Post by spacecowboy2006 on Dec 3, 2016 17:36:49 GMT
Placemarked at Sentinel Creek:
Side Creeks of Yosemite Valley
Virtually everyone is familiar with the Merced River flowing through the middle of Yosemite Valley. Most famous are the paths along Yosemite Creek, the Merced River and Mist Trail at Happy Isles, and the three-mile trail around Mirror Lake. Fewer are aware of the significant topography and geomorphology of Yosemite, Tenaya, Illilouette, and Bridalveil creeks, the main tributaries of the Merced, with which they converge on the valley floor. All of the main waterfalls of the valley form independent streams between their bases at the cliffs and their confluence with the Merced, including Yosemite Creek, Snow Creek, steep ledges along Indian Canyon (Lehamite Falls), Sentinel Creek, Bridalveil Creek, Ribbon Creek, and numerous streams which are as short lived as the ephemeral falls that feed them. Most of these are ignored by tourists, and most also are fed through drainage pipes as they cross under the roads. An exception is where a stone bridge crosses over Yosemite Creek. Down stream from Yosemite Creek Bridge is the broad confluence of the Merced River with Yosemite Creek, an unvisited spot, amidst tens of thousands of people. Lesser streams include Fireplace Creek, Artist Creek, Eagle Creek, Staircase Falls Creek, and Royal Arch Creek. Evidence of their earlier exploration and survey is simply in the fact that they are named. One stream, Meadow Brook, disappears underground and emerges again in a series of springs including Fern Spring, a marked spot along the valley road, along with Moss Spring and Black Spring. West of Gates of the Valley the U-shaped glacial canyon of the Merced cliffs gives way to a V-shaped mountain valley and talus reaches all the way to the rivers edge, excluding any extensive sylvan environment below Cascade and Wildcat falls.
When Yosemite was made a national park, in 1891, a hiking trail was constructed up Indian Canyon to Lehamite Falls but was later abandoned. Today the canyon remains a steep wild ascent, through forest, mossy rock gardens, ledges, pocket meadows, and the white water stream cascading down below Lehamite Falls Gorge. From where Ribbon Creek crosses the road it is a rugged hike up over huge talus boulders to the base of Ribbon Fall. Historically a number of cliffside trails were abandoned because they were dangerously close to the walls and potential falling rocks, or because they were difficult to maintain. Over time the trails mentioned above, at the outset, were developed for public use and keeping traffic a safe distance from the walls. Another popular zig-zag trail traces the stream along lower Bridalveil Creek
Snow Creek Trail leads from Mirror Lake loop, up a zig-zag trail about 10 miles to Tuolumne Meadows, and east of the trailhead, is Snow Creek and Snow Creek Falls. A scramble up a rocky gully offers views of the cascades but do not attempt to traverse the rock slabs between the gorge and the trail, it is unsafe and with a thousand foot drop.
A day hike along any one of the side creeks is a pleasure. One has only to seek out their location and head out. Because they run down from talus piles at the base of the cliffs they are mostly white water and mist with boulders and dappled shade from oak, alder, laurel, pines and cypress, similar to what is seen at the more accessible sites only on a smaller scale and more isolated. Wear a hardhat and minimize the time spent close to the cliffs.
Side Creeks of Yosemite Valley
Virtually everyone is familiar with the Merced River flowing through the middle of Yosemite Valley. Most famous are the paths along Yosemite Creek, the Merced River and Mist Trail at Happy Isles, and the three-mile trail around Mirror Lake. Fewer are aware of the significant topography and geomorphology of Yosemite, Tenaya, Illilouette, and Bridalveil creeks, the main tributaries of the Merced, with which they converge on the valley floor. All of the main waterfalls of the valley form independent streams between their bases at the cliffs and their confluence with the Merced, including Yosemite Creek, Snow Creek, steep ledges along Indian Canyon (Lehamite Falls), Sentinel Creek, Bridalveil Creek, Ribbon Creek, and numerous streams which are as short lived as the ephemeral falls that feed them. Most of these are ignored by tourists, and most also are fed through drainage pipes as they cross under the roads. An exception is where a stone bridge crosses over Yosemite Creek. Down stream from Yosemite Creek Bridge is the broad confluence of the Merced River with Yosemite Creek, an unvisited spot, amidst tens of thousands of people. Lesser streams include Fireplace Creek, Artist Creek, Eagle Creek, Staircase Falls Creek, and Royal Arch Creek. Evidence of their earlier exploration and survey is simply in the fact that they are named. One stream, Meadow Brook, disappears underground and emerges again in a series of springs including Fern Spring, a marked spot along the valley road, along with Moss Spring and Black Spring. West of Gates of the Valley the U-shaped glacial canyon of the Merced cliffs gives way to a V-shaped mountain valley and talus reaches all the way to the rivers edge, excluding any extensive sylvan environment below Cascade and Wildcat falls.
When Yosemite was made a national park, in 1891, a hiking trail was constructed up Indian Canyon to Lehamite Falls but was later abandoned. Today the canyon remains a steep wild ascent, through forest, mossy rock gardens, ledges, pocket meadows, and the white water stream cascading down below Lehamite Falls Gorge. From where Ribbon Creek crosses the road it is a rugged hike up over huge talus boulders to the base of Ribbon Fall. Historically a number of cliffside trails were abandoned because they were dangerously close to the walls and potential falling rocks, or because they were difficult to maintain. Over time the trails mentioned above, at the outset, were developed for public use and keeping traffic a safe distance from the walls. Another popular zig-zag trail traces the stream along lower Bridalveil Creek
Snow Creek Trail leads from Mirror Lake loop, up a zig-zag trail about 10 miles to Tuolumne Meadows, and east of the trailhead, is Snow Creek and Snow Creek Falls. A scramble up a rocky gully offers views of the cascades but do not attempt to traverse the rock slabs between the gorge and the trail, it is unsafe and with a thousand foot drop.
A day hike along any one of the side creeks is a pleasure. One has only to seek out their location and head out. Because they run down from talus piles at the base of the cliffs they are mostly white water and mist with boulders and dappled shade from oak, alder, laurel, pines and cypress, similar to what is seen at the more accessible sites only on a smaller scale and more isolated. Wear a hardhat and minimize the time spent close to the cliffs.
