May 16 - Mirror Lake, etc (Yosemite National Park)

Another sunny day forecast and today I'm going back into the Park for basically one reason: Mirror Lake.

I arrive just after 7am and park in Lot 1 as yesterday. I had a far greater selection parking spots and choose one so I can easily find it.

I board the bus and I'm off at Stop 3 Ahwahnee Hotel. The driver was surprised anyone was getting off but that's the best place to start the hike (unless you ignore the Restricted signs on the road to Mirror Lake and drive anyway like 2 ladies I met and several other cars up there. Hoof it folks!!)

I go inside the hotel to ask for directions. Of course it's been detoured do to construction (and a rock slide) and the signs are confusing but I follow the yellow tape until it dead-ends at a trail and a waterfall. The trail is closed but I, like others have, scramble up to get a view of the waterfall. 

Then I'm off on the Valley trail thru the woods. Not too interesting in the woods other than the huge rocks and boulders everywhere.

I finally make it to the point where I can choose the trail or the bike road to Mirror Lake; at least for now, I choose the woods. But all good things come to the end and I end up taking the road for over 0.5 mile. It's along a roaring river.

I follow the river to the "lagoon" where there is a reflection.

No reflection of Half Dome; there's not enough water.

I follow the trail around to the actual lake; well more so a pond. For some reason, it looks like it not as full as it once was. Strange because there's still a lot of snow in the upper elevations.

This is where I met those ladies (cheaters) but I can say I agree with them that things are not marked very well here. Said that to myself yesterday and I'm glad I'm not the only person.

I can go on another 1.6 miles and 2 miles back to Mirror Lake but I'm good. I read on Alltrails that at some point around the lake it's a swamp - no for me. So I turn and start back. The mosquitoes are bad on the return - I'm waving my hat most of the way back.

Back at the hotel, I arrive at the shuttle stop just after a big drop-off. There's a few ladies looking for the trail and I direct them as best I can. (Hoping they find it.) They also confirm "poor signage" as well as another lady/guy. Makes me feel so good.

I board the shuttle with the intent of just circling around but I decide to stop at Lower Falls and try and get a shot of the Upper and Lower Falls that I saw from the road driving in. At the stop I cross the street and head for the bridge. I see a Western Swallowtail and it stops - my 1st butterfly photo of the trip!!

I also have the bridge all to myself - amazing!

At the other side, I walk looking for that shot but I settle. Maybe this is it. (But it wasn't, I should have gone farther down the trail.)

Back at the bridge I stop for a granola bar and to check the muddy spots. And I find Spring Azures puddling and 1 Acmon Blue!

I check the other puddles and either find Azures or nothing. But a win - 3 species of butterflies at this stop!

I think about walking to lower Falls as I saw some Anglewings yesterday but my legs are gone so it's back to the bus.

I get off on #9 and look for climber (including the guys from yesterday). I'm not sure if they are there but I do find 2 guys on the wall.

Then it's back to the bus and circle around to Stop 2 to grab a cheeseburger and fries (not bad for $11). Then I walk back to Stop 1, find my car and I'm off.

On the way in I see a car head up Tioga Road so I head up. (Asked an info lady and she says it's only open until Tuolomne Grove). And she's right! But now I got somewhere to go to kill time after Hetchy Hetch tomorrow. Yea! And I also have Merced Grove as well.

That's all for Yosemite Valley. I had a good time but I rate it like Zion and Arches; once it enough. It's too touristy.

Onto Carlon Falls (for real)!

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