Bear with me. This is my first attempt at posting photos.
Started out from Tioga Road and in an hour or so, this marmot was signaling to the others that I was approaching May Lake.
Set up the tent with a great view of the lake.
Since I was hiking solo and not being the anti-social type, I ate my meals in the High Sierra Camps. That night at May Lake was pasta night. (The following nights were better. Salmon and pork roast at Glen Aulin).
Lovely lazy afternoon just chilling at May Lake.
The next morning, first one out of camp after a hearty breakfast at the High Sierra Camp. This is one of my favorite spots on the trail from May Lake to Glen Aulin. A high and windy hill, no mosquitos, and a view down to Glen Aulin.
I love wildflowers and the wet rock gardens along this stretch of the trail were full of blooms. This is an alpine lily.
After fighting the mosquitos in the forested portion of the May Lake to Glen Aulin trail, I finally arrive at the White Cascade.
Sunset turns the Tuolumne River pink at Glen Aulin.
The next morning, with just a daypack, I started off to Waterwheel Falls. I have to say that without the help of the rest of you, I might have confused LeConte Falls with Waterwheel Falls.
So here are just a few nice scenes along the trail.
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Arrived at the Waterwheels. I didn't want to get any closer to the edge than that. The best footage I got is on video.
You can see it was a dry year and the waterwheels weren't wheeling as much, but the hike was very enjoyable with fantastic scenery and not nearly as strenuous as I had been led to believe.
Some sections were a lovely flat stroll.
A bit of LeConte Falls on the way back up.
And a nice cool granite pool.
I just liked the way the river looked like an infinity pool.
And almost back to Glen Aulin. The Waterwheel Falls are well past that promontory point on the right side of the canyon.
I had two great nights at Glen Aulin with a lot of interesting, fun people to talk to in the evenings. There were two groups of women who adopted me for the evening. (I like being alone during the day, but at night it's nice to have a friendly group to talk with around the hot chocolate jug.) I met a woman whom I'd shared a tent cabin with a couple of years ago at Merced Lake High Sierra Camp. High Sierra hikers are a great bunch.
One last stop at the prettiest spot in Tuolumne Meadows before heading back to the road.