The 12-mile route begins across the street from the Wawona Hotel's parking area. It leads uphill and north through an open pine forest and is listed as a six-hour round-trip journey for hikers.
The Wawona Day Hike map is available at the hotel's front desk. Reservations and other hotel information is available via the web site.
For more information on the Shadow of the Giants events, contact race directors Baz Hawley or visit the Web site.
For runners interested in experiencing the area, but who have shorter distances in mind, the Smokey Bear Run at nearby Bass Lake offers a 10K, a two-mile run/walk and a children's race.
The race is popular among area mountain athletes and running clubs that make the journey from Fresno, Calif., about 50 miles north.
The start and finish is in the parking lot of Recreation Point along the south shore of Bass Lake, elevation 3,300 feet. The route is paved and almost entirely under a canopy of large pine trees.
For more information, contact the race director (e-mail: pig@stcg.net) or visit the Web site.
Like all outdoor activities in Yosemite and the surrounding forests and wilderness areas, runners should adhere to the principles of the Leave No Trace Outdoor Ethics project.
Divided into seven categories, the Leave No Trace guidelines include:
- Visit in small groups. Split larger parties into groups of four to six.
- Prepare for extreme weather, hazards and emergencies.
- Repackage food to minimalize waste.
- Practice the simple rule: "Pack it in, pack it out."
- Preserve the past: observe, but do not touch cultural or historic structures and artifacts.
- Observe wildlife from a distance. Do not approach or follow animals.
- Leave rocks, plants and other natural objects as you find them.
For more information or a complete list of the Leave No Trace campaign rules, visit www.lnt.org.
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