Yosemite National Park

June 22, 2022 - Reading time: 19 minutes

Preston and I left Vegas in the midmorning and experienced delightfully little highway traffic on the 7 hour journey to our destination in California.  Along the drive, it was interesting to watch the desert terrain change quite dramatically to golden rolling hills.  As we neared the quaint little mountain town of Oakhurst, the elevation climbed considerably just outside of Yosemite National Park.  The cabin rental in Oakhurst was well marked, and we found it to be as clean and cozy as they come.  Our first sight upon opening the front door was a personalized welcome message on a small chalkboard next to a generous basket of assorted packaged trail snacks and a fresh bag of Starbucks coffee.  If you ever need a rental in that neck of the woods, I highly recommend the Cat Nap Inn on VRBO.  The host placed thoughtful touches everywhere, including the extensively furnished backyard patio area, with hummingbird feeders, seed feeders, a birdbath and a small landscaped pond.  The view of the trees on the mountainside was lovely at dawn and dusk (we were away in Yosemite during the bulk of daylight).   Preston snapped some great photos of wildlife right on the patio, which I'll discus more in moment. What a treat! 

Yosemite Day One:  We left about 6:15 in the morning, arriving 45 minutes later at the south entrance to Yosemite near Mariposa Grove.  Moments later, we had hopped aboard the free NPS shuttle to the Big Trees Loop trailhead.  There were few other early risers on the trail with us.  It was a cool, clear morning...beautiful weather for beholding the Giant Sequoias.  These ancient trees are so enormous that it's nearly impossible to fit them into photos, but we did our best, posing in front of the uprooted Fallen Monarch, the spectacular Grizzly Giant, and the California Tunnel Tree.  It was the loveliest of mornings. 

Driving a few miles deeper into the park, we stopped at the historic Wawona area.  A very kind park ranger beneath an information tent provided us with highlighted maps of day hikes and tips on the best places to find parking and light bites.  We did not explore the Wawona Lodge, but ventured behind the property through the covered bridge to a work shed where two blacksmiths had just begun a demonstration.  It was fascinating to watch these ladies at work!  The small crowd of onlookers were rapt as they explained the process and forged a 4 inch sword in the fire right before our eyes.  From the selection of sale items cutely displayed on a nearby tree stump, Preston purchased a forged "S" curved bottle opener as a souvenir.  Afterwards, we relaxed in a pair of Adirondack chairs on the front porch of the Wawona General Store with a cold cut sandwich for lunch. 

Our last goal of the day was to drive into Yosemite Valley and scope out the Yosemite Lodge, the rendezvous spot for a guided tour we had reserved for the next day.  This area of the park is very large and very crowded during the summer months.  We wanted to be sure where to go.  It was an additional 45 minute drive into the main valley, with curving roads the entire way.  Up and over.  Up, down, around.  Again and again and again.  But the payoff was sweeping valley views and mountain cliffs to our left.  I focused on the tricky roadwork while Preston "oohed and aahed" at the absolutely breathtaking scenery that awaited us around each curve. He was itching to get out and shoot photos.  And then, suddenly, without warning, we crested a ridge and BAM! I shouted at the surprise, "Half Dome!" It took our breath away.  A few more twists and turns in the road and we were smack dab in the crowd of fellow travelers in a famous turn out parking area known as Tunnel View.  All were in awe of the valley trifecta of El Capitan, Half Dome, and Yosemite Falls lined up side by side by side at this location.  The massive granite walls, towering above verdant evergreens of that resplendent valley, set against a perfectly blue sky, were purely majestic.  Iconic.  Like a postcard.  Once again, I knew photos wouldn't do them justice.  We hung out at Tunnel View for a good while before moving along to Yosemite Valley.  We located the lodge for tomorrow's tour, parked the car and took a shuttle ride to get better acquainted with all the points of interest that abound in Yosemite Valley.   

