A Hike at Hetch Hetchy

Last night, we went over a list of activities and things to do that Ken had put together over the next 4 days.  Yosemite is so big and there is so much to see.  We decided that we would go to Hetch Hetchy Valley today which is closer to the campground and would only be about a 50 minute drive. 

As we drove along the road to Hetch Hetchy, we saw these beautiful purplish-blue wildflowers...

...and these pretty wildflowers growing along the bank. 

Like most of this country, Hetch Hetchy was home to American Indian cultures for thousands of years before the first European Americans arrived in the 1850s looking for gold and a place to raise livestock.  In fact, the modern name of the valley came from the Miwok word, hatchhatchie, which means edible grasses. 

As early as 1882, Hetch Hetchy Valley had been considered as a potential site for a new reservoir.  Preservationists led by John Muir wanted the valley to remain untouched.  However, after the 1906 San Francisco earthquake, Congress authorized the construction of a dam in the Hetch Hetchy Valley to supply water to San Francisco.  Today, the 117-billion-gallon reservoir supplies pristine drinking water to 2.4 million Bay Area residents and industrial users. 

The road to the dam is narrow with a steep drop off.

Before reaching the dam, we could look back to the valley below the dam which gives you an idea of what the valley looked like before the reservoir.  You can understand why John Muir wanted to preserve it.

After parking the car, we waited a few minutes to see if the rain would stop which it did.  We have heard that it never rains in California but I think we have encountered rain every day since we crossed the California state line.  :)

Our five mile hike to Wapama Falls began with a walk across the top of the O'Shaughnessy Dam.  You can see the Wapama Falls off to the far right of the dam.

The first phase of the dam was completed in 1923 in a mere 3 1/2 years.  The final phase raising the height of the dam was completed in 1938.

From the middle of the dam, we could see Tueeulala Falls (which was just a trickle), Hetch Hetchy Dome, Kolana Rock and Wapama Falls.

The walk across the dam ended at a tunnel.

The tunnel was not very well lit and was very wet in places. 

But then we began walking a very easy wide path...

...with great views of the Hetch Hetchy Reservoir.

The water must be pristine because it is so clear.  Swimming and boating are prohibited in the reservoir.

Several times along the trail, we passed by these shrubs or low-growing trees with deep red trunks.

The path began to get a little narrower and we also started to climb a little bit.

It also began to be rocky in places but not too bad.  It was a fun, challenging trail to hike. 

The flowers along the trail were beautiful.

We also came across these huge pine cones.

We didn't see any bears, but we did see some deer...

...and this well-fed squirrel.

The trail was a nice mixture of walking through forests...

...walking over rocks...

...and walking over an occasional bridge.

As we got closer to the Wapama Falls, we began descending a series of stone steps.

We could hear the falls as we got closer, but now we could finally see them.

I put my rain jacket on not because of rain but because of the mist from the bottom of the falls.

The force of Wapama Falls could be felt by the midst,

heard by the rushing waters,

...and seen as thousands of gallons of water came pouring down.

As we walked past the falls, we could see the tiny trickle...

...of a waterfall wannabe.

We walked past the Wapama Falls a few steps and found a nice place to eat our snacks...

...and rest our feet.

After sitting there for not long enough, we began our hike back.  Once again, I put my camera away to allow all of my senses to enjoy the wonders of Hetch Hetchy Valley.

When we returned to the car (and after a much needed bathroom break), we ate our lunch at a nearby picnic table at what has become our typical lunch hour:  3 pm.  We then headed back to the campground. 

Later that evening, we got together for our nightly card games.  As predicted in Bonnie's blog, the women won tonight -- most of the games anyways.  The men won 2 games of Sequence Dice and the women won 1 game of Sequence Dice, 5 Crowns and Pinochle.  Bonnie accurately predicted the outcome of the games and Ken accurately predicted that the rain would stop and we would have a great hike. 

Another great day at Yosemite!!