Clouds Rest (Yosemite National Park, California)

For most of the summer, I have been trying to find another weekend to get down to Yosemite and hike to the lofty Clouds Rest, which overlooks Yosemite Valley from the East. I've read the hike is challenging, but not in the same league as Half Dome. I've also read that the final approach is a narrow strip of crumbly granite with 1000 foot drop offs on either side. All of this proved to be true. In addition to the challenge of another hike, I needed to consider some professional opportunities that have become available to me. What better place to consider job offers than 1500 feet above the most scenic valley on Earth.

Getting an early start, I made the drive to the park. I love living only a couple of ours from Yosemite. It means that I can do day trips without to much of a hardship. This time of year, its a little brisk in the high country of the park in the early morning hours, but it wasn't too bad today. I would guess it was about 60 when I hit the trail at the Sunrise trail head.

The first section is well traveled and quite easy, as it passes through the evergreen forest. I note that in my research of the trail, two early water crossings were mentioned. In this, the 6th(?) year of the drought, there was no water to be found to pose any difficulties. 

The trail then takes a turn and begins climbing over a granite spine running parallel to highway 120. The path is steep and filled with granite steps that kill the knees, but luckily, my bad one feels strong this morning. I push my pace pretty hard during these early miles, as I'm hoping to complete the 14.1 mile trail in about five hours.

After crossing over the spine and dropping back down, the trail becomes tame for another mile or two, before starting the final push up towards the destination, Clouds Rest. As I get near the top, I notice a couple standing at the beginning of the narrow path and inquire as to their condition. The nice lady explains that she is a little scared of continuing on any further. I can't say I blame her as I gaze ahead at the climb I'm about to make. Several overlapping slabs of granite make for a rag-tag stair case leading to the top. On either side, I can see the tree-painted valleys far below with a sheer wall of steep granite between me an them. I push forward.

From the top, the view is amazing as so often reported. I can see Half Dome, Tenaya Lake, the corner of El Capitan. In all directions, I can see for miles and miles. It offers me a little time and a great venue to think about my future job prospects and the fact that it may be the time to make a change. After taking a few snapshots and chatting with some of my fellow hikers, I make a hasty retreat, still trying to complete the trail in my planned time frame.

The way down is pretty uneventful, but I do manage to take a wrong turn and only notice it when I see the first of the Sunrise Lakes, which I didn't remember seeing on the way up. All in all, it only added about a mile to my overall hike, which was still less than the described distance. In total, I hiked just over 13 miles. I think the final markers are a bit off, but it was a still a fantastic high nonetheless.