Day 4- Hetch Hetchy

8/8/14  The last day took us down Tiltill Valley and back to Hetch Hetchy. It also included getting lost for a couple hours and running dangerously low on water, which just made for an even better experience!
DSC00491 Morning view through the tent sunroof. The night ended-up being perfect to have the rainfly off.
Morning view through the tent sunroof. The night ended-up being perfect to have the rainfly off.
DSC00493 Sunrise creeping down Tiltill Valley.
Sunrise creeping down Tiltill Valley.
DSC00494 A little later in the morning.
A little later in the morning.
DSC00498 Panorama view of upper Tiltill in the morning.
Panorama view of upper Tiltill in the morning.
DSC00503 Looking out towards Hetch Hetchy in the distance from our excellent camping perch.
Looking out towards Hetch Hetchy in the distance from our excellent camping perch.
DSC00506 Some nice singletrack as we head down to the valley floor.
Some nice singletrack as we head down to the valley floor.
DSC00507 Almost down to the floor.
Almost down to the floor.
DSC00509 Dad trying to prevent an avalanche.
Dad trying to prevent an avalanche.
DSC00516 The Tiltill Valley floor. A massive meadow that's still plenty green even in this incredibly dry year.
The Tiltill Valley floor. A massive meadow that's still plenty green even in this incredibly dry year.
DSC00518 A very faint trail amidst waist high grasses is all we have to follow as we head West down the valley.
A very faint trail amidst waist high grasses is all we have to follow as we head West down the valley.
DSC00520 I'm all for overgrown trail, but this is getting out of hand. It's complete bushwhacking. Is it really even the trail??
I'm all for overgrown trail, but this is getting out of hand. It's complete bushwhacking. Is it really even the trail??
DSC00530 Probably the biggest, and most perfectly formed, dandelion I have ever seen.
Probably the biggest, and most perfectly formed, dandelion I have ever seen.
DSC00529 Nearing the end of the valley. The trail is completely gone and something definitely doesn't seem right. The trail hasn't been heavily used or well maintained...
Nearing the end of the valley. The trail is completely gone and something definitely doesn't seem right. The trail hasn't been heavily used or well maintained…
DSC00532 Heading back up the valley. At least it's a beautiful view. We finally realized that we had somehow got on the Vernon Lake trail, which meant there must be a...
Heading back up the valley. At least it's a beautiful view. We finally realized that we had somehow got on the Vernon Lake trail, which meant there must be a…
DSC00533 Found it! The Lake Vernon
Found it! The Lake Vernon "trail" is on the left, barely visible. As you can see, the trail from Wilmer Lake on the right is completely gone. No wonder we…
DSC00536 Now back on the real trail heading down the switchbacks to Hetch Hetchy.
Now back on the real trail heading down the switchbacks to Hetch Hetchy.
DSC00539 We didn't have much tree fall on the trail, but when we did, it sure wasn't easy to traverse with the packs on. Not far from here, we saw our first humans in...
We didn't have much tree fall on the trail, but when we did, it sure wasn't easy to traverse with the packs on. Not far from here, we saw our first humans in…
DSC00540 First views of the lake below.
First views of the lake below.
DSC00542 Ranchiera Falls. A roaring cascades in the Spring and a popular day hiking destination. Not much left now. At this point, we are just about out of water though....
Ranchiera Falls. A roaring cascades in the Spring and a popular day hiking destination. Not much left now. At this point, we are just about out of water though.…
DSC00544 So much water so close but yet so far. If Tiltill Creek is dry, we could be in some serious dehydration trouble.
So much water so close but yet so far. If Tiltill Creek is dry, we could be in some serious dehydration trouble.