Yosemite (south), 3 days backpacking

2024-05-31

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Alder Creek - Deer Camp - Chilnualna

• 36.65 km
• ↗ 1559 m

Day 1: to Deer Camp

• 10.41 km
• ↗ 599 m (up to ~2 000 m at Deer Camp), ↘ 97 m

Drive in the morning, afternoon hike to Deer Camp. Partially flooded creek near the intersection to Deer Camp, need to cut through hillside to find the trail again. Nice first day, magnificient trunk brigde crossing.

Day 2: Deer Camp to Chilnualna Creek Cascades Viewpoint

• 11.51 km
• ↗ 477 m, ↘ 511 m

Nice valley at ~ 2 300 m, a lot of water and snow, slow progress. First bear sighting! It was on the other side of a meadow scratching its back on small pine trees! The valley leads to a tricky crossing: freezing water temperature, very strong current, go slow. Next part is a forest of burn matches from the last fire. As the trail goes down the vegetation is dense again (and the trail was flooded). Young bear! Last crossing a lot easier, by then it’s just about following a routine.

Short day, yet between the altitude, flooded area, fallen trees everywhere and crossings, a mighty 1.5 km/h average was achieved!

Day 3: Chilnualna back to Alder Creek trail

• 14.73 km
• ↗ 483 m, ↘ 949 m

Gorgeous descent to Wawona, cascade here, cascade there, cascades everywhere! Boring road to get back on the trail under a scorching sun. Small creek at the parking lot improvise a quick rince.