Yosemite Valley to Tuolumne Meadows via Yosemite Falls / GC of the Tuolumne
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https://photos.app.goo.gl/EDuzwB5ZtW8he2hm7We plan for 6 days (August 6th to 11th), including driving, but finish in 5. Prior to the trip Em mapped the route and, per Gaia GPS, it’s 39.2 miles and includes 14,180 feet of climbing and 9,604 feet of descending. Basically we went:
- UP (el. 4000′ in Yosemite Valley to el. 8448′ at the pass south of Lukens Lake)
- DOWN (… to Pate Valley, el. 4300′)
- UP (… to Tuolumne Meadows, el. 8659′)
The approximate itinerary we followed was:
Day 1: Camp 4 Trailhead to Top of Yosemite Falls, 4 miles, mostly up
Day 2: … to Pools of Yosemite Creek, 3 miles, mostly flat with some up
Day 3: … to just beyond the Pate Valley junction, 17 miles, up a bit then down 4,000 feet!
Day 4: … to base of California Falls (pretty close to Glen Aulin), 10 miles flat and up *
Day 5: … to Tuolumne Meadows, 6 miles, a bit up but mostly flat* Our 6-day itinerary assumed we would spend 2 days going from Pate Valley to Glen Aulin.
The first day was tough for both kids, and Mei struggled descending into Pate Valley (who wouldn’t?) on the long third day, but they both finished the last two days strong. Let me be very clear, I planned this trip FOR MYSELF because it would be challenging and rewarding FOR ME; I’m so grateful that MY FAMILY IS RAD enough to join me on my self-serving adventures.
A top moment from the trip was when I was explaining to the kids that life is very similar to backpacking in that it’s very easy to get overwhelmed/discouraged if you focus on a far-away goal. Instead, focus on the next step that will get you towards that goal, which for us, was usually the next junction or even the next switchback. When Mei said “You sound like a yoga teacher!” I had to wipe tears from my eyes.
Day 1 – Mei heading up Yosemite Falls.
Day 2 – Breakfast at the top of Yosemite Falls. We have the area to ourselves and leave before the day hikers arrive.
Day 2 – Nice pools further upstream.
Day 3 – Our big day (17 miles). We’ve come far and now must descend into Pate Valley.
Day 3 – Crossing the bridge (that’s a bridge?) near the Pate Valley junction.
Day 4 – One of many stupendous pools in the Grand Canyon of the Tuolumne.
Day 4 – Mei contemplates life.
Day 5 – One of many times I rushed into the water.
Day 5 – Mom and Mei at the end of the trip.
Day 5 – Dad and PJ at the end of the trip.
Trip statistics from GAIA.
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