Tenaya Lake (15.0mi.), Yosemite (NP)

July 24, 2004

Click on an image to see it full size (800 x 600, about 120 kb each).

dscn8467.jpg (100631 bytes) dscn8394.jpg (125459 bytes) dscn8395.jpg (110908 bytes) dscn8402.jpg (115946 bytes) dscn8406.jpg (115980 bytes) dscn8461.jpg (123543 bytes) dscn8410.jpg (115077 bytes)
View of Clouds 
Rest from
Tioga Road		 Me, Michele,
Jeanne and Pam		 Pond covered
with pollen scum		 Negotiating the
switchbacks		 A few areas of
the trail are steep		 Switchback part 
of the trail		 Sandy part of
the trail
dscn8460.jpg (121228 bytes) dscn8457.jpg (106728 bytes) dscn8464.jpg (92391 bytes) dscn8446.jpg (119470 bytes) dscn8415.jpg (113675 bytes) dscn8445.jpg (105297 bytes) dscn8444.jpg (112202 bytes)
Rocky part of
the trail		 Green part of
the trail		 Flower Trail after
6 miles		 Looking back at
Tenaya Lake		 First view of 
Clouds Rest		 Rock formation
dscn8418.jpg (119653 bytes) dscn8419.jpg (107020 bytes) dscn8433.jpg (119802 bytes) dscn8430.jpg (113016 bytes) dscn8428.jpg (115091 bytes) dscn8429.jpg (117100 bytes) dscn8443.jpg (118484 bytes)
Busy trail Do you have a 
fear of heights?		 Happy to be
on the top 9926'		 Fire burning by
Liberty Cap		 Quarter Domes Half Dome and 
 Yosemite Valley		 Homeward

Michele's thoughts:  Neil & Jeanne from Turlock joined Pam & Michele from Modesto to take on the challenge of Clouds Rest.  It was shaping up to be a warm Saturday in Yosemite.  We hit the Sunrise Lakes/Clouds Rest trailhead just before 10:00 am.  After 30-45 minutes of a slightly uphill grade, the trail became much steeper.  Granite steps, rocks, and tree roots made up the trail.  We hiked to the 2.5 mile trail junction (stopping several times to catch our breath), where Jeanne took the trail to Sunrise Lakes and the three of us continued on to Clouds Rest.  Here the trail descends steeply for about 1/2 mile (boy did we paid the price on the return trip), then the trail meanders through lush vegetation and passes a small lake on the right. The trail continues to climb moderately thereafter until we neared the summit.  Hikers passing the other way extolled the benefits ahead, encouraging our efforts when the trail became steeper.  At the summit, we were walking over layered granite and in some places no more than 5-6 ft across (there are drop-offs on both sides as you summit).  With Neil's help ("..just look at my feet and nothing else.") Pam heroically overcame her fear of heights and the three of us peaked Clouds Rest at 2:30 pm .  We ate, took pictures and enjoyed the views of Half Dome, Clark Range, Yosemite Valley, etc.  In addition, we watching the smoke from this season's contained burns.  We headed back about 3:15 pm, delayed only when Pam's trekking pole collapsed, spilling her between two rocks on the summit.  Yikes! fortunately only minor cuts & bruises and nowhere close to any drop-offs!  Other than that, it was an uneventful return trip.  We did spot a sick deer just off the trail, hopefully it was just morning sickness.  We met Jeanne at the car at 6:45 pm before heading home.  On the way home we stopped in Groveland for dinner.  Jeanne's trip to lower Sunrise Lake turned out to be very pleasant and was a good first hike after an extended layoff.  Thanks to Neil for guiding us all safely there & back!

 

Contact: Neil Jacklin

Home