Hetch Hetchy BCM Course Area Guide Backcountry Trip Code ________________________ Team Leader ________________________ Table of Contents Trail Summary ...................................................... 3 Trail Information .............................................................. 3 Trail Description .............................................................. 4 Route Description............................................................ 5 Trail Distances ................................................................ 5 Trail Elevation Profile ...................................................... 5 Map ....................................................................... 6 Key to Trail Map.................................................... 8 Camp Site Information .................................................... 8 Map Legend .................................................................... 9 Hazards ........................................................................... 9 Recommended Destinations ......................................... 10 Fishing ........................................................................... 10 Summits ........................................................................ 11 Daily Outline ....................................................... 12 Curriculum Checklist ........................................... 13 Team Leader Recommendations ....................... 14 Team Leader Comments .............................................. 14 Team Leader Feedback Form ...................................... 15 Emergency Information ....................................... 16 BCM Phone Numbers ......................................... 16 2 Trail Information Trailhead Name: Beehive Meadows Trailhead (Rancheria Falls) Trailhead Camp: Hetch Hetchy Campground Permit (Expiration): PWA-YOSE-5300-10-328 (2010) Permit Pick-Up: Special Use Permit is provided in the Trip Binder. Team Leaders: Copies of your CPR/WFR cards need to be available upon request. Wilderness Permit: Wilderness Permit Control information is in your binder. Permit Pick-Up: Go to any of the Ranger Stations listed in binder. Please have a printed permit confirmation letter with you (it will be in your binder). Trail Name(s): Rancheria Falls Trail Beehive Meadows Trail Type of Trail: Loop (Lake Vernon) Mileage: 15.9 miles Alternate Routes: Frog Creek/Miguel Meadows Loop Alternate Mileage: 20.9 miles Trail Location: Yosemite National Park Yosemite Wilderness Maps: BCM provides USGS &Trails Illustrated Maps: T.I. #307 (Yosemite NW/Hetch Hetchy) Flora/Fauna: The Laws Field Guide to the Sierra Nevada Sierra Birds: A Hiker's Guide by John Muir Laws Weather Trends: Average High 90°F / Average Low 53°F 3 Trail Description The trails leaving Hetch Hetchy Reservoir are only appropriate for the early season, because of the hot summer weather in the area. Hiking in California is dry and fast. Beautiful granite slabs make for an easier terrain, great picnic areas and flat, smooth campsites. Expect to hike through pine forests and fields of Manzanita brush. Manzanita, which literally means "little apple" in Spanish, is charac- terized by orange or red bark and twisting branches. Sometimes Manzanita grow to the height of small trees. The mountain ranges of California are known for their excellent light quality, referred to as alpenglow. When the sun is just below the horizon, a red glow can sometimes be seen on the opposite horizon. Look for alpenglow after sunset or before sunrise, when there is no direct sunlight. Instead, light reflects off airborne snow, water, or ice particles low in the atmosphere. At any time of day, the views above tree line are stunning. During wildflower season, late spring through early summer, expect lots of lupins, paintbrush, columbine, and California poppies. Watch for marmots and pikas--they are everywhere. Lake Vernon and Laurel Lakes are both worthwhile destinations. The area along Moraine Ridge is pretty and has lots of water for dip- ping and cooling off. You could summit a peak along the Moraine Ridge. 