Jennifer Fosgate

Hetch Hetchy Haiku Jennifer Fosgate

This book of Haiku poetry, illustrated with the authors black and white photographs, celebrates Hetch Hetchy, a unique destination located in Yosemite National Park's northwest corner. Before being dammed and flooded by an act of Congress in 1913, the Hetch Hetchy Valley shared many characteristics with its famous cousin, Yosemite Valley. The massive granite walls of both valleys were carved by glaciers, and both valleys had waterfalls plunging thousands of feet from cliffs above. Both valleys were dissected by magnificent rivers wandering among pines, oaks and meadows. The Hetch Hetchy Valley now lies underwater. Its once magnificent river, the Tuolumne, still flows silently along beneath the Hetch Hetchy Reservoir before it becomes a source of hydroelectric power, and water supply, for the City of San Francisco. Prior to his death in 1914, John Muir fought, and lost, the battle to save Hetch Hetchy Valley from a watery death. Hetch Hetchy contains two of America's tallest waterfalls. Seasonal Tueeulala Falls measures 1000 feet, and its neighbor, Wapama Falls, is 1700 feet in height. From the Hetch Hetchy day use parking lot, one can access hiking trails to the falls, and other destinations, by crossing the O'Shaughnessy Dam.