Came across this photo and it brought back many fond memories. This is basically the start, (at the bottom of the photo), to the John Muir Trail which I hiked in 1993. About 250 miles. Took me 3 weeks, well 22 days. But I was in no hurry. :laughing The actual first step on the trail is just off the photo on the lower left. You hike over the lower waterfall, (Vernal Falls), then across the top of the upper waterfall (Nevada Falls middle of the photo). The trail then proceeds to the left, (north), and out of the photo. Then it heads east for a ways and finally turns south headed to Mt. Whitney - the end of the John Muir Trail. The trail is headed south just beyond the tallest mountain you can see in this background of this photo (My. Lyell). I took a side trip off the John Muir Trail to climb Mt Lyell and NO... it's not like ropes and stuff... you can hike up it but it's not for the light-hearted. Quite dangerous in places. About that lowest Waterfall... Vernal Falls. I carried, on my back, all three of my kids and then all 7 of the grandkids to the top of it. (at separate times. :laughing ) It's called the 'mist trail' and depending on the time of year you hike it you'll get soaked. I've also hiked several other trails in this photo... all the canyons and been atop nearly all, not quite all, of the peaks. If there is anything I wish I was still capable of it would be backpacking, and visiting these locations in the Sierra Nevada Mountain... not sports, not even my 'dating days' although that would be close. :laughing I can still reach some places... top of both of these falls for example, the long treks and the highest peaks... well, those will have to remain memories. - JamesJM [attachment 11861 JMTStartcopy.jpeg]https://ramsrule.com/herd/read.php?4,1111231,1111231#msg-1111231Fri, 11 Sep 2026 09:34:02 -0400 Phorum 5.2.18 https://ramsrule.com/herd/read.php?4,1111231,1111561#msg-1111561 https://ramsrule.com/herd/read.php?4,1111231,1111561#msg-1111561
It was truly and amazing event and not just the spectacle of the firefall itself. It was a 'community' event. Lot of interaction between campers as they found their chosen spot to view the Firefall.

I have not camped on the valley floor since.... ohhhh, I think the late 90's. But I can verify that you can still hear the occasional shout of "Elmer". - JamesJM]]> JamesJM Bucky's PubTue, 27 Aug 2024 11:17:51 -0400 https://ramsrule.com/herd/read.php?4,1111231,1111525#msg-1111525 https://ramsrule.com/herd/read.php?4,1111231,1111525#msg-1111525
Original Firefall]]> LesBaker Bucky's PubTue, 27 Aug 2024 08:21:21 -0400 https://ramsrule.com/herd/read.php?4,1111231,1111491#msg-1111491 https://ramsrule.com/herd/read.php?4,1111231,1111491#msg-1111491
Today he races downhill for UCONN.]]> waterfield Bucky's PubTue, 27 Aug 2024 01:05:45 -0400 https://ramsrule.com/herd/read.php?4,1111231,1111478#msg-1111478 https://ramsrule.com/herd/read.php?4,1111231,1111478#msg-1111478It was magical however with everyone anticipating the fire fall event.
Yosemite is such a special place. Anyone that has never experienced it really should. Crowds or not.]]> ClstRam Bucky's PubMon, 26 Aug 2024 23:18:09 -0400 https://ramsrule.com/herd/read.php?4,1111231,1111398#msg-1111398 https://ramsrule.com/herd/read.php?4,1111231,1111398#msg-1111398
I have met people today who remember that. I never did hear the origin of yelling "Elmer".... I think every campsite had their own version of the tradition. My family believed it came from the early 1900's when a mother roamed the valley one night searching for her lost son - "Elmer".]]> JamesJM Bucky's PubMon, 26 Aug 2024 17:20:21 -0400 https://ramsrule.com/herd/read.php?4,1111231,1111396#msg-1111396 https://ramsrule.com/herd/read.php?4,1111231,1111396#msg-1111396
For those who don't know..... The Yosemite Firefall took place during the summer when a large bonfire would be pushed over the edge of Glacier Point (mountain overlooking Yosemite Valley) and fall 3,000' to joy of everyone in the valley. They stopped it in, I think, 1968? I was crushed.

That photo above in my backpacking post was taken from atop Glacier Point.

Every night from Camp Curry, (bottom of Glacier Point), the Firefall would begin thusly:

Camp Curry: Hello, Glacier Point.
Glacier Point: Hello, Camp Curry.
Camp Curry: Is the fire ready?
Glacier Point: The fire is ready.
Camp Curry: Let the fire fall.
Glacier Point: The fire falls.

That would be two workers yelling to each other - one on top of Glacier Point and the other 3,000' below in Camp Curry. And ClstRAM is right.... today when I tell people about it they don't believe me. :laughing

[attachment 11878 Firefall.jpeg]]]> JamesJM Bucky's PubMon, 26 Aug 2024 17:10:19 -0400 https://ramsrule.com/herd/read.php?4,1111231,1111347#msg-1111347 https://ramsrule.com/herd/read.php?4,1111231,1111347#msg-1111347Do you remember when the park service would have a bon fire at the top of the Yosemite Valley and have a dozer push it over for the enjoyment of the campers?
I tell people about that and get some most skeptical looks.
It was quite impressive as a 12 year old.
A different time.]]> ClstRam Bucky's PubMon, 26 Aug 2024 14:17:48 -0400 https://ramsrule.com/herd/read.php?4,1111231,1111269#msg-1111269 https://ramsrule.com/herd/read.php?4,1111231,1111269#msg-1111269 sstrams Bucky's PubMon, 26 Aug 2024 07:17:24 -0400 https://ramsrule.com/herd/read.php?4,1111231,1111231#msg-1111231 https://ramsrule.com/herd/read.php?4,1111231,1111231#msg-1111231
The actual first step on the trail is just off the photo on the lower left. You hike over the lower waterfall, (Vernal Falls), then across the top of the upper waterfall (Nevada Falls middle of the photo). The trail then proceeds to the left, (north), and out of the photo. Then it heads east for a ways and finally turns south headed to Mt. Whitney - the end of the John Muir Trail. The trail is headed south just beyond the tallest mountain you can see in this background of this photo (My. Lyell). I took a side trip off the John Muir Trail to climb Mt Lyell and NO... it's not like ropes and stuff... you can hike up it but it's not for the light-hearted. Quite dangerous in places.

About that lowest Waterfall... Vernal Falls. I carried, on my back, all three of my kids and then all 7 of the grandkids to the top of it. (at separate times. :laughing ) It's called the 'mist trail' and depending on the time of year you hike it you'll get soaked.

I've also hiked several other trails in this photo... all the canyons and been atop nearly all, not quite all, of the peaks.

If there is anything I wish I was still capable of it would be backpacking, and visiting these locations in the Sierra Nevada Mountain... not sports, not even my 'dating days' although that would be close. :laughing I can still reach some places... top of both of these falls for example, the long treks and the highest peaks... well, those will have to remain memories. - JamesJM


[attachment 11861 JMTStartcopy.jpeg]]]> JamesJM Bucky's PubMon, 26 Aug 2024 01:07:51 -0400