4 Route Description Overview From Hetch Hetchy Reservoir head east along the reservoir for a 21 -mile loop with about 3,000 feet of elevation gain between Rancheria Falls and Lake Vernon. Do a midday summit of Mount Gibson, or wait for an easier summit above Laurel Lake. Details Hiking east to Rancheria Falls makes for a nice, fairly easy, flat first day of backpacking. The majority of the elevation gain is between Rancheria Falls and the Mount Gibson drainage. Break up the ele- vation gain by camping at Tiltill Valley. On summit day, backpack from Tiltill Valley to the Mount Gibson drainage. Drop packs and hike to Mount Gibson for lunch. Camp at the drainage or continue to Lake Vernon for a nicer camping area. This is a long summit day, so be prepared. Return to Hetch Hetchy via Beehive Meadows. There is no layover day on this 21-mile loop. If summiting Mount Gibson makes for too long of a day, hiking to a peak above Laurel Lake (the next day) is a good alternative. These peaks are lower, but the views and Laurel Lake are nice. If you plan to summit above Laurel Lake, hike directly from Tiltill Valley to Lake Vernon. The next day, hike from Lake Vernon to Beehive Meadows, drop packs, and day hike to Laurel Lake and summit a peak. Camp near Beehive Meadows. Trailhead to Rancheria-1: 5 miles Tiltill-2 to Creek-3: 3.7 miles Tiltill-2 to Lake Vernon-4: 5 miles Lake Vernon-4 to Drainage-6: 3.5 miles Drainage-6 to Trailhead: 4.6 miles Trail Elevation Profile* Elevation Gain: Min. Elevation: Elevation Loss: Max. Elevation: * The elevation details and corresponding graphic pertain to the main route only—not alternate routes. 5 6 7 Camp Site Information Favorites 2- Tiltill Valley - UTM 263113E 4206477N 4- Lake Vernon- UTM 260475E 4210535N 6-Drainage- UTM 255617E 4208487N Good Alternative 1- Rancheria- UTM 261395E 4204330N 3- Creek- UTM 260966E 4208975N 5- Beehive Meadows- UTM 256201E 4209132N 7- Pond- UTM 255265E 4207419N 8- Laurel Lake- UTM 255050E 4209050N Not Recommended No information is available. Feedback is appreciated! Refer to trail map for corresponding numbered campsites. 8 Map Legend Campsites (Not all sites are recommended.) Kitchen area Reported Water Source (River, Pond, Creek, Spring) Portages Point of Interest Hazards Fishing Main Route --- Alternate Routes Points of Interest No information is available. Feedback is appreciated! Fishing No information is available. Feedback is appreciated! Refer to trail map for corresponding hazards. 9 Hazards The biggest hazards are afternoon storms and the public. Keep hy- drated, wear sunscreen, and be self-aware, taking care of problems immediately. Sprains, strains, blisters, and river crossings are all possible hazards. Animals • Black bears are common; especially in camp- grounds. • Rattlesnakes are uncommon though present. • Bees, wasps, and spiders are all possible hazards. • Animals are wild. Do not approach any animal. Poisonous • Poison Oak Plants Weather • Can be hot an dry. Keep hydrated! Hazards Lightning • No information is available. Feedback is appreciated! Exposures No Water • No information is available. Feedback is appreciated! Between Scree • No information is available. Feedback is appreciated! Slopes Refer to trail map for corresponding locations. 10 Summit Neither of the summit options are exceptional, but accomplishing a summit is important to the teens. MOUNT GIBSON- UTM 262878E 4209060N The hike to Mount Gibson is completely tree-covered, but there is an opening in the trees at the top allowing for nice views of the Tiltill Creek Valley. PEAK ABOVE LAUREL LAKE- UTM 253452E 4209567N The summit above Laurel Lake will hopefully have views of Eleanor Lake and Laurel Lake. Laurel Lake in itself a nice visit. Hetch Hetchy Reservoir Refer to trail map for corresponding locations. 11 Area History These trails travel through national forest and a wilderness area, both public lands, owned by the federal U.S. government and pro- tected from private commerical development, but for different pur- poses. The initial and continued mission of the National Forest Ser- vice, established in 1905 (within the Department of Agriculture), is: "...the greatest good of the greatest number of people in the long run.” Focused on conservation, timber and mineral deposits are managed in a manner similar to agriculture or farmed crops. Wilderness Areas were established with preservation in mind. The Congressional Wilderness Act of 1964 was approved to “secure for the American people of present and future generations the benefits of an enduring resource of wilderness.” As such, Wilderness desig- nation protects the area from roads, logging, oil and gas drilling, and any commercial enterprises. In part, to retain the quiet, motorized and mechanical vehicles and motorized equipment are not allowed. Local Environment The Sierra Nevada Mountains are an uplifted, tilted block of granite 400 miles long by 100 miles wide; the result of fault-line tectonic plate activity. Subsequent erosion, due to streams and glaciers, carved out U-shaped valleys, lakes, rugged peaks and cliffs. Sedi- ment fills lakes creating meadows. There are several threats to the natural condition of the Sierras: air pollution, light pollution, and global warming, evident in the thinning snowpacks. Stray light, particularly from San Joaquin Valley, bright- ens the night sky. Darkness allows vistors views of the stars, while nocturnal animals depend on darkness to hunt, conceal their