HOME: TAFT POINT SUMMER HIKE IN YOSEMITE NATIONAL PARK JUNE 2010
Monday, June 21, 2010 at 9:08AM 
Jeffrey Shooting Star wildflowers at Curry Village
Field of Lupine at Wawona
Lupine and Ladybug
It's June 21 and it hasn't rained (or snowed) for weeks. The campgrounds are filled with people and the roads are filled with vehicles - it must be summer in Yosemite! The legacy of the wet and cold Spring continues to produce the most amazing wildflower show in the park as I spy Broad-Leaved Lupine everywhere. After a minor flood event the first week of June, the Merced River has stayed its course and river rafting in Yosemite Valley should commence by July 1.
Both the Glacier Point and Tioga Pass roads are open in the park, providing access to our favorite summer hikes and climbs. Seven miles from the lookout at Glacier Point, you'll find the trailhead for the Sentinel Dome and Taft Point hikes. Easy hikes that will get you the most spectacular views of Yosemite Valley far below, Sentinel Dome is known for the picturesque lone Jeffrey Pine atop the dome (famously photographed by Ansel Adams), and Taft Point is known for deep fissures in the granite that provide a direct look at the Valley 3000 feet below.
Ted at Taft Point
Michelle peers over the edge of The Fissures
No handrails around The Fissures!
Boulders stuck in The Fissures
At 2.2 miles round trip, the hike to Taft Point is short and sweet. This lookout over Yosemite Valley is also known for it's singular view of El Capitan - Yosemite's largest sheer granite rockface that towers 3000 feet over the Valley floor. Mecca for rockclimbers, El Cap's most famous climbing route is The Nose, named after the vertical ridge that defines this feature. From every other viewpoint, El Cap is a massive bulwark protruding into the Valley, but from Taft Point you can clearly see that El Capitan includes a concave section of sheer granite wall.
El Capitan from Taft Point
The Sentinel Dome hike, also 2.2 miles round trip, starts at the same trailhead going the opposite direction and also provides spectacular views of Yosemite Valley. For a different take on the Valley view, try an evening Sentinel Dome hike during the full moon. Join the throngs at Glacier Point waiting for moonrise over Nevada Fall and Half Dome, and then hike to Sentinel Dome for a moonlit view of the Valley below. Most people hike out as soon as the moon rises, as Ted and I discovered some years ago where we had Sentinel Dome all to ourselves for a moonlight picnic dinner with the old Jeffrey Pine. I was astonished to realize the lights I could clearly see were from the city of Merced, some 80 miles distant.
On the way home from Glacier Point I was pleased to find a meadow filled with Marsh Marigold enjoying the snow runoff. I was even more pleased to note the flowers were being visited by bees and captured one bee's visit to the bright white and yellow flowers.
Happy Summer Solstice!
CALIFORNIA, GLACIER POINT, HIKING, SUMMER, WILDFLOWERS, YOSEMITE NATIONAL PARK in HOME
Reader Comments (2)
This particular blog post is truly magnificent. It is definitely not daily I discover an amazing data on a weblog post, let alone online. Thank you so very much with regard to posting man. I genuinely appreciate your wisdom.canada goose jackets online
Do you want to be a fashion man? Do you want to be a charming girl? It not need too much money, you just need a Cheap Snapbacks. It will be spent only $9.9 from you. A exciting purchasing is ready to go! Just pay attention to. There is a company who are specializing in providing Cheap Snapback Hats For Sale, Cheap New Era Hats, one industries hats, rockstar energy hats, Monster Energy Hats which would be your final choice. Just do what you want aligning with your active heart. Our website is persisting on best customer service. Please come and enjoy it!