Day 8
Saturday August 22, 2020
The first thing on my mind was a trail to a place called Clouds Rest. For me, his would mean being at the trailhead at or before first light. It’s a 14.5 mile day, but the payoff would be worth it. The issue is the distance. It’s pretty far out the eastern park road. We’re talking at least an hour’s drive just to the trailhead.
I was indeed up and out before dawn. It just wasn’t early enough. As I was driving out, I was having second thoughts. I took this from an overlook probably a half hour from the trailhead. It’s not just the 14.4 miles that concerned me, it was the “Strenuous” in the hiking guide. That means slow going. Perhaps another day.
Instead, I pulled off for an easy 1.6 mile leg stretcher to Luken’s Lake.
Back at the car, I flipped through the guidebook and found something that seemed perfect for the day, a perhaps 6 mile loop trail. In the end it was closer to ten miles, but well worth it.
The trailheads to Taft’s Peak/Fissures and Sentinel Dome share a parking area. Imagine two trails heading in different directions, with a third trail cutting across the angle to connect them. At least that’s what it looked like on the map. That's even what it's supposed to be. How it went so wrong is still a mystery.
It began with a 1.5 mile hike out to Taft’s Point and Fissures. It was even a fairly easy trail from the parking lot.
Just before the overlooks, the fissures…
From one overlook, that railing is Taft’s Point.
The view from Taft’s Point…
So, do you think I investigated those other outcroppings? Well, here’s the reverse angle looking back at the Taft's Point. Note the railing, just above center frame.
A half mile back down the trail is an intersection with the Pohono Trail, a lengthy trail connecting numerous park features. It cuts across to the trail leading to Sentinel Dome, saving two miles off the return trip to the parking lot, then out to the dome. It was mathematically and logically sound. But, this is the real world.
The Pohono Trail branches off a half mile from Taft’s Point. It was clearly marked and I wasn’t the only person taking it. It seemed easy enough and only two and a half miles to Sentinel Point. It started out with rolling hills through the forest and past this oddly smiling rock with a really bad toupee.
Since I knew nothing about this trail, you can imagine my surprise when I saw this…
The colored stripes down the center of this next photo is actually a very dry Upper Yosemite Falls.
I kept following the trail along the ridge line and encountered quite a few people along the way. This whole trail was turning into a really great hike.
Suddenly I realized I hadn't seen anyone in a while. I was alone on the trail. This happens from time to time, so no worries. I just kept going. The trail was clear and seemed to be going in the right direction.
Suddenly the trail comes to an end at a T intersection. I found myself at a crossroads. I could easily see Sentinel Dome, but how to get there. The guidebook didn’t mention a T-intersection, but the map made it look like I wanted to go right, so I did. Then next thing I know I’m in thick forest and moving away from the dome. Perhaps it looped around?
I had hiked a while when I met one couple coming down the hill, and another coming up. After a brief discussion, they assured me I was on Pohono Trail headed towards Taft Point. It seemed odd since I didn’t recognize the features alongside the current trail. The question remains, just how early did I get off the main trail, and how? Since I was only a half mile from the Taft/Pohono trail juncture, I simply worked my way back to the parking lot, refilled my water and started down the 1.1 mile trail to Sentinel Dome.
The smoky view…
So, definitely a longer effort than I expected, but in the end, well worth it.
Sunset from back at the lodge.
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