Yosemite Trip Report 5/12-5/16
May 17th, 2004, 08:33 AM
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Yosemite Trip Report 5/12-5/16
My family just got back from a long weekend in Yosemite and it was terrific - here's the trip report:
We left San Jose on Wednesday morning about 7:30 and headed up to Yosemite via Hwys 101/152/59/140. The route was nice, mostly agricultural through Merced, then rolling hills, then mountains. We stopped in Mariposa to gas up since there isn't any gas in Yosemite Valley. There is gas in El Portal, which is closer to the valley, but it's more expensive - the 87 octane was $2.97/gal when we passed by and the higher octane stuff was over $3/gal.
We got to Yosemite about 11:30 and checked into our camp. We stayed at the Housekeeping Camp tent cabins which are on the Merced River. This is a really beautiful spot - from our camp we had a terrific view of Upper Yosemite Fall in one direction and Half Dome in the other.
We spent the afternoon setting up camp and then took the shuttle bus over to Yosemite Village to look around and buy a sweatshirt - my mother-in-law set her sweatshirt on the top of the car during a potty break on the way up the hill and forgot about it
Thursday we took the tram tour of the valley floor which is exellent. It costs about $20 for a 2 hour tour, so it's a little pricey, but I think it's a good way to get familiar with the valley if you've never been there before and since it is led by a ranger, you will get a lot of information about the history of the area. I had been on the tour before and still found it very interesting.
We also hiked the 1/4 mile to the base of Yosemite Falls. That was great - we got wet on the foot bridge across the creek from all the mist. We were going to continue on a 1 mile path through the woods, past the site of John Muir's cabin, but the trail was closed for construction - there is a lot of construction going on in that part of the park.
After lunch we hung around camp and poked around along the river. After dinner we sat by the campfire with friends into the wee hours.
Friday we wandered around Happy Isles a bit and hiked up to the footbridge below Vernal Fall. It's about a 3/4 of a mile hike, so it's not too far, but it is up hill almost the entire way so it's a bit of a work out. We had some terrific views of the river and some other falls on the way up. Vernal Fall is really beautiful from the footbridge. The trail continues up another 3/4 mile to a lookout on top of the fall. We didn't go up though although we heard it was well worth the climb.
We spent the afternoon hanging out around camp, playing cards, reading, and watching the river pass by. In the evenning we had a campfire.
Saturday we went over to the Visitor's Center in Yosemite Village. We went through the Ansel Adams gallery, the recreated Miwok Village, and the American Indian museum. The Ansel Adams gallery was really cool - it's a combination gallery and gift shop. There are art pieces by different local artists for sale including some really nice jewelry, photographic prints, picture frames, and so on, plus the Ansel Adams stuff and plenty of books. The Miwok village and Indian Museum were also very good.
In the afternoon we wandered along some trails along the river and through some of the meadows.
Yosemite was absolutely beatiful. The weather was perfect - cool in the evennings and the mornings, warm in the afternoons, but never hot. Clear most of the time with only a few clouds. The waterfalls were raging, the river was flowing nicely, and the trees were so green - so many shades of green. The dogwood trees were in bloom and so were the wildflowers. All along the granite walls of the valley you could see small waterfalls here and there.
Sunday we packed up and went home - the same route we came up 140/59/152/101. Even though we were heading back to the Bay Area on a Sunday afternoon, we didn't hit much traffic at all. We hit a little bit on Hwy 101 north of Gilroy, but not enough to slow us down.
We left San Jose on Wednesday morning about 7:30 and headed up to Yosemite via Hwys 101/152/59/140. The route was nice, mostly agricultural through Merced, then rolling hills, then mountains. We stopped in Mariposa to gas up since there isn't any gas in Yosemite Valley. There is gas in El Portal, which is closer to the valley, but it's more expensive - the 87 octane was $2.97/gal when we passed by and the higher octane stuff was over $3/gal.
We got to Yosemite about 11:30 and checked into our camp. We stayed at the Housekeeping Camp tent cabins which are on the Merced River. This is a really beautiful spot - from our camp we had a terrific view of Upper Yosemite Fall in one direction and Half Dome in the other.
