Ted's Hiking World Grand Canyon of the Tuolumne
Yosemite National Park

DAY #2 - July 15, 2026

Breakfast at the camp is served at 7:30 a.m., with a hot-drink preview at 7 o'clock.  No scrambled eggs are on the menu this morning, which is surprising — and disappointing, because that's what I most would like to eat.  There are plenty of other options, however — pancakes, bacon, sausage, oatmeal, and more.

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Preparing for the day

Now it is time for the others to learn why I changed the trek itinerary to include an all-day side-trip beside the Tuolumne River.  I have brought along my lumbar daypack just for this occasion, it being much more convenient that my big backpack.

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?? Creek

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The roar from White Cascade is everpresent at the camp

Upon rounding the base of "Sunset Hill", the route immediately becomes interesting.

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Guardian Peak, so-named by me in 2010

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Busy *
Peaceful

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Quiet

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Broadleaf Lupine *
Heartleaf Arnica

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California False Hellebore *
Arizona Thistle

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Mountain Dandelion

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Western Labrador Tea *
Braken Fern

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Le Conte Falls?

Maps show markings for California Falls and Le Conte Falls; yet there are so many candidates that I cannot precicely identity either one.

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The cobblestone stairways are necessary, I surmise, because they greatly reduce the time and costs of trail maintenance.  Attractive and well-built though they are, however, the persistent diet of them on this trail is becoming a bit tedious.  While being fine for uphill going, they are not so much fun on the downhills.

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A favorite spot on this trail

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Actual stairsteps aren't so bad

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Poison Hemlock *
Meadowsweet

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I'll revisit that one later

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A portion of Le Conte Falls

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Admittedly, the cobblestones are rather photogenic

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Sierra Crest Wild Buckwheat *
Rose Gentian

After a somewhat grueling 3-plus miles, we reach the planned terminus of our route.

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Waterwheel Falls

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At peak water levels, the spray reportedly can be diverted up to forty feet high

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Looking down the canyon

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Those waters end up in Hetch Hetchy Reservoir, 15 miles downstream

Wandering over nearer to the action for some photographs, I am rewarded:

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Shot at 1/2000 second

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Sublime

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Spreading Dogbane

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Greenleaf Manzanita *
Harvest Brodiaea

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Back to the cascades

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Canyon Live Oak *
Giant Red Indian Paintbrush

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A mini-waterwheel

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Rose Meadowsweet *
Mountain Pride

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Ponderosa Pine bark

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A younger Ponderosa

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Larry Lizard

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California Falls, 120'

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Beaked Penstemon

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Greene's Mountain Ash *
Yarrow

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Amanita Fungi

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Arrowleaf Ragwort *
Brewer's Lupine

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Alpine Lily *
Pretty Face

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Back at the base of Sunset Hill

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The last of the cascades

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Glen Aulin Camp has just 32 guest beds, 4 to a cabin

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In the dining hall

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This sign reportedly was "stolen" from May Lake Camp. More about that later.


§: Well, I hope that my companions got their hoped-for special experience.  Subsequent research reveals that the designations 'Le Conte Falls' and 'California Falls' each refer to a long series of cascades, which explains away my trailside confusion.

Scenery *
Difficulty *
Personality *
Flowers *

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