Anyway, here is a recount of our fantastic week in Yosemite NP that I wrote yesterday afternoon while sheltering from the rain at our camp site in Toulomne Meadow.
WEDNESDAY 17th:
Finally leaving the big city behind, after waiting several
hours to get our Escape Van (called Green Lava), we made our way out to
Yosemite National Park. Shaun took on the challenge of driving the beast out of
the city. It was a bit stressful, mostly I think due to the size of the van
rather and trying to fit it into the lane!
We arrived at our campground Hodgdon Meadow at about 8pm,
thankfully before dark. Hodgdon Meadow is just near the entrance to the park
from Highway 120, and is about 45 minutes drive into Yosemite Valley.
The next day we set off into Yosemite Valley. We stopped at
a couple of stunning over looks (for the view as well as a break from
navigating the winding, steep road in our green tank). We noticed a smell that
we initially thought was just the breaks, but by the time we got to the bottom
of the hill the engine cut out. SHIT.
We managed luckily to start it just long enough to pull into
a parking bay. At this stage we’re pretty sure it’s the radiator. Given our
mechanical skills are comparable to our navigational skills, we decided to call
it in. No reception, pay phone doesn’t work. SHIT. After a tense few minutes we
managed to flag down a couple – they didn’t have reception either, but said
they’d drive on and call it in for us up the road. We thought we ought to
double our odds and waved down another tourist who kindly lent us his phone. 45
minutes later we were on a tow truck on our way to Yosemite Valley. But looking
at the bright side, the van was fine and just needed more coolant, we got a
free park right in Yosemite Village for the whole day (not a small feat with
the amount of tourists around), and it was fully charged back to the rental
company!
We spent the afternoon soaking in the fantastic views of the
towering granite domes from the valley floor, walking up to Lower Yosemite
Falls (Yosemite Falls being the 5th largest waterfall in the
world!), wandered around the village and hiring bikes to cycle up to Mirror
Lake (which was more of a pond, figuring out that it is a seasonal lake).
After coming from winter and spending a chilly week in San
Fran, the 95F temperatures (high 30’s?) in the valley felt very hot, but
certainly felt like we had started our summer holiday!
Map of Yosemite so you can see where things are. We came in from the west.
Mirror Lake
Half Dome
Lower Yosemite Falls
Half Dome
View from valley
As an aside, for those who have never been and are
interested in natural history – all the granite around this area was formed
around 65 million years ago when molten rock cooled and crystallised beneath
the earth’s surface, in what was once an active volcanic area (thanks to the
subduction involving two tectonic plates that I cannot remember the names of).
Erosion eventually exposed these granites at the surface, and they weathered
into dome shapes through exfoliation (as layers of rock peel off like onions) –
you can still see this today. During the last glaciation giant valleys were
carved out and the moving ice polished the surrounding towering granite domes.
You can also see large boulders scattered around as they were dropped out of
the melting glaciers. Up at Toulomne the glaciers also left behind many small
lakes, and those that filled in with sediment are now large meadows.
We hit the road early on Thursday and hiked up the Mist
Trail to the top of Nevada Falls, and back down the John Muir trail, which was
about the 8.5 miles. It was a hard slog up 1900ft in the hot sun (even though
we were walking by 8.20 am), but the stunning views were worth it (and so was
the ice cream and the $5 shower afterwards…).
Up to Vernal Falls
Vernal Falls
Vernal Falls
Top of Vernal Falls
Top of Vernal Falls
Nevada Falls
Top of Nevada Falls
Top of Nevada Falls
Top of Nevada Falls
Squirell
Friday we took a drive down to Wawona and caught the shuttle
out to Mariposa Grove. We spent the morning wandering around the giant Sequoia
trees, the largest, Big Grizzly, is thought to be 2700 years old!
In the Afternoon we cooled off in the Merced River, and Shaun taught some Hispanic kids how to do some sweet bombs. We also took a
look around the historical village and enjoyed lemonade on the lawn in front of
the Wawona Hotel, which has apparently been the thing to do for 150 years.
This tree was so long they cut a section to clear the road and it keeps going!
The Grizzly Giant (Tree not Shaun)
Pioneer Village - barn
Wawona Hotel
View from Tunnel View on the drive back to camp:
Saturday was another early start with the alarm set for 4.30am. Although, by the time we had breakfast and hit the road, then turned around for the sunscreen and hit the road again, it was 6.45 by the time we started hiking. We climbed up the Four Mile trail (which is really 4.8 miles) to Glacier point. When I say climbed, I mean it – 3200ft (nearly 1km) elevation gain from the valley floor up to the top! The countless switchbacks were worth it though, and we certainly felt like we earned the views at the top…. Unlike everyone else who drove to the top! Perhaps we are just suckers for punishment?! Photos are the view from the top.
Saturday was another early start with the alarm set for 4.30am. Although, by the time we had breakfast and hit the road, then turned around for the sunscreen and hit the road again, it was 6.45 by the time we started hiking. We climbed up the Four Mile trail (which is really 4.8 miles) to Glacier point. When I say climbed, I mean it – 3200ft (nearly 1km) elevation gain from the valley floor up to the top! The countless switchbacks were worth it though, and we certainly felt like we earned the views at the top…. Unlike everyone else who drove to the top! Perhaps we are just suckers for punishment?! Photos are the view from the top.
Finally finished!
Now up to Tuolumne Meadows – this whole area is at a much
higher elevation, and is I think one of the largest sub-alpine meadows. Unsurprisingly
a lot cooler, and we’ve had some rain.
As if our feet hadn’t had enough work for the week, we went
on another hike this morning up to Cathedral Lake. I think we walked about 11.5
Miles. It's a shame it was cloudy, but the view was still cool and was good training for the Grand Canyon I guess!
View from Olmsted Point
Tenaya Lake
Cathedral Point from Upper Cathedral Lake
Lower Cathedral Lake
Toasting marshmellows at Toulomne campground
Toulomne Meadow
We're now in Mammoth lakes, finally have had another shower and will be catch up on some washing and groceries before we head out towards Las
Vegas on Friday.
Hopefully we won't be off the radar for as long this time.
Love to you all
xx
C&S
Hopefully we won't be off the radar for as long this time.
Love to you all
xx
C&S
