I didn't quite make it to Clouds Rest. I got showered with ice water for 30 minutes on the way to Vernal Falls and I was hypothermic by the time I got to the top of it. I knew I was going to get soaked but I severely underestimated and left my waterproof jacket in the car. I was shivering and cramping all over while laying in the sun at the top of the fall. Shivering stopped only when I started moving again. That took a lot out of me, and I decided to turn back at Nevada Fall. I had to get to the summit by 3 PM at the latest in order to get back before the sundown. It was already past noon, and I was still miles away from the Clouds Rest Trailhead, let alone the summit. Slogging through the snow at above 8000 feet would've added a couple of hours to the trip as well. So I had to turn back. I took a detour via Clark Point on JMT on the way down to avoid getting soaked again. It's the route I'll take the next time on the way to Clouds Rest.
I was going to take a rest the next day and then attempt Clouds Rest again on the 3rd day. But I ended up doing 10 miles again. In the morning, I went to Mirror Lake following Merced River to North Pines campground, and then Tenaya Creek up to Mirror Lake. The trail adds an extra mile to 1.5-mile Mirror Lake Trail, but it was more scenic. It ran along the creek through the woods from the campground and then joins Mirror Lake trail at the Tenaya Creek bridge. It is a beautiful path and I highly recommend it over the regular Mirror Lake trail.
Normally sedate Tenaya Creek was roaring too. It was a full-blown river, not a creek. I wonder what it would look like in a few days when they expect the rivers to crest once again, thanks to the warming weather. June has been unusually cool and that kept the snow melt to the minimum. Record snowfall and slow snow melt; It's been a perfect combo to quench California's drought.
In the afternoon, I went to document Yosemite Falls and I got soaked again. Not nearly as bad as Vernal Falls, however; it was more like a spray than shower. I was going to take a shuttle to Yosemite Falls from Trailhead Parking Lot walk to Happy Isles bus stop. The stop #15 between Curry Village and Happy Isle would've been closer, but I wanted to get some water and use the bathroom at the Happy Isles stop. There was a long line for the shuttle. Happy Isles is one of the most popular hiking areas in Yosemite and people were returning from their hikes in droves. I walked back to the parking lot and took my car to Yosemite Village. I ended up parking at the far end of the village, a couple of miles from the falls. After all was said and done, my fitbit registered 32,000 steps for the day. I was pretty tired and didn't think I was going to be able to walk 20 miles up Clouds Rest the next day. I returned home instead waiting till the next morning to see how I feel.
I went to Yosemite to make my first film, about the epic snow year. The snow on Clouds Rest would've been the highlight. Since I didn't go to Clouds Rest, I'll have to make do with waterfalls and raging rivers. I have no idea how long it'll take to complete it. I'll have to start processing the footages and putting them together into a coherent film. I hope I'll finish it before I go back to Yosemite on the 25th, for a 50-mile backpacking this time.
I originally planned an 80-mile trip circling Yosemite, but Tuolumne Meadows is not accessible because Tioga Road is not open. I stopped at the Wilderness Center and rejigger the permit away from Tuolumne Meadows and circle the west of Yosemite Creek instead. But I may change the plan yet again and go down to Tuolumne River Canyon. You can move freely in the wilderness as long as you enter through the entry reserved on your permit.
There is non-zero chance of an accident or worse, of course. This is a high snow year and the snow is melting. Which means walk on the snow will be treacherous. It may crumble under you and you may slide into something that you didn't plan on sliding into, possibly into a creek or cliff. I'll go as far as I can safely and then turn around if I feel unsafe. I'll certainly turn around if I encounter a creek that I have to cross. You can pretty much count out fording creeks since the water will be raging. I'll just have to play by the ear.
