Hetch Hetchy

Year of Yosemite (YOY) – Day 189 (Hetch Hetchy Tunnel)

Jeff

Hetch Hetchy Tunnel

Hetch Hetchy Tunnel

Parking is limited in the main hiking area of Hetch Hetchy, but once a parking space is secured, hikers must walk across the dam and through a tunnel to reach the Wapama Falls Trail and other hiking paths.

The tunnel is quite dark even though there are lights. After rains and snow melt, water seeps into the walls of the tunnel and onto the floor which can call for puddle hopping!

 
Do you have a question about our visit to Yosemite? Ask it in the comment section.

 

JBRish.com originally published this post
*All photographs Copyright by Jeffrey B. Ross with all rights reserved.

 
See previous Year of Yosemite (YOY) posts HERE. If you want to read the introduction to the YOY series, CLICK HERE.

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Meta Data – Day 189 YOY – Year of Yosemite

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Hetch Hetchy Rainbow – Year of Yosemite (YOY) – Day 188

Jeff

Water release creates a rainbow

A rainbow was visible in the mist of the water release

As the sun became weaker and started to fade away, it made one last attempt to provide a special display by creating a rainbow in the mist generated by the large volume water release.

If you look closely at the middle, lower portion of the photograph you may be able to make out the somewhat weak rainbow in the mist.

 
Do you have a question about our visit to Yosemite? Ask it in the comment section.

 

JBRish.com originally published this post
*All photographs Copyright by Jeffrey B. Ross with all rights reserved.

 
See previous Year of Yosemite (YOY) posts HERE. If you want to read the introduction to the YOY series, CLICK HERE.

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Meta Data – Day 188 YOY – Year of Yosemite

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(Hetch Hetchy – O’Shaughnessy Dam Overflow) – Year of Yosemite (YOY) – Day 187

Jeff

O’Shaughnessy Dam Overflow

Water release at the Hetch Hetch reservoir

We followed the weather forecast for a couple of weeks prior to our visit to Yosemite so we understood that there had been much precipitaton. We were glad because we wanted the waterfalls to be at their full-flowing best.

With such abundance of water, the O’Shaughnessy Dam seemed to be very full and they were releasing water to maintain the “balance” of the reservoir. As you will note, there is a large, forceful stream of water being released. More rain was anticipated on this hiking day as well so this photograph represents the sunniest time we had at Hetch Hetchy.

Also notice the curved railing and walkway atop the dam. At the very left of the railing and walkway is the entrance to the tunnel passageway.

 
Do you have a question about our visit to Yosemite? Ask it in the comment section.

 

JBRish.com originally published this post
*All photographs Copyright by Jeffrey B. Ross with all rights reserved.

 
See previous Year of Yosemite (YOY) posts HERE. If you want to read the introduction to the YOY series, CLICK HERE.

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Meta Data – Day 187 YOY – Year of Yosemite

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(Hetch Hetchy – O’Shaughnessy Dam) – Year of Yosemite (YOY) – Day 186

Jeff

Hetch Hetchy Reservoir

Hetch Hetchy Reservoir

Walking from the parking area near the main hiking trails, hikers will soon see the entrance to the pathway and the O’Shaughnessy Dam which corrals the Tuolumne River to create the reservoir. According to Wikipedia, Hetch Hetchy provides water for more than two million people in the San Francisco area.

The creation of the Hetch Hetchy reservoir was controversial and there is a movement today to try to restore it to its original splendor. You can find out more about this effort by visiting Restore Hetch Hetchy. They have a photograph of the beautiful Hetch Hetchy Valley before it was flooded.

 
Do you have a question about our visit to Yosemite? Ask it in the comment section.

 

JBRish.com originally published this post
*All photographs Copyright by Jeffrey B. Ross with all rights reserved.

 
See previous Year of Yosemite (YOY) posts HERE. If you want to read the introduction to the YOY series, CLICK HERE.

