It was peaceful during the night in Matterhorn Canyon at 9800 feet. I woke once full of nervous energy and could not return to sleep until I did 20 pushups. Bob had said he wanted to sleep in a little and yet here he was again, making wake-up noises at 5:07. I roused myself and we were out of camp by 7.
Matterhorn Canyon
It’s about 5 miles to the bottom of Matterhorn Canyon. We are going to walk straight down it. We will be hopping back and forth across Matterhorn Creek as we go.
This is one of the more beautiful canyons I have ever been in. I take one last look at Burro Pass.
Some people we met yesterday mentioned a new fire nearby. This morning you can see the reddish haze on the sky above it.
The farther we drop down this canyon, the more it opens up. We are gradually descending to the junction with the PCT. I look forward to my old friend again.
PCT
And then it is right there in front of us.
Go right and the trail leads to Benson Lake. Go left and it leads to Tuolumne meadows. We go left…smack into a 1200 foot climb with grades at times exceeding 20% (anything over 8% is strenuous). Halfway up I turn back, like Lot’s wife, to admire the view.
Since I am already a salty pillar of sweat, I am spared any further reprisals. Almost at the top, the mountain comes down to meet me.
At 9470 feet, this is Miller Lake.
The next picture shows a feature of Yosemite that is really difficult to capture except in video. These large sheets of granite are actually covered in sheets of flowing water no more than a few inches deep. I will pass near many of these gorgeous watercourses tomorrow on my way to Tuolumne. Hopefully I will capture it better then.
Non-sequiturs
I have convinced myself that skill at creek crossing is primarily mental – all it takes is confidence. Pick a path and then walk it with purpose. Don’t pause. And definitely don’t hover indecisively while trying to maintain your balance.
So at the crossing of a small stream, I lose my focus and slip off a rock into ankle deep water. The other foot soon follows as I scramble up on the bank.
I hear Bob’s voice on the bank behind me. “That wasn’t very encouraging!” See what I have to put up with out here.
One way trees survive fire is by insulation. The bark on this fallen tree is over 6 inches thick. You can see chunks of bark to the left and right of my pole handles.
Near camp it’s more high mountain prairie. The silence in these high places is startling.
These places existed millions of years before humans made their tracks in them. They will exist long after our tracks have disappeared. However, our significance is not diminished. Make every day count. Don’t let the human legacy be an embarrassment.
Trail on right of prairie
September 1, 2025
Miles hiked today: 16