Hetch hetchy, Yosemite's lost valley

[lancegranite]

Has anyone climbed in this controversial valley?

The Hetch Hetchy valley lies inside Yosemite NP, but was flooded in the early part of the century for San Francisco's drinking water.

Galen Rowell wrote of climbing Wapama rock, in 1969.

this is the only account of climbing I have found so far...

 

It's wild that there is another Yosemite valley, with climbs that would fit right in next to the famous cousins to the north. one that was filled with virgin meadows of flowers 3 feet tall and waterfalls that were equal of Vernal falls.

John Muir fought the construction of the dam up to the time of his death. The dam was built the same year.

Activists have been fighting the dam ever since.

[cj001f]

lancegranite said:

Has anyone climbed in this controversial valley?

The Hetch Hetchy valley lies inside Yosemite NP, but was flooded in the early part of the century for San Francisco's drinking water.

Galen Rowell wrote of climbing Wapama rock, in 1969.

this is the only account of climbing I have found so far...

There's routes listed in the Roper's Climber's Guide to the High Sierra, as well as some accounts in the AAJ. Harding did one.

 

It's been discussed here before. Search.

 

I find the irony of eco-friendly San Francisco being vehemently opposed to even considering alternate water sources than Hetch-Hetchy amusing.

[lancegranite]

Sad that the water projects that allowed for the real expansion of the west came at such a cost to the land.

Water is our most valuable resourse.

Lake Mead is like 50 FEET low right now.

So much for buying a sailboat...

[Off_White]

I would guess that the place needs folks from up here to go develop routes. I'll wager the cracks are all filled with grass and such, bush is not beaten in submission, and all that stuff that was true of Yosemite routes in days of yore. Of course, all that water complicates access a little too, and I doubt you have more than game trails to work with. Even if they were to drain the lake, I think it would be sorta yucky for a long time, silt all over stuff, no trees. I think Hetch Hetchy needs someone with a poet's vision, and you're just the guy Lance. Post some photos of the work in progress, okay?

[cj001f]

lancegranite said:

Lake Mead is like 50 FEET low right now.

So much for buying a sailboat...

And then there's Lake Fowell.

[lancegranite]

I'm dressing up like John Muir right now...

[Norman_Clyde]

Here's a photo for inspiration.

Hetch Hetchy before the dam

But it looks like someone beat me to it.

Edited December 12, 2003 by Norman_Clyde

[ScottP]

 

There are before and after photos here.

[willstrickland]

Hetch Hetchy is actually north of the ditch.

 

You don't even have to go that far...top out on a Upper Cathedral, Leaning Tower, or Sentinel route sometime and just look south. There's shit-tons of untouched rock over there, just no quick access like the valley proper. You'd have to hike over a pass somewhere on the south rim, but you'd have a choice of FA plums.

[cj001f]

willstrickland said:just no quick access like the valley proper. You'd have to hike over a pass somewhere on the south rim, but you'd have a choice of FA plums.

You can hike in over the dam - there's a trail running along the North Side.

[Peter_Puget]

At least back in the 80's there was a photo copy guide of some routes. Like the old Nelson guide to the Meadows so maybe I am thinking early 80s.

 

Lance do you really mean the John Muir? Ooops you do.

Edited December 12, 2003 by Peter_Puget

[willstrickland]

cj001f said:

 

You can hike in over the dam - there's a trail running along the North Side.

 

I was referring to access to the sub-valley south of Yos Valley that's visible from the south rim, not access to the HH valley.

[erik]

will or peter or off

 

isn't there a guidebook for that area?? atleast an old one for some of the climbing south of the valley proper....i think micro has one.....

 

 

 

 

[lancegranite]

Peter,

I'm not sure what you mean...

My morning meds are kicking in, so I have good posts and bad posts...

 

L.Granite

PS,If it's about my costume trunk,

yes..

I own many historical climbing outfits.

 

Edited December 12, 2003 by lancegranite

[bunglehead]

That's one purdy valley!

Damn shame it's under (???) feet of water.

[willstrickland]

Erik, I've only see a few topos for some routes over there. I've never seen any guide or anything. Micro should know, or work with someone who knows anyway. Those cats prolly got a secret stash of old school guides and private topos n stuff.

[Off_White]

erik said:

will or peter or off

 

isn't there a guidebook for that area?? atleast an old one for some of the climbing south of the valley proper....i think micro has one.....

 

I don't recall for sure, but there may be some old written descriptions in the dark green Sierra Club Publications Yosemite Guide written by Steve Roper. If so, it would be vague, rudimentary, and very old.

[Thinker]

I have a guide for some rock south of the valley, both in and out of the park, but I've never been able to round up anything for HH.

 

I know the permit system at HH can be a bear because they strictly limit the # of users, primarily to prevent significant impacts to the res (which is one of SF's primary drinking water supplies, as noted previously).

[ScottP]

Off_White said:

erik said:

will or peter or off

 

isn't there a guidebook for that area?? atleast an old one for some of the climbing south of the valley proper....i think micro has one.....

 

I don't recall for sure, but there may be some old written descriptions in the dark green Sierra Club Publications Yosemite Guide written by Steve Roper. If so, it would be vague, rudimentary, and very old.

 

I've seen some stuff in old AAJ's, same adjectives as above.

[nolanr]

It's speculation of course, but some say Muir's heart was broken after he lost the battle for Hetch Hetchy and he died shortly thereafter.

[thelawgoddess]

i've never been out there, but i've heard it's pretty amazing wilderness. hopefully i'll get to see it some day ...

[gapertimmy]

some picts and a tr of a hike i did through the grand canyon of the tuolumne can be found here:

http://www.cascadeclimbers.com/timmy/archives/000113.html

 

i had the pleasure of being able to ride in a boat up the hetch hetchy valley, it is an amazing place.

 

for those interested, required reading on hetch hetchy and for that matter all desert/water realted fun, check out cadillac desert.

 

Edited December 15, 2003 by gapertimmy

[lancegranite]

Thank you for the pictures!

Imagine...

We needed water, then we built a lake just to flush down the toilet.

The country was so much different then.

The perspective of time allows us the luxury of condemming water projects like this.

Just think, we want to tear a dam down just to feel better about ruining a sacred place.

 

PS, The real question on everyone's mind:

You still got the hook up on the moter boat?

 

 

 

 

[catbirdseat]

It could be made sacred again.

 

Typo fixed

Edited December 16, 2003 by catbirdseat

[chelle]

CBS - you could or the HH Valley could?