June 21, 2017
Happy Isles
Total distance walked: 2.20 miles
The first day of summer saw the mercury hit triple digits, a scorching 104 degrees. Chris came up with a perfect plan to beat the heat: head to Yosemite and hike to Sentinel Dome, then have a picnic at Glacier Point. At 8,000 feet, that area of Yosemite was bound to be cooler than home.
We wound our way up the road and spotted a black plume of smoke rising above the trees and wafting over the forest. Traffic came to a stand still, so I turned off the car. Little black ashes drifted in through the open windows. Chris—who has extinguished many types of fire— guessed that it was a car fire. We couldn’t see the blaze but heard popping sounds and thunderous grenade-like booms. He explained that the sounds could be breaking glass, exploding car tires or bursting compressed cylinders.
Fire trucks edged passed the line of waiting cars, then a Ranger walked by. He confirmed the car fire and told us that the road would be clear in an hour. Instead of waiting, we turned around and devised a new plan.
Heading north towards the valley, we stopped at Tunnel View. Vehicles heading south were detained and not allowed to enter the tunnel due to the fire up ahead.
Continuing on, we traveled to Half Dome Village. As luck would have it, we procured the last parking spot at the trailhead lot, then made our way on foot through the forest to Happy Isles.
The trail skirted and crossed the tumbling Merced River. Water surged powerfully, a joyous rage creating its own cooling breeze. I shivered with glorious goose bumps, shocked that the air was so much cooler there.
Content with the revised plan to keep cool, we walked the various paths and visited the Nature Center.
At noon we left the refreshing trails at Happy Isles and found a picnic spot nine miles away by the river’s edge. It was warmer there, but nothing like the heat wave at home.
If the rest of the season is anything like its first day, I foresee us heading to the park quite often to beat summer’s heat.
Hiking Yosemite and Beyond 
Sounds like a very nice day…except for the poor people who lost their car. The river looks like it is MUCH higher than it has been.
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Yes, the river has been flooding the valley at times.
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I loved your picnic spot and the beat the heat idea. Good to see Chris out hiking with you! I’m just not sure what to say about the facial hair :). Always love your pictures and the narrative that goes along with it.
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LOL Cathy. After 30 years of having to shave, I think he’s done with it. Thanks for reading.
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What a great way to beat the heat! Thanks for taking us along. I love Happy Isles. My visit time visiting that location in YNP I saw an American Dipper, the little bird that walks underwater to look for bugs and such for lunch. Stay cool!
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The American Dipper was John Muir’s favorite bird. I saw one once at Luken’s Lake. Thanks for reading, Patti.
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I’ve been to Yosemite 4 times and have yet to see a lot of water. It’s always been in the fall and there’s been very little water flowing anywhere. Hoping one day to get there in the spring or early summer! Love reading about your adventures. Thanks for posting.
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Thanks for reading, Lana. I hope one day soon you can make it there when the falls are gushing. This would be a great year for that.
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I enjoyed this day very much. We need to get back soon.
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When? 🙂
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I love your “joyous rage” of water. What a lovely selection of photos, too. Thank you for a delightfully refreshing post.
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Thank you, Robin.
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Feeling cooler already..just by reading your descriptive words!
Sheelah
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Thanks, Sheelah.
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