Yosemite Valley High Water – The 100 Year Flood
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Not too long ago, Yosemite Valley experienced a remarkable wintertime flood resulting from unseasonable warm rains on top of a substantial early snow pack. This easy 2-mile loop introduces visitors to the heart of the valley and seven waypoints that reflect some of Yosemite’s most scenic wonders.
Special Update 8/21/2005
Following recent posts indicating a change in the sign at Waypoint #5, the missing dates you would have found previously are 1959-1963. Please use these to calculate coordinates for Waypoint 6.
Original cache description:
The 100 Year Flood was a once in a lifetime experience. Team Gecko happened to be visiting immediately prior to the flood during their nearly annual winter visit in the valley. The tropical rains began a day or so before our departure. The flood resulted from 10 inches of rain over a 6-day period that melted a substantial portion of the snow pack up to the 11,000 foot elevation level. Some of the resulting damage and changes to the valley and Merced River canyon were extraordinary – at least in human terms. Of course, Yosemite Valley has witnessed many and more dramatic natural events over the millions of years of its formation and sculpting.
To complete this virtual cache, you will walk or bike or ski or snowshoe around a well-marked path in the heart of the valley. Parking is available close to the posted coordinates for Waypoint 1. Best bet is to park just to the east of the new Bus Stop 6. Of course, you may also ride one of the free Yosemite shuttle buses from any of the regular pickup points to this new starting location. At each waypoint, you will find clues that allow you to determine coordinates for the next waypoint. To confirm successful completion of the course, please email your responses to the questions asked about each stop.
Special note: GPS reception in the valley can be variable at times, especially in forested areas and on the south side. Many of these reference coordinates are rounded to nearest .005. The respective waypoints should be reasonably obvious once you are this close to their true positions.
12/20/2004 SPECIAL NOTE for Waypoint 1, Waypoint 7
Based on reports from recent visitors, I checked out the newly restored trailhead area. There is indeed a new set of interpretive signs in a slightly different location so I have updated the posted coordinates for your starting point accordingly. As many others have noted, the original final waypoint was enclosed in a construction area and was subsequently moved. I have updated the calculation that leads you to the new location and final "stop" on your tour. The answer remains the same although the high water sign seems to have gone missing.
Waypoint 1: N37° 44.785, W119° 35.794
Only a few yards from parking, this sign features a historic photo taken about 1890 of the Yosemite Village site when it was home to the largest Miwok village in the valley. What was the name of the village? Hint: It starts with the letter K. Also on the sign, the date the U.S. Army took over this location is noted as 19a6. Please use the number represented by the letter a to compute the next coordinates.
Waypoint 2: N37° 44.45a, W119° 36.a00
This site introduces you to a metal sign on a wooden post of a type that will become familiar to you over the course of your tour. It shows the maximum height of the flood at selected locations. It also shows the corresponding time and date as 11:00 p.m. b/c/9d. As before, you will use the numbers represented by b, c, and d to provide you the information needed to compute later coordinates. At a bearing of 240 degrees magnetic, what is the two-word name given the closest building? Hint: the second word is Center.
Waypoint 3: N37° 44.c10, W119° 36.000
You can follow a bike trail or a riverside path to this location. Here you will be suspended over the famous Merced River, the main watercourse through Yosemite. The damage it caused to valley campgrounds, Yosemite Village, Yosemite Lodge, and the several communities downstream from the park are documented in a popular booklet titled Yosemite: The 100 Year Flood, Movement in Tides. It is available for purchase for $6.00 in the Yosemite Park Visitor Center and the lodge gift shop. At the Waypoint 3 coordinates, you should see a yellow sign that warns against certain behavior. What two activities does it indicate are prohibited? Extra credit: What is the name of this bridge?
Waypoint 4: N37° 44.485, W119° 35.e10 where e = d - c
This is also a flood level sign. It is immediately adjacent to a wooden sign that shows days and times. What regularly scheduled events does the wooden sign announce? How many 1-inch wooden pegs were used to construct it? Hint: all pegs have two ends but not all of these pegs show both ends.
Waypoint 5: N37° 44.495, W119° 35.e20 where e is the same as for Waypoint 4
These coordinates lead you to another informative sign a very short stroll away. It reports on restoration activities not directly associated with this flood. What was previously located here and was moved? The dates of the moves are recorded on this sign as 19f9-19g3.
Special Update 8/21/2005
Following recent posts indicating a change in the sign at Waypoint #5, the missing dates you would have found previously are 1959-1963. Please use these to calculate coordinates for Waypoint 6.
Waypoint 6: N37° 44.gf2, W119° 35.402
You are now viewing another flood marker sign and should be viewing one of Yosemite’s most famous natural features in front of you. A short distance in the opposite direction – to the southwest – is an interpretative sign about the nearby stone bridge. What is the name of this bridge? How many times does it say the bridge has been replaced?
Waypoint 7: N37° 44.d34, W119° 35.(d-1)14
By now, you should be very familiar with the date and time of the highest water. The number represented by d was originally revealed back at Waypoint 2. As noted above, due to removal of this high water sign due to construction, you will no longer see it again at Waypoint 7. However, you will be a short distance from where you started. In fact, from here, you could easily catch a ride. What is the single digit number on the adjacent transportation sign?
This completes the tour of Team Gecko’s High Water virtual cache. We hope you enjoyed navigating the course. Have a pleasant and enriching time during your visit to Yosemite National Park.
Additional Hints
(Decrypt)
Svefg jnlcbvag: Cerfreivat gur Phygher
Frpbaq jnlcbvag: Na rzcyblrr freivpr
Guveq jnlcbvag: Serrsnyy
Sbhegu jnlcbvag: Jbefuvc
Svsgu jnlcbvag: Zrnqbj (ohg fvta jrag zvffvat va 2005)
Fvkgu jnlcbvag: Cbfgrq thneq
Friragu jnlcbvag: Zrrg zr ng gur kkk fgbc