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Published: June 22nd 2006
Yosemite
On the Monday we were off to Yosemite. We drove in and set up the trailer and got chatting to a couple tenting in the site next to us. Alex was a lawyer with a past career in the navy marines, Stephanie a newly graduated nurse working in the ICU. Each of the 3 nights we were there the 4 of us would gather around the campfire, toast marshmellows and talk. Alex’s navy and military stories were fascinating and Stephanie gave me the ‘low down’ on nursing in the US of A. The first night I even managed to put some nursing skills to work putting a dressing on a cut on Alex’s head (sustained while doing his manly duty of collecting firewood!).
Unlike NZ parks this one had bears! I was a little nervous about this at first and looked over my shoulder a couple of times while sitting around the campfire. But as long as food was kept well away from them in the trailer (or for the tenters, in the bear-proof lockers) you seem to be ok.
On Tuesday we had every intention of doing a hike but we got distracted and ended up
driving around looking at this view and that view, and only doing short walks. With the heat of late spring melting the snow, the waterfalls and rivers were enchanting. Bridal Veil Falls were particularly cool - there was so much spray that you couldn’t get anywhere near it without a raincoat. The size of the shear cliffs around the valley were awe inspiring. El Capitan was popular with rock climbers who took up to 6 days to clime it. The valley floor was lush, green and full of life, we saw dear, squirrel and many birds.
The second day was much the same, every intention of doing a hike but getting distracted! We went up to Glacier Point which had just opened a week or so ago. The drive up and the view from the top was the best yet. On the way up there was still snow (although the road had been cleared). Only having been to the snow twice I was very excited and busily directed Nick to try and get the best Winter Wonderland picture! The view from the top was second to none, and the drop 4733 foot drop straight down to the valley floor
was amazing. We sat at the top admiring the view and had lunch with the squirrel. On our way back we even saw a baby bear (thankfully from a distance and from the safety of our car), unfortunately it ran away before I could get the photographic evidence.
The nights were freezing, due to the altitude; we were only just prepared enough. I don’t know what the temperature was but we have also had a night or two later on where the temp went down to 2˚C and it felt cooler than that! We were very thankful for the extra blankets we had bought!
Next stop Vegas!
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Julia
non-member comment
Hey guys, I am still loving reading your journal! I'm unbelievably jealous at all the things you get to do and I can't wait to actually hear all the finer details. I dreamt you came back the other night! But you didn't... keep having fun! Julia xx