Hetch Hetchy

Year of Yosemite (YOY) – Day 119 (Hetch Hetchy – Stairs Along the Trail)

Jeff

Year of Yosemite (YOY) – Day 119 (Hetch Hetchy – Stairway Along the Trail)

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Partial “stairway” along the Wapama Falls Trail at Hetch Hetchy – Yosemite

As other posts pointed out, our day at Hetch Hetchy turned overcast shortly after we arrived and parked the car. As we hiked along the Wapama Falls Trail, the sky would become more threatening at times and then brighten slightly. When the clouds rolled in, the pictures were dramatic, but when the sky brightened and the sky turned solid gray picture opportunities were limited.

This photograph shows part of the trail that offered stone stairs to the hikers. I am so impressed to see these features from time-to-time as I understand the work that is required to construct these “stairways.” Not only do these pathways take a large amount of manpower to construct, they need to be maintained over time.

I believe the waterfall in the upper part of the picture is the Tueeulala Falls.

 
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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Year of Yosemite (YOY) – Day 106 (Owl’s Clover – Hetch Hetchy)

Jeff

Owl's Clover at Hetch Hetchy 

Owl’s Clover (Castilleja exserta) at the Hetch Hetchy section of Yosemite National Park

It was very interesting for me to see this variety of Owl’s Clover at Hetch Hetchy because we have a variant of this plant in our Sonoran Desert. It looks slightly different, but the relationship is unmistakable.

The plant is not really a clover although it does look a bit like one. An interesting fact about this plant is that it uses host plants to derive some of its sustenance. It may not be parasitic, but it does have a symbiotic relationship of some form.

The purple against the brown grasses made for a pretty setting on this overcast day.

Learn more about Owl’s Clover at the 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 105 YOY – Year of Yosemite

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Year of Yosemite (YOY) – Day 88 (Mariposa Lily – Hetch Hetchy)

Jeff

Mariposa Lily at Hetch HetchyMariposa Lily at Hetch Hetchy, Yosemite NP

One of the wonders of Hetch Hetchy when we visited in early June, 2016 was the fields of wildflowers still blooming in large numbers enveloping the Wapama Falls Trail at times. Among them was the Mariposa Lily pictured above. As you can note from the photograph it wasn’t alone on this canvas as other wildflowers were vying for attention all around.

If you look closely, you can see an insect in the bottom-right of the flower. It is yellow and black and the antennae can be seen raising above the insect.

 
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 88 YOY – Year of Yosemite

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Year of Yosemite (YOY) – Day 83 (Hetch Hetchy – Dripping Water & Ferns)

Jeff

Plants growing from dripping springs at Hetch HetchyThe water seeping from the rocks along the trail gave life to plants in crevices

While hiking the Wapama Falls Trail at Hetch Hetchy, we came across a number of places were the plenitude of recent rains gave rise to dripping streams along the rock faces. Plants found hospitable environments and festooned the hard surfaces with their soft, contrasting foliage. I found the contrast of the green, delicate foliage and wet, dark rocks to be very interesting.

Ferns were growing robustly in this moist and somewhat shady environment.

 
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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Year of Yosemite (YOY) – Day 75 (Dramatic Clouds over Hetch Hetchy)

Jeff

** NOTE ** JBRish will be on a brief hiatus starting tomorrow and thus Year of Yosemite (YOY) postings will also pause.


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Dramatic Clouds over Hetch Hetchy 

Hetch Hetchy with a dramatic sky

The day we began our hike on the Wapama Falls Trail at Hetch Hetchy the weather was variable. It started as a partly cloudy morning, but by midday, the clouds were dominant.

As we were making our way back to the parking area, I couldn’t get enough of the dramatic valley containing the reservoir. It was reminiscent of the scenes one sees from China with the mountains encircling the water. The clouds added another dimension to the setting.

