Vacation 2013: Yosemite National Park

Barbara and I arrived at Yosemite on Wednesday August 14th late in the day after restocking in Fresno. Our drive to Yosemite was scenic traveling through pine forests and curving mountain roads with many vistas. We just set up camp before dark at the Upper Pines campground near Curry Village. Upper Pines is a national park campground that is difficult to get reservations due to its popularity so we feel very fortunate to be camped out here for six nights. On are first full day we toured the park on our bikes visiting the lodges and taking in the breathtaking views of the valley. The Merced River runs through the valley providing a welcoming way to cool off in its refreshing clear waters.

Yosemite Valley after coming out of the tunnel leading into the valley

Foot Bridge over the Merced River

Ahwanhee Indian Village ceremonial cedar roundhouse

Curry Village

Yosemite Valley

The following day we drove up to Glacier Point to view the valley from up high. The views of the valley from 7200 feet were stunning as this park is a geographical wonder with its many granite peaks all around. Yosemite Falls usually dries up this time of year however many of the other falls in the park were flowing although not at peak as they are earlier in the season. We took a 2 mile hike with a ranger down the 4 mile trail that leads to the valley from Glacier Point. We learned a lot about the natural surroundings and gazed at the beautiful valley view's along the way. We finished up the day at Bridalveil falls which was just a trickle plunging down the smooth granite walls of the valley.

Half Dome view from Glacier Point

Ahwanhee Lodge viewed from Glacier Point

On our third day we visited the Happy Isles Nature Center near the trail head of High Sierra Trail to Half Dome and Mirror Lake via our bikes. Biking in Yosemite is the way to go as all the trails in the valley are for the most part flat. At the Happy Isles Nature Center we were lucky enough to see a Bobcat who was stalking a squirrel a rare visual viewing event even for the folks who work here. At Mirror Lake which was dried up from the summer weather we were able to get great looks at Half Dome from the base of the granite mountain. After Mirror Lake we biked to the beautiful Ahwahnee Lodge the crown jewel of Yosemite. We ended the day with a soak in the Merced River to refresh ourselves before dinner at our campsite in the Upper Pines campground.

Half Dome looking up from Yosemite Valley

Half Dome above a dry Mirror Lake in August

Ahwanhee Lodge

Bobcat looking through the glass door of The Happy Isles Nature Center

LaConte Museum

On day four we hiked a moderate trail up to Vernal Falls not far from the Happy Isles Nature Center. The trail was classified as moderate however it seemed to go up and up making for a real challenge for us flatLanders from Florida. We climbed a good number of steps to get to a viewpoint of the falls but did not continue to the top of falls as we needed to conserve energy for the rest of the day. The hike was memorable as the views of the falls and surrounding canyons were spectacular. We plan to regroup the next few days we have here using our bikes to ride the many trails that the valley has available to us to explore every place we have not been yet.