Mono Meadow Trail

Yosemite Hikes 2 Minutes

November 3, 2012
Mono Meadow Trail
Total distance: 3.5 miles

“Every day is a winding road, I get a little bit closer…” sang Sheryl Crow as I maneuvered the car around Yosemite’s curvy roads.  I was meeting up again with Michele and Eli  to hike the Mono Meadow trail to Illilouette Creek, about four miles roundtrip.  (You can read about yesterday’s hike with Michele and Eli here.)

At the trailhead on Glacier Point Drive.
At the trailhead on Glacier Point Drive.

It was a cold morning as we began the downhill hike through the towering fir trees.

There's no perspective in the photograph, but this tree was huge.
There’s no perspective in the photograph, but this tree was huge.

Patches of icy snow from last month’s storm flattened the brown grass in the marshy meadow.  A nutcracker’s persistent peck echoed in the distance.  Crossing the babbling Illilouette Creek was easy this time of year.

Illilouette Creek.
Illilouette Creek

The sandy trail rolled gently up and down through fire damaged trees until we spotted a knoll of granite boulders offering an unofficial overlook.

A fire swept through this area in 1987 leaving stick-like tree trunks.
A fire swept through this area in 1987 leaving stick-like tree trunks.

Perched on the rocks we saw a panoramic view of the Clark Range, Mount Starr King, and Half Dome–different from yesterday’s view.

Another side of Half Dome.
Another side of Half Dome.

As we explored the unspectacular trail, we found its simplistic beauty surrounding us.

There was beauty in the bump of fungus growing on a charred tree.
Beauty in the bump of fungus growing on a charred tree.
There was beauty in the neon green lichen.
Beauty in the neon green lichen.
There was beauty in the changing leaves.
Beauty in the changing leaves.
There was beauty in the patch of pinecones.
Beauty in the patch of pinecones.

An interesting find was the fallen tree that was cut to clear the trail.  Someone counted and marked the rings in pencil dating the tree back to 1890.

Circa 1890.
Circa 1890.

At the end of the trail, Michele, Eli and I said our goodbyes with hopes to meet again soon.  Until that time, we will always have these memories of another peaceful and pleasant day in paradise.

The prettiest view of the day: Illilouette Creek.
The prettiest view of the day: Illilouette Creek.

Published by Janet

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12 thoughts on “Mono Meadow Trail”

  5. I would like to someday climb some peaks in the Clark Range! Thanks for the reminder. I am also hoping Glacier Point area has snow this year. Love this same area to snowshoe and cross-country ski. AND I also love that your dad comments. So great.

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  6. Loved looking through your photos of Yosemite. Makes me miss the granite mountains and peaceful hikes. I live in West Tennessee and only get to Yosemite every couple of years – so right now I’m in envy! 🙂 Will have to stay follow your blog so I can get my Yosemite fix. Thanks for the photos.

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    1. Thank you, Lana. My husband asked me last week if I’d like to move to Tennessee. We’ve never been there, but maybe we’ll visit someday. It’s hard to think of moving away from Yosemite. 🙂

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