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Meta Data – Day 186 YOY – Year of Yosemite

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Capture date: June 11, 2016
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Year of Yosemite (YOY) – Day 185 (Off to Hetch Hetchy)

Jeff

Entrance to Hetch Hetchy

Hetch Hetchy Welcoming Archway

If you are heading north from Yosemite Valley to the more remote Hetch Hetchy area, you will come to this wooden “gateway” welcoming visitors. This is not to be confused with the official entrance where the rangers greet visitors entering the district. This is primarily a decorative archway that adds to the ambiance.

 
Do you have a question about our visit to Yosemite? Ask it in the comment section.

 

JBRish.com originally published this post
*All photographs Copyright by Jeffrey B. Ross with all rights reserved.

 
See previous Year of Yosemite (YOY) posts HERE. If you want to read the introduction to the YOY series, CLICK HERE.

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Meta Data – Day 185 YOY – Year of Yosemite

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Year of Yosemite (YOY) – Day 177 (Finding DaVinci at Hetch Hetchy)

Jeff

Butterfly on wildflower

Butterfly on one of a number of yellow wildflowers (perhaps Arnica nevadensis) © Jeffrey B. Ross

The photograph above was taken during our hike at Hetch Hetchy, Yosemite National Park. The day was overcast and it had rained a bit prior to our arrival at the park and also a little more during our stay. With the rain and the cooler temperatures, the wildflowers were still abundant around the reservoir.

Being surrounded by the wildflowers and the overwhelming natural beauty of the area brings to mind the quotation above (repeated below for clarity):

“Human subtlety will never devise an invention more beautiful, more simple or more direct than does nature because in her inventions nothing is lacking, and nothing is superfluous – Leonardo DaVinci

 
Do you have a question about our visit to Yosemite? Ask it in the comment section.

 

JBRish.com originally published this post
*All photographs Copyright by Jeffrey B. Ross with all rights reserved.

 
See previous Year of Yosemite (YOY) posts HERE. If you want to read the introduction to the YOY series, CLICK HERE.

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Meta Data – Day 177 YOY – Year of Yosemite
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Capture date: June 11, 2016
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Year of Yosemite (YOY) – Day 144 (Hetch Hetchy Perspective Change)

Jeff

Hetch Hetchy House Closser

A closer view of the house-like building on the cliff at Hetch Hetchy

Yesterday’s post showed a picture of a building we spotted on the way back from the Wapama Falls hike. We hadn’t noticed the building on the way in, but as I noted in the previous post, the views are often quite different when hiking in the opposite direction, i.e. returning along the same path.

To add to this, I changed the perspective a bit by zooming in with my bridge camera. After all, if you have a large zoom, why not use it? Here the house is more of the main subject and not just an object of interest. You can decide which picture better portrays the scene, but I think they both have merit for different reasons.

I guess the point I am trying to convey is…try more than one perspective if you have that ability. I didn’t have a true wide angle lens, but that might have given a different impression/view as well. In the era of digital photography, the cost of “trying” something different is really minimal so give it a try!

 
Do you have a question about our visit to Yosemite? Ask it in the comment section.

 

JBRish.com originally published this post
*All photographs Copyright by Jeffrey B. Ross with all rights reserved.

 
See previous Year of Yosemite (YOY) posts HERE. If you want to read the introduction to the YOY series, CLICK HERE.

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Meta Data – Day 144 YOY – Year of Yosemite

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Capture date: June 11, 2016
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Year of Yosemite (YOY) – Day 143 (Hetch Hetchy Surprise)

Jeff

House at Hetch Hetchy

A House-like Building at Hetch Hetchy

I was taught that when taking photographs, always look all around. Occasionally there is a great scene waiting to be captured, but it is behind the photographer.

That can also be somewhat true of hiking. When returning along the same trail, if it is not a loop, the scenes usually look different. It may be the lighting or the way the branches of a particular tree align with the background, but there is something along the twice trodden path that makes it different when viewed in the opposite direction.