 
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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Year of Yosemite (YOY) – Day 61 (Hetch Hetchy Falls)

Jeff

Wapama and Tueeulala FallsWapama and Tueeulala Falls at Hetch Hetchy Reservoir

Our day hiking at Yosemite’s Hetch Hetchy reservoir was overcast and threatening at times. Wapama Falls (bottom center) was putting on quite a display as seen from the bridge leading to the tunnel and the trail. Less robust, but interesting Tueeulala Falls can be seen diagonally to the left of Wapama Falls.

 
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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Year of Yosemite (YOY) – Day 53 (Purple Wildflower)

Jeff

Brodiaea elegans - purple wildflowerBrodiaea elegans a beautiful purple wildflower

While hiking at Hetch Hetchy along the Wapama Falls Trail we saw a number of pretty wildflower. These purple Brodiaea elegans blooms against the backdrop of the brown hay-like growth created a lovely scene (IMHO).

 
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 53 YOY – Year of Yosemite

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Year of Yosemite (YOY) – Day 29 (Hetch Hetchy Wooden Bridge)

Jeff

A Wooden Bridge Along the Wapama Falls TrailThis small, wooden bridge along the Wapama Falls Trail in Hetch Hetchy conjured images of the era of John Muir

Most hikers enjoy a path or trail that has a canopy which offers some relief from the sun on hot days. On an overcast day it can also provide dramatic lighting and atmosphere. As you can see, this path was along the waterline of the reservoir and combined the best of the woodsy ambience along with a view of the lake. It was the perfect complement to the beautiful surroundings.

 
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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Year of Yosemite (YOY) – Day 29 (Hetch Hetchy Wooden Bridge)

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Year of Yosemite (YOY) – Day 17 – (Hetch Hetchy)

Jeff

Yosemite NP - Hetch Hetchy Valley

The main Hetch Hetchy Valley view seen from the Wapama Falls Trail


Yesterday I showed a picture of the beautiful white Triteleia hyacinthina flower head we saw as we hiked at Hetch Hetchy. Today I thought I would post a photograph of one of the main views of the area.

Hetch Hetchy Valley is a beautiful and often overlooked part of Yosemite. On this day we had overcast conditions, but the scenery was still dramatic and beautiful. While it functions as a reservoir, the trails and waterfalls provide plenty to see for those who like to explore nature and/or hike.

The National Park Service has a one page Hetch Hetchy pamphlet from which I have excerpted the paragraph below. You can find out more by clicking the link above.

Hidden in Yosemite National Park’s peaceful northwest corner, Hetch Hetchy Valley is a treasure worth visiting in all seasons. In spring, two of North America’s tallest waterfalls plummet spectacularly over thousand-foot granite cliffs. The dramatic cliffs surrounding these waterfalls add to the grandeur that John Muir compared to the more well known Yosemite Valley. In 1870, Muir called Hetch Hetchy Valley “a wonderfully exact counterpart of the great Yosemite.” In the early spring through late fall, visitors have easy access to a vast wilderness filled with high-country lakes, streams, and wildlife. A rare snowy winter day gives adventuresome visitors a chance to explore on skis or snowshoes.

 
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 17 YOY – Year of Yosemite

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Year of Yosemite (YOY) – Day 16

Jeff

Beautiful White Wildflower

White wildflower (Triteleia hyacinthina) photographed along the trail at Hetch Hechy

On Saturday we anticipated that Yosemite Valley would be more crowded so we headed north to Hetch Hetchy to hike the Wapama Falls Trail. Hetch Hetchy is a man-made dam created by flooding one of Yosemite’s other pretty valleys. This was a controversial move at the time. You can read The Drowning of Hetch Hetchy—and What Was Lost to find out more (scroll down on the page).

Nevertheless, there was an abundance of wildflowers along the trail on this day and this white beauty flowering against a darkened puddle made for a very pretty shot.

Wikipedia Information about the flower:

Triteleia hyacinthina is a species of flowering plant known by the common names white brodiaea, white tripletlily, hyacinth brodiaea, and fool’s onion.

 
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 16 YOY – Year of Yosemite

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