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Published: October 17th 2006
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After 2 weeks of our senses being bombarded in the way only city life can, we were both looking forward to getting into the country to enjoy some WOW time. Even though cities are fun, you just don't get the wows!! And we knew that Yosemite was well known for delivering wow after wow.....
Our base for the next 3 days would be about 40 miles southwest of the park in Mariposa (The last remaining Gold Rush Town and full of real cowboys - cool, although Brokeback Mountain has sort of tainted the romantic idea of it all for me). A log cabin nestled on the edge of a forest right next to a lake, catch and release fishing available. Very nice, accept the Lake was being drained when we got there, so no fishing. Still we spent every morning having breakfast out front of the cabin watching a krane in the remaining shallows catching his, and this was an excellent way to start each day.
The Yosemite National Park is huge, about 1,200 Sq miles. It's got miles of trails to go off and explore, and with only two full days there, we were going to be busy.
Day 1 included a visit to Bridalveil Falls, a 620 foot drop the height of a 62 storey building and even in the fall with water volume at its lowest, mighty impressive. The Ahwahneechee call it 'Pohono' meaning, "Spirit of the Puffing Wind." hummm, anyway!
After a short drive we arrived at the Mariposa Grove of Giant Sequoias. Some of the trees are over 800 feet tall and in the region of fifteen hundred years old. The wood and bark of the sequoia tree is fire-resistant and the black scorch marks you see are evidence of them surviving past forest fires. Contrary to what you might think, fire helps the sequoias to survive. It helps clear the forest floor of debris as debris encourages the growth of shaded tree species which inturn rob the sequoias of much needed soil nutrients. The fires also help the sequoias small pine cones to germinate. Anyway! There were also lots of Mule Deer, everywhere!!
Next up we headed for Glacier Point a 3,214 foot sheer cliff above the Yosemite Valley floor. When you look from the top you are king of all you survey. The scenery spreads out beneath you no
matter which way you look there are breath taking views. It's just huge. It reminded me of doing a parachute jump in the way that your brain doesn't quite grasp the distances and scale of what you're seeing. For instance Half Dome rises an impressive 8,842 feet & looked like, well the bounty hunters space ship off Star Wars!! Basically,not that big. From the top we also saw Vernal & Nevada Falls which looked like see through straws of water appearing out of nowhere only to disappear into a candyfloss of green. Like I said, it takes a while for you to work it out, fathom the scale, that sort of thing or maybe it was just altitude sickness....
We did get to Tunnel View for the sunset though, and were treated to a beautiful view of the valley with Half Dome standing out pretty in pink.
On the way back to the cabin the imposing El Capitan stood 3,593 feet to the left of the road we were on and I stopped the car. Look at the photo, it just jumps out at you!! It's claimed to be the largest single monolith of Granite in the world.
The Giant Grizzly Sequoia Tree
Oldest tree in the Grove 1,800 years old and big too!! Day 2:
Having not learned our lesson about going on trails that include the word "inspiration" we embarked on a trail that one of the park rangers had recommended in the park brochure. Inspiration Point New & Old were a short walk from the parking area of Tunnel View. All we can say is that it was a good walk and the views were very much similar to the one's from the parking area, some metres below. There weren't any signposts so you sort of guess where the Inspiration points might be, I think we did alright, you have a look at the pictures!! We met someone on the path up who recommended we turn back and view the Vernal & Nevada Falls from the Valley Floor as the peak which I pointed out as our destination, when he asked was met with a "yeah that's a good spot, met this man up there earlier taking some photo's, that's about 4 miles away" PAUSE........Ok lets go and have a look at the Falls then!!
Vernal & Nevada Falls are in an area of the park called Happy Isles. By the time we got there it was getting
close to sun down and we were tieder than we thought when we decided to turn back at Vernal fall footbridge, just a mile and a half from Vernal Fall. Even though we were disappointed the bridge gave us good views of the Falls and the cascades of the Merced River down the valley and beyond.
That rounded off a great couple of days, well that and another beast of a meal at the Big Sunshine Diner!! Good food there 😉
I just want to point out an observation I made from our days in the park. Maybe someone can relate to this in some way or another or use it for some benefit.......
Even though it was the off season there were lots of people enjoying a sunny weekend in the Park (3.5 million people visited the park last year) from the recreational to the what looks like the professional. The professional is distinguishable from the mere walker by their necessity to carry ski poles (obviously for the pending jaunt across the snow capped peaks of the surrounding mountains......) and their none stop talking. The tranquity you find out in the middle of nowhere can be
Tame Deer in Mariposa Grove
With hunting banned within the Park the wildlife are unafraid of us humans, bonus for pictures! shattered by a loud american accent. You can hear them coming a mile off which may cause offence. It wasn't until we found out that this was an advisable way to walk that we thought of them a little differently. See, apparently it is better to make noise while out walking in the wilderness as any big animal i.e. bear that may be near, will move out of ear shot as he too finds an american accent annoying!! Only joking, but you get the point. The reason of making this point was a memory I'm sure to remember for a long time.Whilst we were on the way back down from Inspiration Point Jo and I sang and whistled the snow white and seven dawaf's' "It's off to work we go" for about two and half miles!! Brilliant...
A little history to finish off.
John Muir arrived in San fancisco in 1868, it is said that on asking where he could find the wilderness he was pointed in this direction. From the first day he stepped into the valley to the day he died in 1914 John Muir was in love with this place and when the area
was threatened by land speculators he fought hard to secure federal protection for the Yosemite region. You can understand why when you visit this place & why he spent his life here. You can get a feel for what he felt about the place from a short piece he wrote in his journal, it reads:
Climb the mountains and get their good tidings. Nature's peace will flow into you as sunshine flows into trees. The winds will blow their own freshness into you, and the storms their energy, while cares will drop off like autumn leaves.
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I guess he never had to find a parking space!! A bit light and fluffy for me I know, but he was right we both felt a lot better after our days here. Arghhhhhhhhhhh the great outdoors....................
www.yosemite.org
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Mike & Claire
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Vegas
RIGHT! CLaire's got a flight to Vegas on Monday 13th Nov, returning 15th in the afternoon. Are you still there then...pls say yes!! Let us know ASAP buddy.