Ostrander Lake trailhead
Near Chilnualna Falls trailhead
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Ostrander Lake trailhead |
Near Chilnualna Falls trailhead |
The following two maps show our trail backpacking, but do not show the cross country backpacking we did from Ostrander Lake to Hart Lakes to the Buena Vista Lake trail, nor our cross country day hiking from Buena Vista Lake to Horse Ridge where we looked down on Ostrander, Hart and Edson Lakes.
 Our first day trail hike |
 Our last two days trail (mostly) hike |
Bob drove from Santa Rosa to Jennifer's home in Oakland, then we drove to Wawona trailhead parking lot where we left Bob's car, then drove to Yosemite Valley Backpackers campground. where we camped for the night. The campground was quite full. On the drive through Yosemite we saw lots of burned forest.
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Backpacked to Ostrander Lake from the trailhead. For the first part there were so many flowers, grasses and other greenery. Then we came upon the burnt forest. As we approached the lake we got scenic views, including those of Half Dome. At the lake itself there was a ski lodge, closed of course at this time of year. We set up camp, but did not take into account sufficiently a warning we had heard about crows. The crows apparently are used to backpackers and took the first opportunity to go through Jennifer's pack and remove various items, even pecking open a metalic bag of insect repellent. There also were other people, including one who was swimming and a campsite with a hammock hanging between two trees.
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Hiked to Hart Lakes (next three pics), went around them, ate lunch, then hiked back to Ostrander Lake.
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Backpacked from Ostrander to Hart Lake, set up camp, hiked part way to Buena Vista Trail, discovered there was a better way to go that we would hike tomorrow for backpack in two days.
 Ostrander Lake in the early morning |
 Hart Lake |
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Dinner: Pasta with cheese, mushrooms, tuna and spinach
 Hart Lake in the early morning |
Day hike to Buena Vista Trail and also hiked to Edson Lake. Returned to Hart Lake where Jennifer went swimming (and Bob takes a picture of a bee on his arm).
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 Edson Lake |
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Dinner: Grain bowl with Pad Thai Sauce added. Broccoli.
Backpacked cross country from Hart Lakes to Buena Vista Trail, then backpacked on trail to Buena Vista Lake.
 Hart Lake in the early morning |
 Buena Vista Lake |
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Dinner: Pasta, spaghetti, rice, mushrooms, spinach on side.
 Buena Vista Lake in early morning |
Day hiked from Buena Vista Lake campsite to Horse Ridge which overlooks all the lakes we had been to previously: Ostrander, Hart and Edson.
 Hart Lake from Horse Ridge |
 Hart Lake from Horse Ridge |
 On left Ostrander Lake (in distance) from Horse Ridge and unnamed lake nearer; on right Hart Lakes |
 Ostrander Lake and unnamed lake from Horse Ridge |
 Horse Ridge cliff |
 Hart Lakes from Horse Ridge |
 Hart Lakes from Horse Ridge |
 Edson Lake from Horse Ridge |
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Dinner: Dehydrated chicken enchiladas with spinach
Backpacked to Royal Arch Lake, hiked part way around lake searching for way to get to ridge above lake (did not find a way). We decided to cut trip short by one day, so would return on Wednesday, not Thursday.
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 Royal Arch Lake |
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 Royal Arch Lake |
Dinner: Teriyaki sauce, noodles, vegetables and cashews
Backpacked with intention of stopping above falls, but after crossing early stream found way blocked by forest of fallen trees with path obliterated. So we camped at this stream and tried day hiking through fallen trees.
 Royal Arch Lake in early morning |
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Dinner: Potato cheddar corn chowder thick soup plus broccoli.
Managed to backpack through fallen tree forest, find path, hike to Wawona, drive Bob's car to Ostrander Trailhead where Jennifer's car was parked, then we each drove home.
Video: Chilnualna Falls
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 Chilnualna Falls |
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Photos and narrative were contributed by both of us: Jennifer and Bob
Here are all of the backpacking trips Jennifer and Bob have taken
Other Websites
By Bob:
Bob Phillips [phillips bob 27 at yahoo dot com - no spaces]
Santa Rosa, CA
August, 2012
