Yosemite National Park, California, U.S.A.
Day 1 ~ Yosemite, Here We Come!
Because it was Labor Day weekend, we left early on Saturday morning so we could beat traffic. By the time we reached Manteca, our stomachs were grumbling and out of sheer convenience we stopped to eat at the Black Bear Diner.
The closer we came to Groveland, the more cars were on the road and soon enough, we were stuck in a giant traffic jam. At some point the traffic barely moved and it took a little over an hour before we reached the Big Oak Flat entrance kiosk! Our first stop was Crane Flat. We wanted to stretch our legs and what better place to do so than around this gorgeous meadow. Our drive continued along Tioga Road because we wanted to eat lunch at the edge of the breathtaking Tenaya Lake. Big mistake! The road was heavily congested and we had to share the stretch of rocks with many other people. What was I thinking? After all, it was Labor Day weekend!
At least Bert had fun trying out his brand new Go Pro. I have to admit, he made some pretty cool movies.
To reach Wawona, we inevitably had to be on the road into Yosemite Valley. You guessed it! We were stuck in traffic again! At this point, I was so stressed out and annoyed that I was ready to drive back home! Luckily, the cute one-bedroom cabin we rented at The Redwoods in Yosemite was a at the end of a dirt road, right by the start of the Chilnualna Falls trail. It was peaceful and quiet and all I could hear was the gurgling of the nearby river.
Day 2 ~ Sentinel Dome and Taft Point Hike
“In every walk with nature one receives far more than he seeks.”
Because we really didn’t want to deal with crowds, we left early and hit the trail at 7:30 am. It was chilly at dawn on the Sentinel and Taft Point Trail but it was also very quiet and relaxing. We skipped walking to the top of Sentinel Dome because we climbed it not so long ago and instead walked around it. How beautiful it was on the other side! It didn’t take us long to find a spot with a panoramic view to eat our breakfast. We lingered quite long to savor that tranquil feeling nature bestows upon you.
All along this trail, views were spectacular! We were treated to dramatic vistas of Half Dome, El Capitan, Yosemite Valley, and the Yosemite Falls, which were puny this time of the year. With its steep cliffs and no barriers anywhere, the hike quickly confirmed my fear of heights. As long as I stayed far enough away from the edge, though, I was fine.
Several miles out onto the trail, by the cell phone tower, we spotted a Sooty Grouse. It was easy to recognize by its square tail and pale grey tip. Surprisingly, this high altitude forest dwelling bird was very tame.
For a little while, the trail meandered into the woods, where the shade was very welcoming. Woods equal birds and it didn’t take long for Bert to see feathered creatures everywhere. One of my favorites was the White-headed Woodpecker that was wedging pine seeds into a crevice of the tree break. According to my Cornell Lab of Ornithology reference guide, this is the only bird in North America with a white head and a black body.
Just as we were shooting pictures of the interesting rock formations and giant boulders, a black bear strolled by. We didn’t want to startle the animal and therefor were not able to capture a great picture. Oh well. It was still cool seeing it foraging and leisurely walking by.
After hiking about 4 miles on this moderate trail, we reached Taft Point, where we were treated to awe-inspiring views everywhere we looked. It was simply astonishing! Again, there were no barriers (well except for the one tiny one so hikers could take a picture without toppling over the edge) and it didn’t surprise me that, occasionally, people fall down the steep cliffs. You didn’t see me close by that rim! Bert took a picture by holding his camera that was attached to a selfie stick over the edge. My goodness! That looked like a 1000 feet drop!
From Taft Point to the small parking lot was only a 1.5 mile hike. I was happy we walked the longer trail so we could enjoy the incredible panoramas.
We didn’t really feel like eating lunch on the parking lot and decided to drive up to the majestic Glacier Point. I mentally prepared myself for the large crowds I was going to encounter. Luckily, it wasn't too bad. We were even able to quickly purchase an ice cream! By the time we left, however, traffic driving up the mountain was horrendous!
Day 3 ~ Mariposa Grove of Giant Sequoias
On our last morning at the park, we drove to the Mariposa Grove shuttle parking lot. Up until a few years ago, tourists were allowed to drive to the grove, but these days everybody needs to park at the brand new welcome center and ride the free shuttle bus to the sequoias. Unless you are hiking all the way down to the grove, of course.
A wooden boardwalk (Big Trees Loop Trail) connected to a well-maintained and bordered dirt trail. At the crossing of the two paths, the Fallen Monarch showed off its intricate and impressive root system. From here we walked the 2 mile long Grizzly Giant Loop Trail, named after the 3000 year-old Grizzly Giant. This giant sequoia definitely lives up to its name! The base is enormous and the top looks like a candelabra consisting of branches the size of a tree!
Further along, we passed the California Tunnel Tree. In 1895, the man-made tunnel was carved into the tree to allow for horse-drawn carriages to pass through. Dutifully, we also had our picture taken in the tunnel.
Once through the tunnel, we ewer on the Mariposa Grove Trail. Because this is a longer trail, a lot less people traversed this area. Besides the singing of the birds, it was very quiet in the giant sequoia forest. We definitely enjoyed this hike and couldn’t believe we had never visited this area f the park! We will definitely be back!
