I used to think hike downhill was much well-fixed than hiking uphill . I also used to think I could hike just exquisitely without a pair of tramp poles , which I considered the needful sign of bad genu and getting old .
Ah , to be in my XX again .
The jaunt from Cloud ’s Rest to Little Yosemite Valley is n’t particularly difficult ; and in fact for the first stat mi or two , we skipped gayly down the trail , our backpacks several pound sterling lighter , eager to hit the camping site early and float in the river all day .
West of Cloud ’s Rest , the trail was astray open , softly traveled , and had views of Half Dome at every turn . And I do meaneveryturn . I was so excited at my first Half Dome sighting that I stopped to take several picture , only to realize I ’d have that position for most of the hike .
We descended easily on a serial publication of gradual switchbacks until we were midway down , deep in the Wood , when whoever had build up the lead seemed to just stab in his power shovel and say , Screw it , allow ’s get this over with and make the trail gostraightdown .
And down , down we exit … on a hill so usurious , I thought every measure would burst my kneecap or break the globe of my foot . Even with the small zigzags I was lay down , I had to keep my speed in check lest I end up running wildly down the hill ! ( In hindsight , I should ’ve rolled a Edward Durell Stone down the track to see how far it would ’ve hold up . )
But once we connected with the John Muir Trail , it was tranquil navigate to the Little Yosemite Valley bivouac .
compare to our other camp , this place felt like a recourse . It ’s not especially scenic and definitely not individual , but it was the closest start distributor point to Half Dome and it had comforts . There were right toilet facility with toilet paper , designated camping site with built - in bear boxes , and just like a resort , traveler bunking up right next to you . gratefully , the neighbour were n’t of the rowdy , party - till - the - teeny-weeny - minute type ; being backpackers , most of the campground was saw logs by 10 Prime Minister and off on their all - solar day hikes by 8 am . It was the quietest encampment I ’d ever stayed in !
But the substantial amenity of Little Yosemite Valley was a short stroll down a dirt course , past the encampment , past the restrooms , and into the crystal clear waters of the Merced River .
After a kneepan - busting , ball - of - the - foot - break descent of nigh 4,000 metrical foot , the Merced look like Shangri - La. Let me tell you , I could n’t my drop my backpack and cartoon strip to my slavey fast enough !
The river was much colder than all the lakes we ’d swam in , but after a week of being sunburnt , sweaty and dirty ( the filthy I ’d ever been , with stratum upon layer of zinc sunscreen caked on over the rubble particles that were now a part of my cutis ) , I thought I was at the resort hotel .
In reliable backpacking fashion , we inflated our Thermarest pads and jumped into the water , Southern Comfort in hand . We drop most of the afternoon lazing by the river , wash off our washing , making some lunches , and falling into food coma .
Before dinner party , we went back to the campground to place up our tent and build up a communal dining board . The resident deer , nicknamed Campy by the rangers , even stopped by for a visit . ( attend close and you ’ll spot him behind the tree . )
By the time the sky was non-white , we were crawling into our tents … relaxed , recharge , and ready to meet our friends for the next solar day ’s adventure , climbing the Half Dome cables !
Trail map : fall into place hereSegment log:5.5 land mile with 3,850 foot EL changeNext segment : Little Yosemite Valley to Half Dome
Read the full “Epic Yosemite” series:
