The Grand Canyon of the Tuolumne and Falls

From near the top of "Glen Aulin Cascade", looking up-stream at the bridge and part of White Cascade. Note the metamorphic rock here, a change from all the white granite of the canyon.

Cold Creek

The Grand Canyon of the Tuolumne and Falls, June 2004

What was nice was that the bridge to the Glen Aulin HSC was not flooded at its ends. The first time I came to this spot, it was full dark, and the trail between the bridges to the HSC and across the Tuolumne River was flooded (at both ends!), as well as the far end of the bridge at the HSC. Wading across from the Tuolumne Bridge to the HSC was no fun because Cold Creek was living up to its name and was freezing cold and more than knee deep. This time the bridge and trail was high and dry.

Another thing of interest was that we were now on the Pacific Crest Trail, which from here headed up Cold Canyon along Cold Creek, which passes by, yes Cold Mountain. And we cannot forget that the trail also passes Elbow Hill. Up Cold Canyon, the PCT crosses Return Creek in Virginia Canyon, the same creek we had crossed the day before in the Tuolumne River Canyon.

So, we crossed the dry bridge on dry trail to the dry trail on the other side.

The bridge to Glen Aulin HSC. The trail up Cold Canyon is on the other side along the stream on the right. This gives you some idea of how flooded the bridge can be, making getting to the HSC a wet crossing.

Both times I have seen the HSC, there was not much to look at because it was closed. This year (2005), all the HSC's remained closed due to the unusually long and wet winter. It was closed on our trip because it was too early in the season yet.

Beyond the dismantled HSC are numerous camps and usually lots of bears. Lots of noobs backpack to the HSC, and even with bear cans they lose their food to bears. This time was no exception: I met a gang of about 10 guys who had lost half their food to bears even though they all had bear cans. I have see this many times, so all the more reason I know bear cans are no better that Ursacks. You cannot regulate carelessness. The bears have figured this out, which is why there are always bears hanging around HSC's: lots of people and lots of noobs.

I checked out the camp (and the open outhouse) and was not impressed. We were going to stay there, but I wanted to take a chance and camp at McGee Lake. Dave wanted to hike up a ways up Cold Canyon, so he stashed some of his stuff and headed out. He would meet me later at McGee Lake. I headed for McGee Lake, but first I would check out White Cascade.