Rancheria Falls and LeConte Point (05.08-09.2010)
O'Shaughnessy Dam at Hetch Hetchy.
The trail starts off by crossing the dam
Why build a trail around it when you can blast a tunnel through solid granite?
Inside the dank tunnel
Looking back on the dam from the trail
Seasonal falls along the trail
Deep pool along seasonal falls - fished here for a few minutes but no bites.
LeConte Point, the reservoir, and Kolana Rock
Closer to the falls - already feeling the mist.
Can't see it from this angle - but there are several bridges that allow the trail to cross the rushing water. And that mist is blowing right over them.
Looking back at the dam, about 2.5 trail miles back.
Catching sight of the upper part of Wapama Falls
Wapama Falls and engineered trail
The first bridge over Wapama - I pulled out my pack rain cover and put the camera away.
After crossing the 5 (?) bridges I was soaked. Left my pack out in the sun to dry and went back to take pictures from a relatively dry spot.
Looking down on the falls runout.
Kolana Rock on the other side of the reservoir. Smith peak behind it to the left (we did a backpacking trip where we camped on the summit there a few years ago).
The driest bridge and the falls.
Up the trail a bit, looking back at the falls and the dam in the distance.
Wapama Falls, now a ways behind me. I've dried off by now.
Kolana Rock and reservoir level stains.
Curving away from the reservoir, I find a nice campsite near Rancheria Falls
After setting up camp I continued up the trail. The falls were going crazy at the crossing.
Climbing up into granite and manzanita. No snow left in this exposed terrain.
