A Labyrinth of Roads

December 2, 2013
Wawona High Loop, Yosemite National Park
Total distance walked: 5.8 miles

Climbing into the forest, we were enveloped by its earthy-scented warmth. Andrew and I were following the Wawona High Loop in Yosemite National Park. A few years ago, we walked the Wawona Meadow Loop, a shorter route that circles the edge of the meadow along the base of the mountain. The high loop took us higher and deeper into the forest. It challenged us to find an unmarked trail before connecting with Meadow Loop.

We began by walking on a path through the nine-hole, organic golf course that was built in 1918. The path is actually the terminus of Chowchilla Mountain Road, a pioneer route into the park. Chowchilla Mountain Road is a high clearance vehicle, toll-free road into Yosemite. However, there is a gate that may or may not be open.

Early into the hike I saw at first glance what I thought was a coyote. When it came nearer, I realized that it was a friendly dog. Another dog came bounding down the hill and the two of them enthusiastically trotted over to play. They jumped around when Andrew threw a stick for them to fetch. In short time, their owner came around the corner with another dog obediently by her side. She and her entourage made quick tracks down the steep hill.

Within the dark forest lies a labyrinth of roads. We kept left at each junction until we were on the rarely used dirt road to Yosemite’s south entrance station. I mentioned to Andrew that I needed a quick break and walked off trail for a moment thinking he’d wait. When I returned, he was gone. I walked for what seemed like quite a while before calling out. “An-drewww,” I yelled, breaking the silence in the eerie forest. An-drewww my voice echoed through the trees.

I remembered back to when I was four years old. My younger sister and I got lost in the Stanislaus National Forest trying to find the treehouse behind our aunt’s cabin. We walked aimlessly hugging each other, crying and calling for our parents fearing that a bear was going to eat us. We were found about an hour later a half mile from the cabin.

I hollered again and wondered if Andrew had ventured down the unmarked trail. Did I pass him and not realize it? I found it interesting how anxious I became even though we rarely hike at the same pace and are frequently separated. Then I heard, “Mom!” and breathed a sigh of relief.

Soon after I caught up with Andrew, we found the hidden trail which was a narrow path leading away from the road. Brush scraped our legs as we made our way over the hilly terrain.

Eventually we came to an area where fallen trees blocked the path.

We walked through a couple of mostly dry stream beds and over one trickling creek, all of which converged in Wawona Meadow.

Twice more we encountered forks in the road and instinctively—or as Andrew would say, by natural internal direction—he chose correctly which way to walk. We reached the dormant meadow after connecting with the east end of Meadow Loop and were nearing the end of the hike.

The meadow, which goes dormant this time of year, was used for grazing sheep and cattle in the 1850s. Remnants of an old split-rail fence still stand in areas.

The meadow was also used as an airstrip at one time. From early spring through summer, it is filled with wildflowers.

We followed the flat trail skirting the meadow, then crossed the highway and passed the old Wawona Hotel.

This was a pleasant hike up the mountain, winding through the dense forest where the scent of pine filled the air, and around the dormant meadow where the grasses lay still waiting for the renewal of spring.