Adventure 005, Hike 012 – Wawona Meadow

Carol W and Sherri

Capture California, the Game-2013

Adventure: 005, Hike 012 – Wawona Meadow

Team: YOLT

Date:  June 2, 2013

Location: Wawona Meadow

Hike Info:

Trail: Wawona Meadow Loop Trail

Distance: 4.19 miles

Duration: 1.33 Moving

Elevation Rise: 391'

 

Description:
After church, our friend, Carol, and us went up to Wawona to meet our meetup group. It was a pretty warm day in Wawona, about 80 degrees-seemed a lot warmer. We got their before the meetup group could complete their Mirror Lake hike, so we took in the historical village at Wawona, and scored some Capture California points along the way—the old Acting Yosemite Superintendent's cabin, Hodgdon Homestead, Chris Jorgenson Art Studio, Wawona Hotel, and the Yosemite Transportation Company. Lunch of peanut butter and nutella was eaten by the Transportation Company's office and we enjoyed walking across the Old Wawona Covered Bridge. I visited my new park ranger friend, Heidi in the ranger station their—we were even able to score our wilderness permit for the Lyell Canyon four day backpack trip we went on Tuesday.

But still no Meetup group. So we went on a short walk up a ridge behind Wawona Lodge, when we got a text saying they were on the way. So down we went, waiting at the Wawona store—with some ice cold Snapple. Still no meetup group. So after an hour of waiting, we decide to go ahead on our hike around Wawona Meadow.

Wawona Golf Course

We have done Wawona Meadow walk before, actually several times. Since discovering this trail a couple of years ago, we have enjoyed the leisureliness of it, with the richness of plant and wild life experienced on it. On the other side of the experience, you have this nine-hole golf course, within the meadow, which sort of gives you a perspective of the diversity of use. At least that is probably better than the airport which which the meadow held in the 1930's. But maybe not quite as good as the apple orchard and vegetable gardens the Washburn's planted to supply their hotel guests.

On the way around the meadow, we see Annie and a friend returning from the meetup hike. We enjoyed seeing her—we had not seen her since a surgery she had a couple of months ago. From her, we hear that the meetup group is about a half an hour ahead of us

Wawona Meadow

As we hike to the southern part of the meadow the man-made elements fade into the background and you can enjoy the area. Our friend Carol is a gold mine of delightful knowledge of the biology of the Sierra's. Such as the male and female ferns we passed by—I for one, thought they were just different types of ferns. Our solitude remained until you hit the return trip and walk next to Highway 41.