Yosemite in Flood

A snowy winter and a cold, wet spring have delayed the runoff to unusually late in the year in most western mountains. In Yosemite, the waterfalls are blasting at levels seen only one or two years each decade. The roar of Yosemite Falls echoes across the valley into the mountains beyond.

I hiked the Panorama Trail from Glacier Point down to Ililouette Creek, just above the falls of the same name. I overextended a bit...the hike descends 1400 feet in a little over two miles...at over a mile above sea level...and I knew the climb back up would be seriously hard...which it was...but having been on the trail about 15 years before, I knew the hike was worth the effort. Here's a view of Half Dome with Nevada Falls...on the upper right...and Vernal Falls...lower and to the left. The Mist Trail...which ascends just to the right of Vernal...must have been really really wet yesterday!

Eventually, hiking down from Glacier Point, I reached the top of Ililouette Falls, a wall of water plunging into the canyon.

The water that goes over all those falls eventually winds up in the Merced River down in the valley. Needless to say, it's flooding; not seriously, but enough to close some boardwalks.

Farther down the Merced, the river roars by, now fed by the slamming waters of Bridalveil Falls. El Capitan stands sentinel in the distance.