Hetch Hetchy Reservoir (7)

Three black bear encounters.

And this was only my first hike of the day.

I headed back to the camper van.

A snow storm hit Yosemite Park that evening.



I wanted to get to Yosemite Valley and the Mist Trail.


The sun came out.


It was a nice hike back.


The trail passes through this tunnel before the dam.



I no longer need the stick, so I tossed it off O'Shaughnessy Dam.



I headed for Yosemite Valley.

Hetch Hetchy Reservoir (6)

I turned back at Wapama Falls.

The black bear was waiting for me.

And I knew it.

I had my stick ready.



I sensed the bear was close.



I came around a blind turn. A few feet away in the middle of the trail was the black bear.



The above video is actually the third (last) encounter. I had my iPhone at the ready for the second "suprise attack". But I mustn't have hit the record button.

I was too busy swinging my stick around like Gandalf. I smashed that stick until there was nothing left.



I managed to scare the bear into the brush. He cut up the slope and tried to take the high ground.

I took off down the trail. I followed a wide curve up the embankment and arrived first.



I shouted a quick warning to a couple. They took off in a hurry.

I continued down the trail, warning a few more people. I met a hiker who wanted to see the black bear.

We went back to look but the bear was gone.

Hetch Hetchy Reservoir (5)

I left the black bear behind.

I'd deal with him twice more on the return.

Even in late November Wapama Falls was flowing.



This is the water that feeds Hetch Hetchy Reservoir.


And the people of San Francisco.


Snow melt from the high Sierras.

Hetch Hetchy Reservoir (4)

This hike started to pay-off.

The natural beauty of the Hetch Hetchy Valley emerged.

It really does mirror Yosemite Valley...


And when I say the "natural beauty" emerged...


I really mean it! [Black Bear @ 3:53]



Dam be damned... Hetch Hetchy is still wild, LOL!