Saturday, September 3rd
We drove 200 miles from Fisherman’s Warf in San Francisco to Yosemite National Park. About 1/2 mile from the Highway 120 west entrance we were stuck in traffic. Without knowing how long we’d be waiting, we decided to pull into Rush Creek Lodge and poke around. We used the restroom and then found ourselves in the general store/gift shop where we bought some snacks and of course, local craft beer.
Once inside the park, we decided to explore. Tunnel view (one of the most iconic scenic overviews in the park) was closest to us and sure to impress. I had never been to Yosemite so I was especially excited to see what all the fuss was about! We got to the Tunnel View parking lot and hopped out. There were mobs of people with selfie sticks, tripods, and strollers. There were tour buses and mini vans full of people waiting to get into the lot and to take that first epic photo in Yosemite.
Before our trip we followed an Instagram account that described Yosemite as the Disney Land of the National Parks, “crowded but magical”, and we were starting to see why. Luckily, we had our trusty NPS book and found a 1.2 mile hike above the crowd to Inspiration Point.
Inspiration Point was beautiful! When we made it to the top, a nice Aussie couple offered to take our picture. We ate turkey and cheese sandwiches, split a beer, and watched a few minutes of the Wisconsin Badger football game on Jeff’s iPhone. As a University of Wisconsin alumni, it is basically sac religious to do anything other than watch college football on a Saturday, but I wore motion W shorts, a UW hat, and my game face tank to make up for not seeing the entirety of the game.
PS – On this particular Saturday, Wisconsin beat LSU. Go Red!
We hiked down from Inspiration Point and headed off to our next destination: Bridalveil Falls. Finding a spot in the parking lot took longer than walking up to the falls, but even with the huge crowd, we were happy we did it. We got to climb on the slippery rocks and take some fun pictures. The ‘falls’ however, were more like little drops of water that were getting blown away in the wind. Oh well. Back in the car to drive through Yosemite Valley.
From Yosemite Valley, you can see so much of the park including Yosemite Falls. At 2425 feet, Yosemite Falls is one of the world’s tallest waterfalls but unfortunately for us, there was no water. Peak runoff season here is in May, so if you’re looking to actually witness this beauty or any of the other 20+ waterfalls in the park in full force, head to Yosemite in the spring.
After driving through the Valley, we decided it was time to get to our campsite…and so did everyone else. We waited in traffic for almost 2 hours before arriving at Half Dome Village. Jeff had reserved a canvas tent cabin for us. This tent turned out to be our most expensive lodging of the trip ($142.68/night), but being able to cuddle up in a bed and watch at least the first half of a movie on Jeff’s iPad before falling asleep, was really nice. We were hoping Half Dome Village would be the place where we could finally meet and talk to other hikers and campers over a fire. We wanted to share stores, get suggestions, feel like a part of the outdoor community. But fires were strictly prohibited. Bummer. (I still want to know why they sell s’more kits in the general store..?) So instead of a warm meal, can you guess what we ate? You got it! Peanut Butter and Jelly.
We woke up early the next morning and headed to the Sentinel Dome Trail. Instead of hiking to Sentinel Dome, we took the trail to Taft Point. The hike was a cold 1.1 miles through forest and meadows. When we reached Taft Point, I remembered how terrified of heights I am. I was the girl crawling on my hands and knees to the railing and making sure Jeff didn’t let go of me.
Meanwhile, there are people sleeping on the edge of the rock waiting for sunrise. Anyway, we took a picture with our coffee in hand, and I immediately sought lower ground. I think Jeff could have stayed there forever. The views from Taft Point are unlike any other, and if your knees aren’t shaking below you, there are GREAT photo ops too.
As we headed back to the car, I felt sad. I wish I had been able to stand out on the ledge like Jeff and take it all in, but Taft Point can be his special place now. I’ll tell you about mine later! 🙂
We had a 4 hour drive to Death Valley ahead of us so we hopped in the rental and headed east. Tanya Lake was a welcomed surprise on our way out of the park and we had to stop and sit for a second. Pictures of course, and then off we went!
Yosemite National Park is a truly amazing place. 10 days in this park alone may not have been enough. We will go back, and I can’t wait!
~Adventure is out there
Julia