We were leaving Hetch Hetchy as the sky was threatening and on the way out, across the lake, I noticed the scene above. There was something there I hadn’t noticed prior to the return trip. A house was beautifully positioned at the edge of the cliff; a lakefront view. It is nestled so nicely among the ledge and the trees that it blends well with the surroundings. (right-hand side about 1/5 of the way left of the margin)

I wouldn’t mind spending some time in there, but then again, who would?

 
Do you have a question about our visit to Yosemite? Ask it in the comment section.

 

JBRish.com originally published this post
*All photographs Copyright by Jeffrey B. Ross with all rights reserved.

 
See previous Year of Yosemite (YOY) posts HERE. If you want to read the introduction to the YOY series, CLICK HERE.

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Meta Data – Day 143 YOY – Year of Yosemite

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Capture date: June 11, 2016
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Canon PowerShot SX50 HS

 

Year of Yosemite (YOY) – Day 142 (Wildflower – Clarkia)

Jeff

Wildflower Clarkia

One of the many wildflowers at Yosemite during the spring


The Clarkia is particularly attractive with its multi-color petals. This variety is very showy because of the dark purple claret cup shape on each of the pink petals and the white bottom border. It is truly a beauty. The Owl’s Clover can be seen at the center left completing the pink theme. The photo was taken along the Wapama Falls Trail, Hetch Hetchy.

NOTE – Similar pictures have been labeled as Clarkia williamsonii, but I could not definitively identify this specific variety as such. Any clarification would be appreciated and this post would then be modified if appropriate.

You can read more about the Clarkia family of wildflowers at the link below:


Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center

California Native Plant Society

 
Do you have a question about our visit to Yosemite? Ask it in the comment section.

 

JBRish.com originally published this post
*All photographs Copyright by Jeffrey B. Ross with all rights reserved.

 
See previous Year of Yosemite (YOY) posts HERE. If you want to read the introduction to the YOY series, CLICK HERE.

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Meta Data – Day 142 YOY – Year of Yosemite

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Capture time: 12:22:17 PM
Capture date: June 11, 2016
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Nikon D3300

 

Year of Yosemite (YOY) – Day 135 (Hiking and Weather – Hetch Hetchy)

Jeff

A scene along the Wapama Falls Trail - Hetch Hetchy

A scene along the Wapama Falls Trail – Hetch Hetchy

When we plan to hike, we plan to hike. Unless there is a deluge or lighting or hail, etc., we hike. We spent a week hiking in the Grand Tetons where it rained on us at some point every day for a week. The best weather day was the day we left for home. Only one day was a complete wash out because we thought it would not be safe to hike in a solid downpour. We took that opportunity to refresh ourselves. The highlight for us that day was a visit to the local Dairy Queen where they were replaying the movie Shane in a continuous loop.

The day we left Yosemite Valley for Hetch Hetchy, the weather was partly sunny. We understood that the forecast, which we always check, was calling for cloudy weather with the possibility of rain. We always carry a poncho or some sort of rain gear so let it rain! Shortly after we arrived at the Wapama Falls Trail, the clouds started to roll in.

Clouds can be helpful to the hiking photographer because it tends to difuse the light and it can provide a dramatic sky. The picture above is a simple JPEG taken with my oldest camera with the least resolution, but I like it anyway. That simple little camera does and adequate job of recording the scene. I favor the golden tones against the dreariness of the overall vista.

 
Do you have a question about our visit to Yosemite? Ask it in the comment section.

 

JBRish.com originally published this post
*All photographs Copyright by Jeffrey B. Ross with all rights reserved.

 
See previous Year of Yosemite (YOY) posts HERE. If you want to read the introduction to the YOY series, CLICK HERE.

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Meta Data – Day 135 YOY – Year of Yosemite

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