We spent the afternoon setting up camp and then took the shuttle bus over to Yosemite Village to look around and buy a sweatshirt - my mother-in-law set her sweatshirt on the top of the car during a potty break on the way up the hill and forgot about it
Thursday we took the tram tour of the valley floor which is exellent. It costs about $20 for a 2 hour tour, so it's a little pricey, but I think it's a good way to get familiar with the valley if you've never been there before and since it is led by a ranger, you will get a lot of information about the history of the area. I had been on the tour before and still found it very interesting.
We also hiked the 1/4 mile to the base of Yosemite Falls. That was great - we got wet on the foot bridge across the creek from all the mist. We were going to continue on a 1 mile path through the woods, past the site of John Muir's cabin, but the trail was closed for construction - there is a lot of construction going on in that part of the park.
After lunch we hung around camp and poked around along the river. After dinner we sat by the campfire with friends into the wee hours.
Friday we wandered around Happy Isles a bit and hiked up to the footbridge below Vernal Fall. It's about a 3/4 of a mile hike, so it's not too far, but it is up hill almost the entire way so it's a bit of a work out. We had some terrific views of the river and some other falls on the way up. Vernal Fall is really beautiful from the footbridge. The trail continues up another 3/4 mile to a lookout on top of the fall. We didn't go up though although we heard it was well worth the climb.
We spent the afternoon hanging out around camp, playing cards, reading, and watching the river pass by. In the evenning we had a campfire.
Saturday we went over to the Visitor's Center in Yosemite Village. We went through the Ansel Adams gallery, the recreated Miwok Village, and the American Indian museum. The Ansel Adams gallery was really cool - it's a combination gallery and gift shop. There are art pieces by different local artists for sale including some really nice jewelry, photographic prints, picture frames, and so on, plus the Ansel Adams stuff and plenty of books. The Miwok village and Indian Museum were also very good.
In the afternoon we wandered along some trails along the river and through some of the meadows.
Yosemite was absolutely beatiful. The weather was perfect - cool in the evennings and the mornings, warm in the afternoons, but never hot. Clear most of the time with only a few clouds. The waterfalls were raging, the river was flowing nicely, and the trees were so green - so many shades of green. The dogwood trees were in bloom and so were the wildflowers. All along the granite walls of the valley you could see small waterfalls here and there.
Sunday we packed up and went home - the same route we came up 140/59/152/101. Even though we were heading back to the Bay Area on a Sunday afternoon, we didn't hit much traffic at all. We hit a little bit on Hwy 101 north of Gilroy, but not enough to slow us down.
May 17th, 2004, 10:14 AM
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Once again, J Correa, I found your post to be well written & informative!
My son wants to visit California before he graduates from high school. I feel a trip to Yosemite will be a must while in CA.
What's your opinion about visiting Yosemite during the month of April?
Glad you had such a nice time.
My son wants to visit California before he graduates from high school. I feel a trip to Yosemite will be a must while in CA.
What's your opinion about visiting Yosemite during the month of April?
Glad you had such a nice time.
May 17th, 2004, 11:45 AM
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Tricia - I think that Yosemite in April would be terrific - it's a great place any time of year really and should not be missed.
April a transitional month weather-wise so it would be different year to year. This year we had a really warm spring and I heard that April was gorgeous in Yosemite - reasonably warm weather, wildflowers everywhere, peak of the dogwood blooms, waterfalls going full blast. Right now it's almost summer-like and the high country openned early this year.
Last year we had a pretty wet April in California. I had friends who went to Yosemite last year in April and they reported that it was chilly and rainy, but still absolutely beautiful.
One really wonderful thing about coming to Yosemite in the Spring before Memorial Day weekend is that there are fewer people in the valley. There are still plenty of people, but the earlier you come, the fewer people there are. I am actually trying to convince my husband to go up one year in the winter time and stay at the lodge. I hear from friends that it's wonderful because there aren't many people around. He's not much of a cold weather person though so it's taking some work.
April a transitional month weather-wise so it would be different year to year. This year we had a really warm spring and I heard that April was gorgeous in Yosemite - reasonably warm weather, wildflowers everywhere, peak of the dogwood blooms, waterfalls going full blast. Right now it's almost summer-like and the high country openned early this year.
Last year we had a pretty wet April in California. I had friends who went to Yosemite last year in April and they reported that it was chilly and rainy, but still absolutely beautiful.
