The Ottoway Lakes Loop

Lots to see here: Illiluette Falls,   Illiluette Gorge, Panorama Cliff, Panorama Point, the Panorama Trail, Half Dome, Grizzly Peak, and even a little piece of the JMT.

Back to the Trailhead

The Ottoway Lakes Loop, September 2004

After a nice rest, I headed up the trail. The next section was just a chore, particularly after it broke out of the trees and into the hot sun. The next 500 feet of altitude gain to the trail junction was a mostly viewless grind. The exception was one point where I had a nice view of the Illiluette Falls (a fair amount of water going over) near a spur trail to an overlook complete with a guardrail (worth a visit).

I thought I would never get to the junction. Much of this trail section is fairly steep and hot. Finally, I closed the loop on this trip by getting to the junction, and all that remained was the long trudge up to Glacier Point past a bazillion tourists (mostly retired folk). Most of hikers had been bussed to Glacier Point so they could make the walk from Glacier Point to Yosemite Valley. I hoped their knees were up to the task because that was a lot of down hill to do. Hiking down the Four Mile Trail (which I have done some time ago early season with snow on the trail) can be as nearly rewarding as the Panorama Trail route. Other destinations and short hikes in the Glacier Point area are the Pohono Trail to Sentinel Dome and the top of Sentinel Falls (early season). A warning about the Four Mile Trail: if you do this trail early season, at one point near the top (near Moran Point) there is a gully that buries the trail in snow, and if you cross it and slip, well, it is a long ways down to the Yosemite Valley floor. Bring an ice axe to cut steps.

I took this picture of Illiluette Falls with a telephoto from the top of North Dome. Obviously, this was early season.

After a long drawn out trudge, I reached Glacier Point and the parking lot where I relieved myself of my pack load. After a change of clothes, I did a visit to Glacier Point for old times sake (I have visited it in every season in dark and light except deep winter), then went to the new snack bar which did not have a thing I wanted. I drove down to Yosemite Valley and had a shower and shave, lounged around and dined at the Curry Village buffet where I ate until it was impossible to down another bite. Only a true backpacker knows the real joys of the previous sentence.

So ended another successful trip in the glorious Sierra, a trip I have to say I really enjoyed. I would recommend this trip to all backpackers and wilderness lovers except the very inexperienced (who need to hone their skill with weekender out and back trips first).

As I sit here writing this only a week or two after the trip, it is raining outside and there is several feet of snow in the Sierra already (thus ending the backpacking season). There also numerous backpackers, hikers and climbers trapped in the Sierra at this very moment, and some of them have died already (climbers). Keep an eye on weather reports before any trip, and plan for all weather situations. Make sure you know what to do if you are caught in winter conditions, particularly late season. Be careful out there.

Such a trip as this Ottoway Loop trip only rejuvenated my desire to backpack in the Sierra and return to the Sierra as soon as possible. Happy Trails to you.