Royal Arch Lake Trail • Hike • California • All Triplogs • HikeArizona.COM

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Jun 21 2013

John9L

Guides 6
Routes 183
Photos 5,612
Triplogs 1,647

male

Joined Mar 12 2004
Scottsdale, AZ

Buena Vista Peak from Chilnualna Falls, CA

Backpack		Jun 21 2013
		John9L • Triplogs 1,647

Backpack	30.51 Miles	7,070 AEG

Backpack	30.51 Miles	3 Days
	7,070 ft AEG

Linked

linked

Chilnualna Falls

Royal Arch Lake Trail

Buena Vista Peak

Lower Chilnualna Falls

Buena Vista Crest

Partners

partners

chumley

Another wonderful trip to my favorite place on earth…Yosemite National Park! We spent three days and two nights completing a 30+ mile lasso loop. We camped in two prime locations and enjoyed a small fire each night. The highlight was scrambling to the top of Buena Vista Peak where the views were jaw dropping! We also had two bear encounters that were a thrill!

I wanted to do a short tune up backpack in preparation for a trip I have planned later this summer. I ran my plan by Chumley and he was game. We rented a car and left after work on Thursday. We arrived at a KOA in Coarsegold, CA around 2am and quickly turned in for the night. The plan was to wake early and drive into the park where we would get our permit and then start a lasso loop from Chilnualna Falls. We would complete our trip on Sunday and then make the return to Phoenix.

Day 1 - Friday June 21, 2013
Our day started at the Wawona Backcountry Office. We met with the ranger and he went over all the rules and made a recommendation for our first’s night’s camp. From there we drove over to the Chilnualna Falls trailhead and we were off. The trail immediately starts gaining elevation and it doesn’t let up. We grinded up the trail and stopped to catch our breath and take pics. There are some nice views of Wawona Dome and the falls along the way. Eventually we reached the top of the falls and took a break where again we took lots of pics and rested up. We continued on and the trail keeps gaining elevation. Our original goal was Grouse Lake (8 miles) but the ranger said we should push all the way to Royal Arch Lake (12+ miles). Luckily there were several lakes (Grouse, Crescent & Johnson) along the way and we took a short break at the latter two. We finally reached Royal Arch Lake, which was stunning, around 5pm and were glad to be done. We found a prime campsite that included a fire ring. We noticed the mosquitos right away. They were abundant and we knew they were going to be a pest. We then set up camp and gathered fire wood and settled in for the evening. The fire helped keep the mosquitos away. The temps were brisk but enjoyable especially with the fire.

Day 2 – Saturday June 22, 2013
We both woke relatively late for a backpacking trip and had a lazy morning in camp where we cooked breakfast and slowly prepared for the day. The plan was to summit Buena Vista Peak and then head west where we would hope to find a solid campsite for our second night. We started hiking and once again found ourselves gaining elevation as we ascended towards Buena Vista Pass. The going is relatively easy as it’s a mild grade up but we were hiking at 9,000 feet and our lungs could feel it. After an hour we reached the pass and took a short break. We dropped the bear canister and Chumley hung his pack. We didn’t want to haul everything to the summit just to return later.

From the pass, we went off trail towards Buena Vista Peak. We thought it was going to be a simple walk to the summit but we were wrong. The granite has exfoliated where it breaks apart forming a coarse path one needs to hop and scramble over, around and through. The going was slow but the views were magnificent. It took us a little under an hour to reach the summit and we were just blown away by the views. Yosemite is such an amazing place and I could sit in awe for hours soaking it in! Half Dome, Mount Starr King and Mount Hoffman loom to the north. Mount Clark, Grey Mountain and Red Peak dominate to the east. Our route the prior day past Crescent Lake and Johnson Lake is obvious to the south. I could have spent all day sitting here admiring!

Eventually we returned to Buena Vista Pass and continued heading north and then turning to the west. We stopped at Buena Vista Lake where we had an excellent view of the lake and the peak. It was hard to believe we were up there an hour earlier. From there we continued west as the trail dropped in elevation for the next few miles. While making the hike Chumley was up ahead and stopped and made a pointing signal. A large black bear we estimated weighed 400-500 lbs was just up ahead. I could clearly see it and man was it big! We both admired and took pics of it. It didn’t see us for a minute or two. As soon as it did see us it turned and ran a couple hundred yards and then stopped to look back at us. I took a couple more pics and then we bolted down the trail. It was a thrill seeing a bear in its natural habitat! From there we continued and reached a trail junction near a creek and found a nice campsite with a fire ring. We settled in for the night and enjoyed a small campfire once again. It really made for a nice evening.

Day 3 – Sunday June 23, 2013
The plan was to complete the hike back to the trailhead (about 8 miles) and then return to Phoenix. We both woke fairly early and had breakfast and then broke camp down. We started hiking shortly after 8am. We were only about 15 minutes up the trail when we heard a loud rustle up ahead and then we see another bear take off into the forest! It was another large black bear and I didn’t have time to take a pic. It was crazy fast for its size. There is no way to outrun a bear. The animal can really move!

The rest of the hike out was fairly uneventful. At one point we passed a ranger on horseback and had a five minute conversation with her. We were both surprised she didn’t ask to see our permit. From there we continued and reached the top of Chilnualna Falls and took a few more pics and then proceeded down the trail. As we neared the bottom we passed a bunch of day hikers starting their hike. We arrived back at the car around 11am. From there we made a quick stop at Wawona and then started the long drive back to Phoenix. I was home a little after 10pm.

We really crammed a lot in a short time. The entire trip flew by and was a blur. The good thing is I am just about ready for my trip this summer. It’s going to be epic! And thanks Chumley for coming along for this one. He did most of the driving and I’m very grateful for that! For anyone thinking about going to Yosemite now is the time! The park is spectacular and doesn’t disappoint! I started planning this trip three weeks prior and everything went flawlessly! I can’t wait to get back!

