Part 8 (1/2)
(Round trip, 2 miles in 2 hours)
The short excursion from ~Glacier Point~ to the summit of ~Sentinel Dome~ is well worth while. The round trip can easily be made afoot in two hours and many hikers include it in their ”Glacier Point” day.
From the hotel we follow the ~Chinquapin Road~ about a quarter of a mile. Just beyond a spring at the left of the road, the trail turns to the right and climbs abruptly beneath the firs and pines. Gradually the forest becomes more open and park-like, and the firs are replaced by hardy Jeffrey pines. During the last quarter mile of the ascent we pa.s.s over weathered granite which has exfoliated in slabs near the top. At the rounded summit is a gnarled and wind-blown Jeffrey pine--probably the most photographed tree in the park. To the east is an exceptionally fine panorama of the High Sierra.
In returning to Glacier Point we follow the trail to the south, intersecting the road about 300 yards away. Here we turn left, noting the soft decomposing granite which seems particularly susceptible to weather conditions. The distance beyond to the hotel is one and a half miles.
TRAIL TRIP 17
GLACIER POINT TO FORT MONROE _via_ POHONO TRAIL
Reverse of Trail Trip 18
(11.7 miles--5 hours. Round trip from Yosemite, 24 miles--13 hours)
This is one of the most beautiful Yosemite trails. With very little climbing the trail parallels the south rim thru delightfully attractive forests and wild-flower gardens, emerging from time to time to reveal vast views across and into the valley. The round trip from Yosemite to Glacier Point and thence to Fort Monroe via the Pohono Trail, returning to the valley via the Wawona Road is too long a trip to be attempted by the average walker in one day. It is best to stay over night at the Glacier Point Hotel, starting early the next morning.
Leaving the ~Glacier Point Hotel~ we follow the road southwestward about two miles, turning to the right at the ~Pohono Trail~ sign. We now follow thru a dense fir forest for one mile, emerging at the canyon rim at ~The Fissures~. These are great cracks only a few feet wide and hundreds of feet deep. Just beyond is ~Taft Point~ (Alt.
7503). From here is a wonderful view, especially of the sheer 3500-foot precipices of ~El Capitan~ and ~Three Brothers~ rising as ma.s.sive b.u.t.tresses of the great north wall.
Swinging south along the rim for a short distance, the trail again turns westward thru the fir forests pa.s.sing beautiful small meadows and wild-flower gardens and descending to ~Bridalveil Creek~. The bridge has been destroyed but a foot-log is in place. There is fair fis.h.i.+ng in this stream but the fish are small. Bearing west and north and climbing slightly, the trail emerges at ~Dewey Point~ (Alt. 7316), another of the promontories of the south rim. From here the ~Cathedral Rocks~ and ~Leaning Tower~ are viewed from an unusual angle, and ~El Capitan~ and ~Ribbon Falls~ dominate the opposite wall. Following the rim westward about half a mile we reach ~Crocker Point~ (Alt. 7090), from which is obtained another vast outlook. Descending 430 feet thru the forest we cross a small stream and emerge at ~Stanford Point~ (Alt. 6659), another prominent lookout on the southern ramparts. About half a mile westward one sees ~Old Inspiration Point~, from which Yosemite was first seen by white men on March 21, 1851. Retracing our path a short distance, we turn to the right and cross ~Meadow Brook~, which flows over ~Widow's Tears~ a quarter mile below. The vicinity is a Mecca for flower lovers. The trail continues westward, dropping 1400 feet in the next one and a half miles to ~Fort Monroe~ (Alt. 5540), an old stage relay station on the ~Wawona Road~. Yosemite is eight miles eastward by this road.
TRAIL TRIP 18
FORT MONROE TO GLACIER POINT _via_ POHONO TRAIL
Reverse of Trail Trip 17
(11.7 miles--5 hours. Round trip from Yosemite, 24 miles--13 hours)
The ~Pohono Trail~ trip is one of the most beautiful of Yosemite excursions. Striking eastward from Fort Monroe on the Wawona Road, it traverses a delightful wooded country in which are some of the finest wild-flower gardens of the park. From time to time it emerges at the rugged ramparts of the south wall and affords many vast panoramas. The round trip from Yosemite to Fort Monroe via Pohono Trail and return to the valley via the Short Trail is too long to be attempted by the average walker in one day. Even the trip to Glacier Point by this route is a long one, and it is suggested that the itinerary outlined in Trail Trip 17 be followed in preference. At Fort Monroe, an old stage relay station on the Wawona Road, is a fairly good auto camp.
From here one may visit all the lookout points on the south rim by an easy one-day walk, or may continue to the Glacier Point Hotel (11.7 miles), returning the next day.
The ~Pohono Trail~ turns eastward from the Wawona Road at ~Fort Monroe~, eight miles distant from Yosemite. In the long steady climb of 1400 feet in the first two miles we cross two small mountain streams and near the top of the ascent pa.s.s about a quarter mile south of ~Old Inspiration Point~ (Alt. 6603), from which Yosemite was first seen by white men on March 21, 1851. The gently sloping trail now winds beneath the firs thru most luxurious gardens of wild-flowers.
Shortly we cross ~Meadow Brook~ which, a quarter mile below, plunges over ~Widow's Tears~. Trending northward about half a mile we now emerge at ~Stanford Point~ (Alt. 6659), one of the promontories of the south rim. From here, as from all other lookouts along the top of the great south wall, is a vast panorama. Retracing our path a short distance we turn to the left, cross another small brook, and climb 350 feet in the next half mile to ~Crocker Point~ (Alt. 7090). Closely paralleling the rim for another half mile we halt at ~Dewey Point~ (Alt. 7316), the imposing apex of one of the great granite b.u.t.tresses.
~Cathedral Rocks~ and the ~Leaning Tower~ are here viewed from an unusual angle. To the northward ~El Capitan~ dominates the north wall and ~Ribbon Falls~ is most advantageously seen.
A long detour to the southeast now takes us into the ~Bridalveil Creek Basin~. The trail bridge has been destroyed, but a foot-log is in place. Fis.h.i.+ng is fair, but the trout are small. Turning again eastward we continue thru the fir forests, pa.s.sing beautiful small meadows and wild-flower gardens until we again approach the canyon rim, which we follow northward for a short distance to ~The Fissures~.
These are great cracks only a few feet wide and hundreds of feet deep.
Just beyond is ~Taft Point~ (Alt. 7503). From here is a wonderfully vast view, especially of the sheer 3500-foot precipices of ~El Capitan~ and ~Three Brothers~ on the north wall. Following eastward along ~Profile Cliff~, our trail again enters the fir and lodgepole pine forest and leads across the gently sloping plateau about one mile to the ~Glacier Point Road~. We here turn left and an easy walk of two miles takes us to the ~Glacier Point Hotel~, where excellent accommodations will be found. The lookout point and overhanging rock are about 200 yards northward. For trail trips from Glacier Point consult Trail Trips 16 to 23.
TRAIL TRIP 19
GLACIER POINT TO WAWONA _via_ ALDER CREEK TRAIL
(20.5 miles--7 hours)
This is one of the oldest trails in the region and was the main thorofare to Yosemite prior to the construction of roads. The ”old timers” like to tell of the famous hostelries along the route--Clark's, Westfall's, Peregoy's and McCauley's--which have long since ceased to be. The trail is not of great importance from the scenic stand-point, but offers a short-cut between its termini.