5/23/14 -- Yosemite Valley

Dear Alex,

I hope that you are enjoying Europe with your family or with Salim. I don’t remember if you are still travelling in Europe or if you’re on your way to places further east. Emily and I have been greatly enjoying our trip west. We are nearing the end. After tomorrow in San Francisco, we will head back east towards Colorado. I think we are both about ready for a break from living out of the trunk.

This morning, Emily woke up before me and cooked breakfast for us. It was kinda nice to have breakfast made for me for a change. We packed up a still wet tent from the rain last night, hopeful for an opportunity to dry it later. Leaving Wawona, we headed north within the park towards Yosemite Valley. This was a rather curvy drive so Emily took the wheel. I only get to drive the fun roads if Emily is asleep otherwise she has a tendency to turn a little green. I try to avoid that. We stopped in a packed parking lot just after the tunnel to take in the view of the valley from above. It was worth the hassle.

Yosemite Valley

Our first stop was Bridalveil Falls. Again, the parking lot was full of tourists, but we weren’t lucky enough to find a spot so we parked a little ways down the road. The falls is on the southeast so the lighting wasn’t ideal for pictures. The best spot was looking through a gap in the trees. So many people in the park have equipment that matches your dad’s or might even make him jealous. We don’t. Neither did the hundreds of middle schoolers. They also lacked hiking manners.

Bridalveil falls

We then drove to the visitor center. The entire valley is stunning. It was just about time for lunch so we picnicked in the shade. An inquisitive crow had apparently become trained that the throwing motion usually preceded loud noises and danger. All I had to do was bluff and he would flutter back a few yards. We put the food back in the trunk, hoping that any bears in the area would be scared away by the constant flow of people. Our car was not damaged. Emily walked very determinedly away from the way to the visitor center. After a few yards, I asked her where she was going. Her response was that she didn’t know, “the visitor center?” I got her turned around and we walked directly to the visitor center. I don’t know what she’d do without me. Probably take a lot longer to get places.

On the drive to the visitor venter

Yosemite Falls (I think)

Half Dome in the distance

We took the shuttle to the Happy Isles stop to hike to Vernal Falls. Even though we both were still a bit tired from our time on Whitney, we passed a bunch of tourists on the way up. We also saw a couple more falls in the distance. The Mist Trail is the way to Vernal Falls, but it also continues to the cables route up Half Dome. This is probably one of the most popular hikes in the park and requires a permit. We couldn’t get one. The Mist Trail is also the start of the John Muir Trail, which ends on the summit of Mount Whitney. We didn’t go that far this time.

This would be a great future trip!

Vernal Falls was well worth the climb up 600ish granite steps. It is wider than I expected. The mist off the falls reminded me of Rivendale (I threw that in for Ryan, but it really did). I’m not sure we needed to hike to the top of the falls. We were greeted by a Stellar’s Jay that was quite interested in our snack; not nearly as interesting as the man who assured us that “I’m not taking a pic of you. There is this really cool bird behind you.” Emily took a pic while I threw a rock at a squirrel. The dumb mammal thought the rock was food even after I hit it on the back…

On the hike up

A pretty (but dangerous) river

Below Vernal Falls! 

A Steller's Jay

The river is falling!

Emerald Pool

Going down

We managed to rest long enough to fall behind the middle schoolers who raced past us about 20 steps down. It was far safer to let them slip and slide down in front of us than behind us. At the bottom we hiked over to Mirror Lake by a little travelled trail. On the trail to the lake, we ended up behind a group of French students. One girl didn’t have a problem stepping in horse droppings. “It’s only ‘orse.” “Vell it is still ‘orse shit!” She wasn’t fazed.

I’m not sure we ever found the actual Mirror Lake. It has been filing in with silt recently and is now more of a pond. Wading across the sandy-bottomed stream was refreshing at first but quite cold by the time we had crossed. The hike offered awesome views of Half Dome. We tried to use the binoculars to see some climbers but weren’t successful.

Looking up at Half Dome

Crossing the "lake"

Half Dome

A beautiful reflection

Lupine

Surprisingly exhausted, we drove out of the valley as the sun was dipping lower. Emily drove the winding road to the Big Oak Flat entrance. We were stopped on the way out to show our pass. We thought it was locked in the glove box so we shut off the car to open it. The ranger let us get away with just knowing that the pass cost $80.

Heading out of the park

Highway 120 leads out of the park towards Groveland. It runs through a burn area with a ton of standing dead trees. Emily took this road to the campground. Our campground still had standing, living trees. We thought this was a blessing but it meant there were mosquitoes and poison oak.

The last campsite!

Compared with last night, starting a fire was simple. It lit itself! All I did was put some pine needles and small sticks in the fire ring. A few minutes into dinner, it was smoking. It leapt into flames not long after. Dinner of grilled Swiss cheese sandwiches and chicken sausage gumbo with shrimp ramen and green beans was followed by campfire brownies. Half a box of Ghiradeli brownie mix was too much. They may not have looked like “ ’orse shit,” but they had a strong resemblance to some kind of excrement. Thankfully, they tasted delicious.

Dessert!

Well, the mosquitoes are bad and the fire is dying. I should close. Enjoy your adventures further east. Try to avoid mosquitoes in the Philippines and the heat in the UAE.

Take care,
Aidan