Our stomachs growled on the way back to Oakhurst late that afternoon. Preston suggested take out Indian food from a place he had discovered with great online reviews.  Now, full disclosure, I had only tried Indian cuisine once, many years ago, and was not sure I cared for the flavor.  However, I am a girl who likes to practice what I preach and I often tell my young students back home not to give up on trying new foods, especially because one's taste buds can evolve with age.  Y'all...it was delicious!! With just the right amount of spice.  We finished dinner, grabbed a glass of wine and went to open the sliding glass door of the cottage for an after dinner sit on the patio.  This would be the first visit by our doe friend.  Preston took several photos as she drank from the bird bath and then sauntered into the wooded thickness beyond the backyard.  We sat in silence hoping she might return.   In the glow of the setting sun, Preston captured a humming bird and a California Quail with his fancy camera.  It was great fun for this momma to watch him study and move and stoop to achieve a good angle with the best lighting.  His photos are exquisite compared to my cell phone shots.  It was a fantastic and fulfilling first day!

Yosemite Day Two:  Today we decided to hike the meadow and lake areas of the lower Yosemite Valley before the guided tour scheduled for 2:00 p.m.   We parked and rode the shuttle to the trailhead of Mirror Lake.  It's a two-mile, moderately easy path with a slight elevation change.  There were a few rocky spots to navigate, but nothing too treacherous if wearing good hiking shoes and being intentional with one's footing.  The lake itself was smaller than I had imagined, but the area itself is larger, ringed by a good bit of sandy beach spaces and reedy green grasses that are most certainly covered in water during the wettest times in the park.  The 360 degree view of the cathedral-like mountains that surround the lake found me planting my feet to just gaze upward and take it all in.  

Our morning hike complete, we lunched on grilled chicken pesto sandwiches in the cafe next to the Yosemite Lodge before boarding the open-air guided Yosemite Valley tour.  This would be a highlight of our visit to the park.  The park ranger was very personable and provided a wonderful overview of the park's history, it's native peoples, the geology of the region, and a brief lecture on Rock Climbing 101.  We were also very, very lucky.  As the tour tram stopped in front of El Capitan, we could make out a rock climber in the distance about 1/4 of the way up the huge slab.  He looked like a little blue dot, but that dot was definitely moving.  With his telephoto lens, Preston captured some great shots which allowed us to zoom in and better appreciate this incredible undertaking of human strength and perseverance.  (The original photo and zoomed in shot are below). We learned the ropes and gear used by most climbers can weigh from 50 to 100 lbs.  Also, after a successful 3000 foot ascent to the top of El Cap, the only way back is a 12 mile hike down the other side, carrying all that gear.  Yikes! Definitely not an adventure for the faint of heart. 

Exiting the park on the late afternoon drive back to Oakhurst was bittersweet.  I found myself wondering if I'd ever again make it this far to this area of the world.  I completely appreciate now how John Muir was smitten with it's wonders and compelled to convince presidents to preserve it's beauty.  Oh, and we did have a lucky bit of fortune in the photo department on the drive out:  Preston just happened to turn and look over his shoulder for one last glance of the Tunnel View and noticed the afternoon sunlight was creating a prism effect on Yosemite Falls.  Yes, it had turned into a beautiful liquid rainbow.  We had to pull over just one last time and it truly is a great photo in my opinion. 

The following morning, we left our cabin in Oakhurst to head for the California coast.  But not before one last visit by our doe friend who showed up while I was quietly sipping coffee on the patio.   I couldn't believe that she just walked up with me sitting only 8 feet away. (If you look at the foreground of the photo below, you can see the top of my socked foot on the outdoor ottoman - that's how close she was!)  I stayed stock still, only moving verrry slowly to snap a few photos with my cell phone.  She took her time.  I simply sat.  Kept my head and heart in the moment, thankful for the small silent "little whiles" that life affords us if we just stop long enough and allow them to be.