The Grand Canyon of the Tuolumne and Falls

Nearing the lip of California Falls. Don't step on wet rock because it is very slippery. A rocky tower to the northwest of Point 8886 stands over the valley of Glen Aulin.

California Falls

The Grand Canyon of the Tuolumne and Falls, June 2004

A few more steps up the trail brought us to the lip of California Falls, and really the end of the significant climbing in that canyon. There would be a bit of a hill getting up to the top of White Cascade and Tuolumne Falls (+360 foot elevation change), but they were short fairly easy climbs. And anyway, we would do only half of the climb that day in any case because we were heading for McGee Lake. Most of the rest of the way back to Tuolumne Meadows would be over the most gradual of slopes, almost level really. Glen Aulin was in easy range of day-hikers from Tuolumne Meadows, so we were not surprised to see them.

Looking back down the canyon from the top of California Falls, we said goodbye to the last really spectacular Tuolumne down-canyon view of the trip, although there were other spectacular views of other sorts ahead.

The California Falls crashes against a rib of granite, almost creating another "waterwheel". See that black wet area at the bottom right? That stuff is slicker 'n snot. Long ago I was lineing up a shot (somewhere else), stepped on some of that stuff, was slammed down and broke my arm. Watch where you stop: a fall may throw you into the water and death.

On the lip of California Falls looking into Geln Aulin. Point 8886 is at mid-horizon.