One really wonderful thing about coming to Yosemite in the Spring before Memorial Day weekend is that there are fewer people in the valley. There are still plenty of people, but the earlier you come, the fewer people there are. I am actually trying to convince my husband to go up one year in the winter time and stay at the lodge. I hear from friends that it's wonderful because there aren't many people around. He's not much of a cold weather person though so it's taking some work.
May 18th, 2004, 05:12 AM
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Thanks, for the trip report, J_Correa. We leave for our Yosemite/Zion/Bryce/Vegas trip in justover a month and I can hardly wait. I'm filling the time by searching other web sites for info. I gotten great input on day hikes and little known places to eat.
Glad you had a great trip.
Fran
Glad you had a great trip.
Fran
May 18th, 2004, 06:32 PM
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We will be at Yosemite in mid September. We will arrive there late on Saturday afternoon and then will spend the day and night there on Sunday before leaving Monday morning for the coast. Since our time is limited, what would be the best use of our time? We are staying in a cabin at Curry Village. We do not do long hikes, but short ones are okay. We want to visit the Ansel Adams Gallery, the Indian museum and would like to see the Ahwahanee (sp?) Inn. I am interested in the tram tour. Do we go to a specific place to join the tour? We will be arriving from Oakland and exiting through Mariposa. Are the specific places we should plan to stop as we enter or leave the park?
Thanks for the suggestions!
Thanks for the suggestions!
May 18th, 2004, 06:50 PM
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The reservations and tram tour are located directly behind the Yosemite Village market and well worth the experience.
By September, there will be little, if any, water tumbling down Yosemite Falls, but it makes a very short "hike" (and I use the term loosely -- it's a 10 minute WALK) to the base of the falls.
The bridge J Correa mentioned is what we call the "half-way" point to the top of Vernal Falls. Although my husband, my son, and all of my friends have continued up the mist path (which won't be misty in September), I am not a hiker and walking up the steep incline to the bridge was painful to me. I've also gone up to the top of the falls on a half day mule trip, but mules are very wide and I'm not, so that was easier going up, but coming down the mules are headed with great glee to the barn and food, so you end up with your butt being completely beat up!
My thing is bike riding, and there's nothing better than traveling about, up to Happy Isles, or all along the Merced on a bike. You can stop, admire the beauty, see the deer, and take a thousand photos. They rent bikes if you don't want to bring your own.
By September, there will be little, if any, water tumbling down Yosemite Falls, but it makes a very short "hike" (and I use the term loosely -- it's a 10 minute WALK) to the base of the falls.
The bridge J Correa mentioned is what we call the "half-way" point to the top of Vernal Falls. Although my husband, my son, and all of my friends have continued up the mist path (which won't be misty in September), I am not a hiker and walking up the steep incline to the bridge was painful to me. I've also gone up to the top of the falls on a half day mule trip, but mules are very wide and I'm not, so that was easier going up, but coming down the mules are headed with great glee to the barn and food, so you end up with your butt being completely beat up!
My thing is bike riding, and there's nothing better than traveling about, up to Happy Isles, or all along the Merced on a bike. You can stop, admire the beauty, see the deer, and take a thousand photos. They rent bikes if you don't want to bring your own.
May 18th, 2004, 09:08 PM
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mlm59 - we bought our tram tour tickets at the Yosemite Lodge lobby - there is a tour desk off to the side of the reservations desk and the tour left from right out front. Last time we bought the tickets right at Curry Village and then took the shuttle bus over to the lodge where the tour began. There are several tours a day and the one we were on was sold out. So I would suggest buying your tickets early in the day to make sure you get the tour time you want.
Renting bikes is a great idea - they have rentals right at Curry Village so it's really convinient.
One of my favorite things to do is wander along the trails by the river and on the foot bridges through the meadows. It's really relaxing and just peaceful.
On your way out, you might want to stop in the town of Mariposa and have a look around. I've actually never stopped there longer than to gas up the car, but it looks like an interesting little town. I always think that next time I will make the time to stop and have a look around.
Renting bikes is a great idea - they have rentals right at Curry Village so it's really convinient.
One of my favorite things to do is wander along the trails by the river and on the foot bridges through the meadows. It's really relaxing and just peaceful.
On your way out, you might want to stop in the town of Mariposa and have a look around. I've actually never stopped there longer than to gas up the car, but it looks like an interesting little town. I always think that next time I will make the time to stop and have a look around.
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