpappy used to tell me "Yosemite Falls never stop flowing". I really never new what the hell he was talking about until later on when I was a bit older that when one views the side of the granite wall when the falls are dry they can see an image of a flowing Yosemite Falls etched into it seemingly in forever perpetual flow motion. Well, simulation is ok but I hope to see the real deal this time around.

Just for you (same trip, different view):

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plawrence
He might have been referring to Vernal and Bridalveil Falls, and not Yosemite Falls.

I for one have seen Yosemite Falls bone dry, even in late August. One massive wall — not one drop of water in sight.

There are a few climbing routes up Yosemite Falls that are climbable when dry.

http://www.exo.net/~pauld/climbing/ViaAqua/viaaqua.html

That's viewed from the top. Check out Yosemite Falls from the Four Mile Trail in September. It's not dry from that vantage point. A trickle? Yup, but not dry. And in any case, this is a year with 200% normal waterfall. There isn't a chance in hell they won't see waterfalls on September 5.

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Ulysses61
I have NEVER seen the falls dry at Labor Day, never anything close, even in drought years.

If that's not close. Then I don't know what close is.
A bit of water running down the cliff a waterfall it not makes.

As I said before... it'll be OK this year. Past years. No way.

Have a nice day

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Ulysses61
That's viewed from the top. Check out Yosemite Falls from the Four Mile Trail in September. It's not dry from that vantage point. A trickle? Yup, but not dry. And in any case, this is a year with 200% normal waterfall. There isn't a chance in hell they won't see waterfalls on September 5.

Now that's the in your face prediction we all want to hear!!! However, you do realize if it does not come true we will all be coming after you with pitchforks?

Criswell predicts:

Ribbon Fall: dry
Bridalveil Fall: thin, but flowing
Yosemite Falls: gossamer spray
Sentinel Falls: dry
Staircase Falls: dry
Lehamite Falls: dry
Royal Arch Cascade: dry
Vernal Fall: moderate
Nevada Fall: moderate
Illiouette Fall: small flow
Merced River: calm but flowing

Amazing

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