By Gavin Bowyer and Weston Kelly
When Yosemite is mentioned, massive mountains made of pure granite and powerful waterfalls descending into a roaring basin come to mind. These images perfectly depict the stunning views of the valley from Half-Dome, El Capitan, and Yosemite Falls. However, the massive park hosts a grand 1,187 square miles, while the popular valley only takes up about six. Hiking is a necessity if you are interested in exploring the rest of Yosemite. With no roads accessing the route, my friends and I had to backpack from Tuolumne Meadow all the way back to the valley. On a six-day, 40-mile trip through the backcountry, we got to explore the unknown parts of California’s best national park.
Day 1: Our adventure began at the Lyell Canyon trailhead in Tuolumne Meadows. The hike was mostly downhill with frequent stops; we rested by streams so we could refill our bottles. Immaculately clear, all the bodies of water we passed had a certain sparkle only visible in the alpine sun. Many rivers ran through wildflower meadows, highlighting the natural beauty of Yosemite. Abundantly blooming were the miniature lupin and alpine daisy flowers, (insert image here please and thanks) both of which are exclusive to the alpine environment. The colors found in nature differ greatly from what we are used to seeing at home with many lighter blue and purple hues. Our hike ended at a sloped stone slab which helped roll our supplies away from us, adding a pleasant surprise to the end of a long day.
Day 2: Day 2 began with sunlight gingerly waking us with a subtle 20 thousand lumens to ease us out of bed. Similarly to the morning, our hike wrought dread upon us campers. The trail consisted of a treacherously steep uphill with little shade to protect us from the aggressive sunlight. Our rest stop for the day was bare of all trees, although the ground beneath us was swarmed by beautiful wildflowers, and to the group’s dismay: mosquitoes. The quantity was unforeseen by us; clouds could be heard buzzing and needles could be felt biting during our entire stay. Fortunately, we did survive the outlandishly steep day and infested Lake Ireland, desperate to escape.
Day 3: We woke up early in order to leave the relentless bugs behind us. Day three marked the beginning of our descent. The hikes became longer, but the lax downhill provided a counterbalance. The views evolved every mile from sparse growths of miniature plants to denser foliage filled with vibrant colors and mountain walls surrounding us. We stopped at another lake, this time further away from the water. Grateful, we encountered close to no bugs at this lake. In addition to the bug-free zone, the lake’s water was the perfect temperature to wade in. Although murky, the entire length of the shallow lake could be walked easily. We spent an hour or two relaxing and taking in the nature around us.
Day 4: With half of the journey behind us, we were eager to continue. The hikes from here on followed the Merced River. The Merced has unbelievably clear water which looked stunning on the granite rocks it followed. The sights today were mainly smooth waterslides (which we were not allowed to ride) and deep pools of which the bottoms could be seen. We camped on a massive granite slab, surprisingly the most comfortable location on the trip.
Day 5: The longest and most painstaking portion of the hike came close to the end on day five. The first half was very similar to day four, but that all changed once we exited the Lost Valley. A massive crown fire, meaning the fire burnt atop the trees and killed them for good, had struck the area years ago. This left a two-mile-long stretch of swelteringly hot, unshaded, and slightly uphill trail. The path before did redeem this treacherous trail, however. Tall growths of plant life surrounded the trail and towered over our heads for a section of the trail, creating a mystical atmosphere. Once we made it to the campsite, everybody was exhausted but able to play my favorite game: Bang! The game has the opportunity to ravage friendships, and that is exactly what happened. As a master of the game, I of course took this opportunity to decimate my opposition and leave them unwilling to talk to me until the next day.
Day 6: The final day was a short hike down to Yosemite Valley. On the way, we stopped by the famous Vernal Falls and took in the breathtaking drop. The rest of the hike passed in a blur as we were eager to get home and shower for the first time in six days. The music on car ride home sounded incredible, and the In-N-Out tasted heavenly. Overall, I would highly recommend everyone to explore the Yosemite backcountry as it has views unlike anywhere else and will be sure to leave you with unforgettable memories.