Greetings from Yosemite National Park

Snow-capped peaks, alpine lakes, and lush meadows.

I was surrounded by these stunning views while hiking Gaylor Peak in Yosemite. The peak is accessible via a relatively short but steep hike, offering an exhilarating challenge for hikers like me who seek panoramic vistas of the Sierra Nevada.

Higher up the mountain, two breathtaking views opened up on either side. To my left lay Gaylor Lake, and to my right, a vast valley stretched out before me. The valley, carved by a glacier, revealed the raw, exposed rock of the mountains and featured kettle ponds where melting ice had uncovered groundwater.

This trip gave me more than just a hike; it opened my eyes to the delicate balance of nature. I learned about the endangered situation of the Sierra Nevada bighorn sheep. When Yosemite was first being conserved, livestock sheep were allowed to graze in the area, creating competition for the bighorns’ food. To make matters worse, mountain lions, also protected, found the bighorn sheep irresistible. Relocating a mountain lion required a lengthy legal process, and by the time one could finally be helicoptered away, the damage was often already done. The conflicting goals of different conservation efforts became evident—how do you determine which animal is more important? I wondered.

The trek to the summit was grueling. With no officially maintained trail and a terrain of loose rocks, every step required careful planning. The only plants that managed to survive up here were patches of lichen and a few stunted trees, bent in the direction of the relentless wind. When we finally reached the top, we collapsed in awe of the scenery. From our vantage point above 11,000 feet, we could see a river valley, a barren mountain, the plains surrounding Gaylor Lake, and the gray stone hills forming a glacial crater. The air was crisp and invigorating, filling me with a sense of accomplishment.

On our way back, we stopped by Gaylor Lake. I learned that the once-abundant yellow-legged frogs living there are now endangered. Our guide mentioned that during the summer, the frogs were once so plentiful that it was “hard to avoid stepping on them.” But when people introduced trout and other fish to the lake to enhance aquatic wildlife, these foreign species devoured many of the frogs’ tadpoles. In winter, when the lake froze over, the tadpoles were trapped in the same habitat as the hungry fish, leading to devastating losses.

This made me realize how introducing new species can have unintended consequences, even on something as abundant as the yellow-legged frogs once were. It’s a reminder of the importance of careful management and ecological awareness to prevent such impacts in the future, especially before introducing non-native species.

Sincerely,
Alex