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Clouds Rest - Yosemite |
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Our Venture Crew decided to hike Clouds
Rest in Yosemite National Park. Originally intended as an overnight trip
to allow for acclimatization at 8000 feet prior to the hike it turned
into a day trip when we were unable to secure wilderness permits. This
is just a quick snapshot from the car. The clouds are to become a theme
for the day. |
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We left town early, before 5:00am and
arrived at Tenaya Lake just before 8:00am. A short walk from the parking
lot brought us to the first signpost, we're on our way. |
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A bonus on the short walk to the river, a
little wildlife. |
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Our first surprise of the day, the stream
we normally wade though is strangely missing. |
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The first mile or so is pretty level with
just a couple of small hills. |
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I promised clouds so here a few that are
pretty cool. |
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Yep, another cloud... |
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The trail is easy to follow and well
maintained. |
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About an hour into the hike the vistas
start to open up and you get to enjoy some distant views. |
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A view looking down the trail after it has
started climbing in earnest. The trail gains about 1000 feet of
elevation in not much over a mile. Switchbacks and rocks, rocks and
switchbacks, repeat. As a frame of reference, the people are maybe a
hundred yards down the trail. |
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Turning around and looking uphill, we have
out work cut out for us. |
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At the trail junction, one side to Clouds
Rest, the other to sunrise. If you were just following the trail, you
wouldn't know this view exists. About a hundred yards away is an
overlook with a killer view of the valley. |
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It also provides a great view of our
destination. |
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The theme continues... |
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After dropping down 500 vertical feet,
then gaining it back, the trail provides a nice section for rest and
relaxation. |
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Hmm, did I mention the amazing clouds? |
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Another trail marker. The desire to hike to the valley
is strong. |
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Clouds Rest is getting pretty close now, only about 700
vertical feet left to climb. |
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Near the summit looking back, our hike started at Tenaya
Lake off in the distance. |
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I love the view of Half Dome from Clouds
Rest, nearly 2000 feet higher. |
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The lizard, a cool rock formation on the side of Clouds
Rest. You can see another story here. |
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Here is a view from next to the lizard's head. It
doesn't do justice to the sheer drop. |
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A long view back across the top of Clouds Rest. It is
very narrow and the sides are steep. |
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One of my favorite views of the valley is from right
here. |
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One of two USGS survey markers. |
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The other one ;-) |
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I'm standing on the lizards head just to provide a sense
of scale. Oh, and I can't get enough of the view. |
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Another view of the valley, you can feel the stress just
melting away. |
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Soaking up the view from the lizard's head. |
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One last cloud shot before heading down the mountain. |
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For some reason I missed taking a picture of Cindy's
lake (actually unnamed but not to us) on the way up, easily rectified on
the way back down. I hope you enjoyed the hike as much as we did, but
without the lactic acid. |
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