August 24, 2013
Granite Lakes, Yosemite National Park
Total distance walked: 4 miles
When I feel that too much time has passed since my last hike, I get a longing to be amidst the mountains. Then I am reminded of John Muir’s words, “The mountains are calling, and I must go.” Answering this call, I prepared a lunch and set out for the eastern reaches of Yosemite National Park.
Starting at the Gaylor Lakes trailhead, located northwest of Mt. Dana at an elevation of 9,950 feet, I embarked on the half-mile ascent of 600 feet up Gaylor Ridge before descending to Middle Gaylor Lake. Despite the morning chill of 46 degrees, the bright sunshine and brisk climb quickly warmed me up.
While walking by Middle Gaylor Lake, I recalled the day (51 weeks ago exactly) spent here with my dear friend Mary Elizabeth. You can read about our fun adventure here. I also remembered the time at the lake with my son Andrew. We spotted our first marmot in the rocks near this lake.
Beyond Gaylor Lake is the basin: a wide, flat meadow to cross on the way to Granite Lakes. I laid on the dry grass for a while, enjoying the fact that I could just lie there totally alone in that big open space, my soul singing, joy filling my heart.
After reaching Lower Granite Lake, I surveyed the surroundings and then followed the slender trail that hugs the eastern shoreline, leading to the lake’s inlet.
Climbing the rocks and curving around to Upper Granite Lake, I found a spot to sit and immerse myself in the birdsong while humming How Great Thou Art which seemed so fitting to how I was feeling.
“O Lord my God! When I in awesome wonder, consider all the works thy hands have made. I see the stars, I hear the mighty thunder, thy power throughout the universe displayed.”
I was so happy to be there without another soul in sight.
As I ate lunch, the crunching noise from the potato chips disrupted the serene paradise, prompting me to set them aside and instead quietly admire the lake and the encircling granite mountains.
“When through the woods and forest glades I wander, and hear the birds sing sweetly in the trees. When I look down from lofty mountain grandeur and hear the brook, and feel the gentle breeze.”
My day felt just like the song.
“Then sings my soul, my Savior God to thee; how great thou art, how great thou art!”
Like a kid in a candy shop, I explored everything from the intricate patterns on the rocks to a small patch of snow stubbornly clinging to the mountainside. I scrambled over boulders, attempting to capture a photograph of a sizable Clark’s Nutcracker that refused to land.
The wind howled around the glacial cirque and the scent of pine filled the air.
A Ranger informed me that mountain red elderberry typically grows at lower elevations, but it can also be found at some of the highest elevations.
Wildflowers sprouted next to a babbling creek. They swayed back and forth in rhythm with the wind adding a bit of difficulty to photographing them.
As I departed, I wrote a note to my husband in the sand.
I trekked over the ridge back to my car, my heart overflowed with the essence of nature. I feel incredibly fortunate to have the freedom to visit Yosemite on a whim and enjoy the serenity of its lakes and mountains all to myself.
In the car on the way down from the high country, I saw firefighters staged along the road with Yosemite Rangers. I stopped and watched. I could see the Rim Fire that’s been burning for a week now. The Ranger said the fire was five miles from where we stood. God bless the firefighters who are doing all they can to control this wildfire.
UPDATE: The Rim Fire burned 402 square miles of land. It was fully contained on October 24, 2013, and was declared totally extinguished a year later in November 2014.
Hiking Yosemite and Beyond 