Flora

Flora [ checklist ]

[ checklist ] Sugar pine

Fauna

Fauna [ checklist ]

[ checklist ] Black Bear Marmot (Yellow-Bellied)

Geology

Geology [ checklist ]

[ checklist ] Granite

Culture

Culture [ checklist ]

[ checklist ] Cag Shot Camp-fire Campsite

Named place

Named place [ checklist ]

[ checklist ] Buena Vista Lake Buena Vista Pass Buena Vista Peak Chilnualna Creek Chilnualna Fall Crescent Lake Gray Peak Half Dome Johnson Lake Merced Peak Mount Clark Mount Hoffmann Mount Starr King Red Peak Royal Arch Lake Wawona Dome Yosemite National Park

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Jun 21 2013

chumley

Guides 94
Routes 840
Photos 22,055
Triplogs 1,993

52 male

Joined Sep 18 2002
Tempe, AZ

Buena Vista Peak from Chilnualna Falls, CA

Backpack		Jun 21 2013
		chumley • Triplogs 1,993

Backpack	29.97 Miles	7,351 AEG

Backpack	29.97 Miles	3 Days
	7,351 ft AEG		30 LBS Pack

Linked

linked

Chilnualna Falls

Royal Arch Lake Trail

Buena Vista Peak

Lower Chilnualna Falls

Partners

partners

John9L

9L forced me to do this. Apparently I'm a good sport, and don't think driving 10 hours for a weekend trip is a bad idea. We made out well on that front though, renting a car for a whopping $68 for four days. Then we racked up over 1,300 miles on it, while somehow logging over 30mpg and with a nearly impossible average speed of 81 on the way home. (The trip computer includes the city driving around the gas station too. That hour between Indio and Blythe where we followed 3 cars doing 95+ didn't hurt.)

Yeah so anyway, I knew the hike was gonna kick my butt. The plan was to do about 10 miles the first day, and it's a solid, unrelenting climb gaining about 4,500 feet. After the long drive in I managed about 4 hours of sleep, so at least I was rested and full of energy! Not. I actually did ok, though toward the end I definitely slowed on the steeper ascents.

We ended up going a couple of extra miles on the recommendation of the BCO ranger to get to the scenic Royal Arch Lake. It's a beautiful spot, but I went through my entire allotment of deet trying to keep the mosquitos at bay. The next morning resulted in what might have been the most miserable wilderness restroom experience of my life. Doing one thing while protecting exposed valuables from a swarm of biting insects is a hell of a way to start your day

I swear I would consider finding a container and doing this inside my tent next time!

Mosquito misery aside, once hiking they were not a problem, so we headed up to the goal of BV Peak. The trail crosses a pass about half a mile below the peak, and to gain the peak itself is a tiresome scramble up a messy field of granite boulders. This is no smooth dome! But the resulting views are phenomenal! An absolute highlight and one that makes you easily forget the mosquitos!

With many miles to go, we forced ourselves to leave the peak and head down to BV Lake. This is the crown jewel lake along this loop and I could easily camp here for a couple of days. The mosquitos were much less troublesome here as well. As we headed back down the trail, and into some of the more wooded alpine meadow areas, we happened upon a foraging bear. Apparently bears don't have the sense of smell everybody tells me they do, because after two days out there, my socks alone should have given off a scent he could pick up from a mile away. As it was, we got to about 50 feet of him and just observed quietly for a minute or two. Finally something tipped him off and he looked up at us. After about 3-seconds of eye contact, he bolted away.

That night we found a good camp site near a trail junction along C-creek and got a better night sleep. Mosquitos were mildly irritating, but nothing like the night before.

Sunday we headed out, knowing we had 8-miles of hiking ahead of our long drive home. About 15-minutes into the hike we spooked another bear. Didn't see this one until he jumped up about 20-feet from us and ran away. Another huge (500lbs) bear, and I'm still stunned at how fast something that size can move

.

On our way out we met a NPS LEO ranger on horseback and had a nice chat with her. (She was packing a pistol, pepper spray, a taser, and handcuffs.) Must be some crazy people out there! Upon hearing we had stayed at Royal Arch Lake, she immediately asked about mosquitos, so apparently that's a fairly known thing there. She also mentioned that Buck Camp was also a mosquito haven. We made great time down hill, got to the car and made the trip home in really, really good time.

This is probably comparable to the Grand Canyon's Hermit Trail. Once you get past the first couple of miles where day hikers go, you will only see a couple of other groups of hikers all weekend. A definite plus for prime season in an amazing place like Yosemite!

Flora

Flora [ checklist ]

[ checklist ] Snow Plant

Fauna

Fauna [ checklist ]

[ checklist ] Rainbow Trout

Culture

Culture [ checklist ]

[ checklist ] Benchmark Cag Shot Camp-fire Campsite HAZ Food HAZ Rides Snowman Trail Signs and Markings

Named place

Named place [ checklist ]

[ checklist ] Buena Vista Peak Chilnualna Fall Crescent Lake Johnson Lake Royal Arch Lake

Wildflowers Observation Light

76-100% full

Medium flow

Medium flow

76-100% full

76-100% full

76-100% full

76-100% full

76-100% full

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I'm not sure what my spirit animal is, but I'm confident it has rabies.

WARNING! Hiking and outdoor related sports can be dangerous. Be responsible and prepare for the trip. Study the area you are entering and plan accordingly. Dress for the current and unexpected weather changes. Take plenty of water. Never go alone. Make an itinerary with your plan(s), route(s), destination(s) and expected return time. Give your itinerary to trusted family and/or friends.

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