In a naiveté and somewhat overconfident state of mind, I decided to hike from Tunnel View to Taft Point during the winter in hopes of taking some beautiful photographs along the way. At the time, my mindset was simple. I looked up from the floor of Yosemite Valley towards Tunnel View then turned my head tracing the ridge to Taft Point, “That shouldn’t take more than two days. Tops three.” So, I went to the ranger station and talked to them about winter camping permits. They are free and self-assigned.
Within a few hours my 100L pack was overflowing, my snowshoes were under my feet, and I was working my way up the Ponoho Trail towards Taft Point from Tunnel View. I honestly didn’t even know that there were other named points along the journey, but I was excited to be outside and continue developing my winter camping skills for the mountains. So, I walked, and walked, and walked. “Gosh, this hill is no joke!”
The climb from Tunnel View to Inspiration Point to the valley rim is roughly 1000 vertical feet. I didn’t know this. I honestly didn’t know much. Following a gut feeling and knowing that I could rely on the winter camping skills I had developed over the last 12 years of backpacking, I just pushed onward and upward. Ducking under fallen trees branches, dodging post holes other people had fallen into without snow shoes, and singing to myself as I walked. The snow was dampened most of the sounds, but the crunch of my snowshoes was deafening.
After a couple of miles, I noticed the trail was going to be covered with snow. I accepted the challenge. In the back of my mind, I could hear my Mom, “You have gotten lost in snow before, don’t make the same mistakes.” But, have no worries, this winter hiking trip has a happy ending.
A few more hours passed, but I made it to the rim and saw a really cool vista off in the distance.
I want to make a note here, I was moving quite slow as I attempted to slog up this hill with roughly 70lbs on my back all while taking several stops to photograph everything that was new, and pretty, to me along the journey. There was no rush on my end.
That vista looked really awesome, especially because there was a point that jutted out into the skyline and looked like it would be an amazing place for a photograph, but my pack was heavy and I would have to retrace my steps just to stand there, so I opted to just admire from afar. Actually, I remember telling myself, “When the summertime comes, you need to come back with a few friends and check that place out.”
As that point faded over my shoulder and behind some trees, my phone BINGED. I guess I have service up here, which was a surprise. My heart told me not to look, as it would ruin my immersion into this beautiful place, but my brain got the best of me. It was my girlfriend checking in on me. That was nice.
While I was on my phone, a thought popped into my head, “I wonder if anyone has ever gone to that point?” Naiveté, yes, but also remember I have not had a trail for several miles nor have I seen a single foot print for at least two hours. So, I googled it. To my surprise, this spot was Stanford Point. “Hmmm. I will keep that in the back of my head for this coming summer.”
As I carried on between the trees my belly grumbled. Eager to set my pack down and eat a peanut butter and jelly sandwich, I looked for another view point, but nothing. “I want to eat and enjoy this view,” I told myself. Okay, let’s go find a view. So, I did the only logical thing to make my way to a view as fast as possible. I ran downhill towards the cliff.
Bobbing and weaving between the trees, getting smacked in the face every so often from a low hanging evergreen, I did everything I could not to face plant into the snow. One minute, five minutes, gosh I am out of breath. “Okay, it is time to walk.” So, I walked for another 10 minutes only to find a sliver opening that contained both El Capitan and Bridalview Fall.
[embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=apwcfTJ7t3w[/embed]
“What is this view?!” I shouted with excitement. “This is crazy sauce, how have I never seen a photograph from here?” Honestly, this was incredible. The alignment of these two is gorgeous and I can’t believe I am here to enjoy this view without a soul around. Dropping my pack, I walked around for a short while to find a better opening, this view was worth at least 5 minutes of searching.
“Found it!”
Grabbing my pack and moving towards an opening, I sat and enjoyed my sandwich. Feeling like an explorer who just discovered the most incredible view of Yosemite ever, I was proud of myself as I chomped down on my sandwich. Crunching the frozen bits between my teeth, sitting on my pack, I enjoyed this view more than any other view in a long time.
“I wonder if this spot has a name?”
Pulling out my phone, I looked on google maps. Where I was didn’t have a name, but if I climb the hill and walked another .25 miles I would be at Crocker Point. Looks like I wasn’t the first person to discover this view, but that is okay.
Grabbing my things, I headed up the hill to stand on the true Crocker Point, which was just as good, if not a better view.