Saturday, April 20, 2019

Hiking Chilnualna Falls Trail, Yosemite

In the morning, we decided to try eating breakfast at our Best Western Plus in Mariposa. However, we were not very impressed when we explored the dining options available. Besides cold cereal and scrambled eggs, there was not much to tempt us to stay.


Instead, we decided to try the Pony Expresso Coffee House, a mile away (still in Mariposa). I selected hot oatmeal with cranberries, while Inna and Alex picked bagels and croissants. The hot green tea was delicious, and Inna was really impressed by the croissant. We also purchased a few items for lunch on our hike, including a vegetarian egg frittata (for me) and a few more bagels for Alex and Inna.


After breakfast, we met with our friends and continued to the Chilnualna Falls trailhead in Wawona (Yosemite National Park). They drove relatively short - about one hour - on Highway 49 and 41.


Once we parked our cars, we put on our hiking shoes and started the long, uphill hike. The hike started on the lower Chilnualna Falls and continued upwards for 3.8 miles to the upper Chilnualna Falls. Along the way, we ran into many hikers (and even a tiny dog).


When we reached the upper Chilnualna Falls, we rested for 15 minutes while eating our lunch. I enjoyed the Egg Frittata while Inna and Alex pounced on their bagels. We were tired from the continuous upward hike.


When it was time to return, we packed our belongings and started the shorter descent. Inna's knee began to hurt, and she had to slow down a few times (when the pain became too intense). She slipped and fell on one of the steeper descents, hurting her right side.


Nevertheless, we made it down to our car in a reasonable time. Strava said our Chilnualna Falls hike was 7.6 miles long with an elevation gain of 2089 feet. It took us 4:15 to complete it.




Since Inna was tired, we visited the Yosemite Valley to take additional photos of the spectacular waterfalls.


Before our drive there, we stopped by a nearby General Store for a Haagen-Daz Green Tea ice cream snack. It was a delicious treat after our long, tiring hike.


We returned to Yosemite Valley in about an hour to take photos of the Valley and the Bridalveil waterfalls.


After taking many photos of waterfalls and the roaming deer, we returned to Mariposa to eat dinner there (as we did not relish eating anywhere in Yosemite Valley).


Completing our return to Mariposa, we stopped by at 1850 Restaurant, which seemed very busy. We added our names to the list and were promised a table in about 40 minutes. We returned to the restaurant at 8:30 and sat at an indoor table.


For appetizers, we decided to share a Bavarian Pretzel. While it did not look like a Bavarian Pretzel (I have eaten Bavarian Pretzels in Munich), it tasted sufficiently close, especially with the mustard provided.


Besides hot tea, we tried a bottle of Sierra Cider's Early Harvest Hard Apple Cider (semi-sweet) for our drinks. It was locally made in Mariposa and tasted refreshingly delicious. I hope to find a bottle in San Jose.


I decided to try the "Salmon Salad" for entrees, as I wanted to eat something relatively light and easy to digest. Inna tried the highly recommended "Seafood Pasta," while Alex selected the "Tri-Tip Steak with Mashed Potatoes."


We enjoyed our dinner, though the entrees were very slow to come (due to a considerable party ahead of us). Our waitress was amiable and offered us a free appetizer and some free Apple Cider for our inconvenience. This was a lovely gesture. I don't recall any other restaurant being so considerate!

After dinner, we returned to our Best Western Plus to prepare for another day of hiking.


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