Yosemite

I thought I was being pretty good, getting an early start for the drive up to Yosemite valley, but I quickly began to wish I’d left even earlier. So much to see! So many trails to run! Did a quick tour around the valley floor by car, pulling off to the side maybe a hundred times to get and and stare open mouthed at the scenery around me. Luckily there are ample pullouts for gawkers such as myself, and little paths and trails abound everywhere you go.

I’d heard scary stories about the crowds here, but either they were exaggerated, or I have uncanny good luck. Managed to find parking easily on both days I was here, and even at the most crowded spots, it didn’t feel worse than Riverfront Park back home. Probably helps that the park is so huge. There were several times on the trail where I felt like I was the only person in the whole park.

It’s amazing how much work has been done to make the park accessible and easy to explore. Free shuttles and bike rentals encourage you to leave your car behind, and plentiful signage, maps, and helpful park rangers are always right there just when you need them.

After a few short hikes, and a lunch spent watching ravens fight over an unattended pizza, I decided on the big hike of the day. The John Muir trail up to Vernal Falls and Clark Point. Took a lot out of me, but the view from the top filled me right back up. Quite literally took my breathe away for a moment. Though that may have been the steep climb. 1000 feet in just under a quarter mile in one part!

Just as I was making my way back down, it started to snow. A gentle dusting that turned to hail by the time I made it to the bottom. By the time I made it back to the car, I was giddy and exhausted, and quite ready to fall asleep, but not before catching a magnificent sunset back in Mariposa.

I could spend all night filling this post with pictures I took, but let’s be real: Yosemite has been VERY well photographed over the years, and I’m only a passable phone photographer at best. and besides, this was only day one! Stayed tuned for part two, where our intrepid wanderer makes a grave mistake about the stability of a log crossing a creek!