Hiked: 5/6/2023
Distance: 3.3 miles round trip on trail
Summit Elevation: 4510' (Carlon Falls)
Elevation Gain: 445'
Elevation Gain (in Empire State Buildings): 0.3
Round trip time: 1 hour 30 minutes
Recommended water: 16 oz.
Parking/Fees: Free at Carlon Falls trailhead on Evergreen Road
Difficulty: Easy
Carlon Falls was outside of Yosemite near the Rush Creek Lodge. We thought we might get away from the rain but that was just a pipe dream. It was another short hike that started outside the national park boundary. There were a lot of people on the trail as it went upstream along the South Fork of the Tuolumne River. We could tell the river was swollen and it was crystal clear. The trail was muddy at the start, but got better. Carlon Falls didn't have a dramatic drop, but was still a nice cascade with a strong flow. The rain hit us just after we arrived. We got our photos and headed back. We contemplated loading up for a third hike but decided to warm up at the cabin instead.
Hiked: 5/6/2023
Distance: 2.8 miles round trip on trail
Summit Elevation: 5309'
Elevation Gain: 588'
Elevation Gain (in Empire State Buildings): 0.4
Round trip time: 1 hour 30 minutes
Recommended water: 16 oz.
Parking/Fees: National Parks Fee $30 (1 car for 1 week)
Difficulty: Easy
We started our second day in Hetch Hetchy at the entrance to the park. The trail to Lookout Point started there through a flooded, swampy section that paralleled the road. As it gained ground, we wandered through boulders and sparse trees, with a thin layer of lingering snow. It was a short hike that curled back to a rocky shelf. A lone pine marked the top and nothing else. Our reward was a view of dense clouds that filled the basin. Like the day before, light showers came and went and we returned to the car damp. It looked like clouds were clearing to the south, so we decided to head for another waterfall hike we had scouted in that direction: Carlon Falls.
Hiked: 5/5/2023
Distance: 12.7 miles round trip on trail
Summit Elevation: 4706' (at Rancheria Falls)
Elevation Gain: 2719'
Elevation Gain (in Empire State Buildings): 2.1
Round trip time: 6 hours 30 minutes
Recommended water: 52 oz.
Parking/Fees: National Parks Fee $30 (1 car for 1 week)
Difficulty: Moderate
Our first day in the Hetch Hetchy part of Yosemite and Leisa's birthday hike. We drove in the night before and stayed at the Evergreen Lodge. It had been raining all week and was drizzling in the morning. The official chance of rain was 20%, usually my threshold for a hike of any distance. Temps were on the cool side, somewhere in the low 40s (F). We parked at O'Shaughnessey dam and walked over it, then through a lit tunnel through the mountain on the other side. The water was high, the clouds low and ominous. The trail followed the north shore of the reservoir, following a natural ramp above granite slabs. We passed an unnamed seasonal falls that splintered into multiple cascades and went over numerous streams. One crossing was over a rapid stream, 2' deep and 15' across. It was sketch enough that multiple parties avoided it and looked for a way around. There might have been a way around, but it may not have been easier. A wobbly rock in the center demanded attention, but we had no issues going out or coming back. Next was another seasonal fall, Tueeulala, a long ribbon of water pouring over the top of the cliffs. The trail then descended back to the reservoir where we met full fury of Wapama Falls. Several signs warned about the risk of going over the foot bridges in front of it, but the water did not come that close. The upper reaches of Wapama could only be seen from certain angles, but it erupted from a split in the rocks about half way up, spraying water in all directions. It was quite invigorating. We paused on the far side for snacks. Our ultimate goal was Rancheria Falls, another 4 miles from Wapama.
The dam spilling water
Reservoir, Kolana Rock rising on the right
Tunnel to the north side trail
Unnamed seasonal falls
Wapama Falls
Once we passed Wapama, we only ran into a couple of dedicated parties. We made our way to the end of the reservoir while light showers kept us damp. We used the rain covers in our packs to keep our stuff dry, but were lacking ponchos for ourselves. We lost elevation again as we crossed another set of bridges. A final push up and we could hear the roar of Rancheria. The trail passed an overlook where we could see part of the falls, but we had another looping half mile to reach the top of Rancheria Falls. While not as thunderous as Wapama, Rancheria was still a display of power. Upstream, a log was caught in a short fall and could not escape. It got pushed 20' downstream only to be pulled back into the vortex. After some photos, we started back. The return was uneventful, though we met a lot of people on their way to Wapama and endured more light rain. It was a strong day of waterfall hunting in a less visited part of Yosemite. As an aside, the last few years, we've been buying annual national park passes for $80. With three trips per year, and we easily hit at least three, it pays for itself.
Hiked: 4/21/2023
Parking/Fees: Adventure Pass
Round trip time: 7 to 14 hours depending on exit
Difficulty: 4B IV (v4a2 IV)
Raps: 5-7, max 160ft
Eight years ago, I made an unforgettable trip down Hot Spring Canyon to the tallest waterfall in Orange County, CA. The canyon is colloquially known as Salamander Canyon due to a high concentration of native salamanders, and the 160' falls were named after one of the early canyoneers to run the canyon, V. Tanriverdi. The canyon features many technical obstacles and is usually descended with ropes and waterproof gear. I made it to the big waterfall and back without ropes, though I returned pretty battered and had some tense moments tangled in the chaparral lining the steep canyon walls. I'd like to visit the bottom of the falls some day, but haven't mustered the verve yet. I did not participate in this descent, but I wanted to provide a glimpse at what canyoneers that run this canyon see. These photos were provided with permission from Willie Hunt, who led a recent trip. It is a hidden jewel in the Santa Anas, but so inaccessible that few people get to witness it's beauty.
2nd falls (what I called Gut Check Falls)
Bottom of Single Track Falls
Gopher snake is not poisonous, but the poison oak is
Top of Tanriverdi Falls
Preparing to rappel
Big air!
Hiking out the express exit, avoiding the slog to the exit at Lazy W Ranch
Hiked: 4/23/2023
Distance: 9 miles round trip on trail
Summit Elevation: 2390' (at Chiquito Falls)
Elevation Gain: 1550'
Elevation Gain (in Empire State Buildings): 1.2
Round trip time: 3 hours 15 minutes
Recommended water: 72 oz.
Parking/Fees: Adventure Pass
Difficulty: Moderate
Almost 8 years ago to the day was my first trip to Chiquito Falls. I've visited a few times since then and it's always been dry. With the heavy rain this year, it was surely flowing, so Leisa and I set out to take a look. We followed the same route, starting at the San Juan loop trailhead off Ortega Highway, then taking the Chiquito Trail. This time, there were several other parties coming and going. The north half of the San Juan loop goes by a different waterfall, San Juan Falls. It was flowing strongly, but I expected it to be raging. The stream crossing at the start of the Chiquito Trail was wide. Helpful step stones were in place to get us to the other side. The rest of the hike was a series of switchbacks up and over a ridge, then a descent into Lion Canyon where Chiquito Falls falls. Four other people were at the falls, splashing and exploring. We parked ourselves on a perch above it to rest and refuel. After so many dry visits, it was nice to see it flowing in person. Just before we left, one of the ladies splashing around above the falls lost one of her shoes and we watched it flow over. Fortunately for her, it was relatively easy to retrieve and didn't make it far downstream.
