June 27, 2017
Yosemite day 2. Valley loop trail
Start time: 9:45 a.m.; end time: 4:45 p.m.
Distance: 7.8 miles round trip
As a compromise for a difficult first day hike, we agreed on a relatively flat trail along the valley floor. It was listed as “moderate” in the guide pamphlet given to us at the visitor’s center, but the elevation gain was minimal so we decided to take our chances.
We took the shuttle to stop #6 and started at camp 4 again. As we walked along the merced river, we settled on getting as far as the pohono bridge. We decided that when we reached the bridge, we would reevaluate our time and energy levels to determine how to get back. From there, we would have several options of walking back, taking the bus or doing the full loop back to camp.
The trail was indeed fairly flat. There were areas that were shaded and some points where we were exposed to the direct sun. However it was between camp 4 and el capitan picnic spot that we understood the meaning of the “moderate” designation. The trail was flooded and we attempted to navigate through the meadows. After taking time to step through some moist areas, we were able to back track to where we had started to lose the trail. That began our constant terrain switch from trail to road for the rest of the day.
We ended up traversing some logs, wading through water, and ducking under trees to get to bridalveil falls. Throughout the day we were only passed by three people…two of which were runners (so they don’t count right?). We thought “either no one wanted to do this trail or they all knew that it would be flooded.” Why were there no signs?? At bridalveil we checked the time. There was no way we had the time or the energy to walk all the way back to our camp using the valley loop. The chances that we would have to navigate through trees, water and meadows was way too high to risk not catching the el cap shuttle. The executive decision came to be speed walking along the shoulder of southside drive between bridalveil and the el cap bridge.
We made it with five minutes to spare before hopping onto the last shuttle of the day. As a result we treated ourselves to pizza and ice cream (see a trend starting here?).
As we mused about our awesome navigation skills back at camp, a ranger came up to remind us to lock our food and toiletries in the bear box. When we told him the trail we did that day, he said “oh wow, isn’t that still flooded?”. We were even more impressed with ourselves.
