Chilnualna Falls, Yosemite National Park
There is no feeling quite like discovering a new place, all by yourself.
Our last trip to Yosemite to see Vernal and Nevada Falls has left us with a slight feeling of unbalance as due to a huge number of tourists on the trail with us at all times the most enjoyable part of the hike was crossing through the forest between the bus stops...
For solitude the ranger has recommended that we visit Mariposa Grove area instead. There are only about 5 different hikes in the area there. Choosing the longest one, of course, that's where we went the next weekend. And it was a discovery of a lifetime!
Chilnualna Falls is actually a series of waterfalls, with the first cascade literally steps away from the start of the trail:
The awesome part of the trail is that you can climb along the rocks as close as you wish to the waterfall:
Just how far will you dare to venture?
We chose to go up and up along the switchbacks of the trail. The special feature of the trail is that the glimpses offered along the way fuel the desire to walk further and further:
Your ascent is cheered on by gorgeous sequoias and redwoods. Way to feel insignificant next to those giants...
And as soon as you feel like you are done and want to turn around, another cascade of a waterfall becomes visible:
And then a yellow stone road straight out of Wizard of Oz appears, luring you onwards. How can you stop now?!
So on and on you go to the next cascade:
And then the one after:
But really, it's time to stop now. As you have reached the snow and crossed the rushing creek without a bridge, and turned your hike from a 6-miler into a 10-miler already...
And then this incredible place gave us one more gift:
solitary lunch at the top of the world:
showered upon by the rays of God:
The incredible part is this point is just the beginning for a number of backpacking hikes. We will be back (tanya_tokareva, 0xandr, Angelica *wink-wink*)!
Our last trip to Yosemite to see Vernal and Nevada Falls has left us with a slight feeling of unbalance as due to a huge number of tourists on the trail with us at all times the most enjoyable part of the hike was crossing through the forest between the bus stops...
For solitude the ranger has recommended that we visit Mariposa Grove area instead. There are only about 5 different hikes in the area there. Choosing the longest one, of course, that's where we went the next weekend. And it was a discovery of a lifetime!
Chilnualna Falls is actually a series of waterfalls, with the first cascade literally steps away from the start of the trail:
The awesome part of the trail is that you can climb along the rocks as close as you wish to the waterfall:
Just how far will you dare to venture?
We chose to go up and up along the switchbacks of the trail. The special feature of the trail is that the glimpses offered along the way fuel the desire to walk further and further:
Your ascent is cheered on by gorgeous sequoias and redwoods. Way to feel insignificant next to those giants...
And as soon as you feel like you are done and want to turn around, another cascade of a waterfall becomes visible:
And then a yellow stone road straight out of Wizard of Oz appears, luring you onwards. How can you stop now?!
So on and on you go to the next cascade:
And then the one after:
But really, it's time to stop now. As you have reached the snow and crossed the rushing creek without a bridge, and turned your hike from a 6-miler into a 10-miler already...
And then this incredible place gave us one more gift:
solitary lunch at the top of the world:
showered upon by the rays of God:
The incredible part is this point is just the beginning for a number of backpacking hikes. We will be back (tanya_tokareva, 0xandr, Angelica *wink-wink*)!