A Day of Views

July 28, 2015
Glacier Point to Taft Point on the Pohono Trail, Yosemite National Park
Total distance walked: 4.7 miles

Andrew and his girlfriend Sarah were off to Yosemite National Park, and they invited me along for the adventure. With a heart full of joy, I leaped out of bed, dressed quickly, packed a lunch, and was ready to go in no time.

We sped past the Taft Point and Fissures trailhead—our intended destination—and continued up to Glacier Point at the end of the road, sitting at a breathtaking 7,200 feet above sea level.

Sarah couldn’t recall ever visiting Glacier Point, so we took our time exploring the area and soaking in the extraordinary views. We marveled at the waterfalls—Yosemite, Vernal, and the especially full Nevada Falls—and admired the iconic Half Dome, Yosemite’s most recognizable rock formation. I pointed out Mt. Hoffmann, reminiscing about the climb I did there years ago with Mary Elizabeth. We gazed down 3,200 feet at the valley below and watched the Merced River winding its way through. The Merced River is 145 miles long.

Leaving the mesmerizing views of Glacier Point behind, we ventured onto the Pohono Trail, which led us through a shaded forest. The 400-foot ascent began right away, adding a sense of adventure to our hike.

A group of teenagers was hard at work maintaining the trail. As we passed them, I found myself huffing and puffing from the elevation change—or was it just me who was out of breath? Coming out of the woods the view opened up of Half Dome and Clouds Rest.

We stopped many times to appreciate the extreme views.

A Yosemite Conservancy guide, who was leading a family of four, informed us that we were at Roosevelt Point, a recently named location. I’ll have to take his word for it, as I couldn’t locate it on any map or in the Yosemite Place Names book.

I was curious to hear the guide’s information about the area, but didn’t want to eavesdrop. So, I wandered away and enjoyed watching Andrew and Sarah play on the rocks.

In addition to the breathtaking scenery, we had a fleeting glimpse of a western tanager—its orange head, yellow body, and black wings were too quick for my camera. After leaving Roosevelt Point, we continued our journey towards Taft Point.

Corn lilies were flourishing in a damp area near Sentinel Creek. I realized it had been at least two years since I last saw a blooming plant. From what I know, the conditions need to be just right for these plants to blossom.

Then we came upon—or nearly stumbled into—a fissure, a deep crack in the granite. There are five such fissures in the area, each dropping hundreds of feet or more. Their edges are sandy making the openings difficult to spot from a distance.

We made our way to the railed lookout on a jutting rock taking in the spectacular views. From there, we moved over to Taft Point itself, where we were treated to stunning sights of El Capitan, Three Brothers, and much more.

Andrew and Sarah appeared to be perched perilously close to the edge, making me too nervous to watch. Instead, I found a safe spot and enjoyed my lunch.

When it was time to leave, they scrambled up from the ledge and settled on solid boulders, giving my heart a chance to calm down.

Our plan was to hike from Taft Point up to Sentinel Dome and then loop back to Glacier Point. However, Andrew ran out of water. Sentinel Creek was nothing more than a mud puddle anyway, despite the lush surroundings. As we explored, we came across a trampled path through the ferns that led us to a giant mushroom.

We walked the final mile to the Sentinel Dome trailhead, where we caught the shuttle back to Glacier Point—a new service the park offers since Mariposa Grove closed for renovations.

I was delighted to have been invited on this hike with Andrew and Sarah. I enjoyed watching them interact, chatting with Sarah and getting to know her better, and sharing the Yosemite that Andrew and I love.