Yosemite trip report
Nov 4th, 2002, 07:46 PM
#1
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Yosemite trip report
Well, I went to Yosemite this past weekend for the first time, what a beautiful place!
Thought I would give a trip report for those of you who want some useful info.
Anyways, we got there on Friday and stayed at 'The Redwoods' cabins in Wawona. It was a great rustic cabin, not too modern looking which was good. We had some great service from everyone (had to call the maintenance people twice to get some heat going!).
Anyways, this time of year is nice in Yosemite, but my first impression was that it's even better in spring/summer. I was sad not to see waterfalls (more like cascades), and the changing of the colors that someone else has posted was hardly there. Sheesh, they've obviously never been to north eastern Canada/US during autumn.
But nonetheless, the park leaves you breathless, wow is it ever nice!!! Postcard pics all around. I was VERY surprised at how underdeveloped the Yosemite Valley was, 2 hotels and 4 stores, and a couple visitor centers/museums. Not that I'm complaining, but I've never seen such lack of civilization at such a popular tourist area. We visited the Ahwannee hotel, very nice, however make a reservation a long time in advance to eat there, even in the off season. We decided to eat at the Wawona Hotel instead, we got great service, the food was great, very nice hotel.
Staying in Wawona wasn't that bad as far as distance, especially with the Wawona hotel and Mariposa Grove close by, you don't have to go to the Village that often. I wouldn't want to drive the distance to the village during peak season though, I can imagine the traffic jams.
Anyways, we didn't get to hike Vernal/Nevada Falls (I was sick), but friends say it's awesome and enjoyed it very much. We did go to Glacier Point, definitely a must do, it's awesome up there!! We also got a chance to visit Mariposa Grove, very nice and worth seeing. We even took the trolley tour ($11 each), which was alot of fun and informative, yet cold. We should have hiked instead at this time of year, but I was still very tired from being sick.
Anyways, the wildlife is also very plentiful, we ran into groups of deer 3 times in 3 days, and saw many squirrels/birds, no bears thank god. Hope this helps all of you planning trips to Yosemite!!
Thought I would give a trip report for those of you who want some useful info.
Anyways, we got there on Friday and stayed at 'The Redwoods' cabins in Wawona. It was a great rustic cabin, not too modern looking which was good. We had some great service from everyone (had to call the maintenance people twice to get some heat going!).
Anyways, this time of year is nice in Yosemite, but my first impression was that it's even better in spring/summer. I was sad not to see waterfalls (more like cascades), and the changing of the colors that someone else has posted was hardly there. Sheesh, they've obviously never been to north eastern Canada/US during autumn.
But nonetheless, the park leaves you breathless, wow is it ever nice!!! Postcard pics all around. I was VERY surprised at how underdeveloped the Yosemite Valley was, 2 hotels and 4 stores, and a couple visitor centers/museums. Not that I'm complaining, but I've never seen such lack of civilization at such a popular tourist area. We visited the Ahwannee hotel, very nice, however make a reservation a long time in advance to eat there, even in the off season. We decided to eat at the Wawona Hotel instead, we got great service, the food was great, very nice hotel.
Staying in Wawona wasn't that bad as far as distance, especially with the Wawona hotel and Mariposa Grove close by, you don't have to go to the Village that often. I wouldn't want to drive the distance to the village during peak season though, I can imagine the traffic jams.
Anyways, we didn't get to hike Vernal/Nevada Falls (I was sick), but friends say it's awesome and enjoyed it very much. We did go to Glacier Point, definitely a must do, it's awesome up there!! We also got a chance to visit Mariposa Grove, very nice and worth seeing. We even took the trolley tour ($11 each), which was alot of fun and informative, yet cold. We should have hiked instead at this time of year, but I was still very tired from being sick.
Anyways, the wildlife is also very plentiful, we ran into groups of deer 3 times in 3 days, and saw many squirrels/birds, no bears thank god. Hope this helps all of you planning trips to Yosemite!!
Nov 5th, 2002, 12:07 AM
#2
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thankyou for your report Celine, It does help those of us who have not yet been there to not only form an idea of what it is like, but also what questions we should be asking...like, the trolly ride??
i read that there is a bus or tram ride throught the valley, but i had thought it was free? Is that the one you were talking about? and it costs $11 each?please reply
thanks, heather
i read that there is a bus or tram ride throught the valley, but i had thought it was free? Is that the one you were talking about? and it costs $11 each?please reply
thanks, heather
Nov 5th, 2002, 06:34 AM
#3
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Celine, thanks for the report - brought back fond memories. Yosemite is indeed breathtaking. We visited the end of June. The traffic wasn't all that bad, given the horror stories we'd heard. Vernal/Nevada Falls trail however was VERY crowded, but awesome none-the-less.
Heather, a couple of years ago, my husband and I used a bus to access various points of interest in Yosemite Valley. It was free. I think I remember reading something about a trolley tour of Mariposa Grove - we didn't get to that end of the park.
Heather, a couple of years ago, my husband and I used a bus to access various points of interest in Yosemite Valley. It was free. I think I remember reading something about a trolley tour of Mariposa Grove - we didn't get to that end of the park.
Nov 5th, 2002, 08:33 AM
#4
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I just put in my deposit for our trip to Yosemite next May - I can't wait.
We are staying with a group in the Housekeeping camp right along the river. I've never stayed there, but it looks fun - a step above tent camping. I am really looking forward to staying in the valley rather than driving in.
I've only been to Yosemite once before, last fall and loved it. I really enjoyed the fall colors. Obviously it isn't as spectacular as in the north eastern US, but I didn't expect it to be, so I wasn't disappointed.
We are staying with a group in the Housekeeping camp right along the river. I've never stayed there, but it looks fun - a step above tent camping. I am really looking forward to staying in the valley rather than driving in.
I've only been to Yosemite once before, last fall and loved it. I really enjoyed the fall colors. Obviously it isn't as spectacular as in the north eastern US, but I didn't expect it to be, so I wasn't disappointed.
Nov 5th, 2002, 10:41 PM
#7
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Celine,
DH & I were in Yosemite this past weekend also! We were camping in Upper Pines Saturday and Sunday night and left on Monday. There weren't many tourist on the weekend and Monday it was almost erie and hardly anyone around.
We hiked to the base of Vernal Falls. The falls which are a wide band with heavy mist in the spring was a mire thin band of water but still beautiful.
We've never been in the east for fall color so we were impressed with what was in Yosemite. There were a few red trees in the campground.
We didn't see any bear or deer but we saw 4 coyote. We think it was the same one at 4 different times on two different days. He had the same markings.
There was a haze hanging in the valley and we were wondering if it was from a controlled forest fire we heard about.
The November days are SO SHORT! The sunset about 4:30 in the valley. Both days we were out watching the sunset on Half Dome.
I was surprised at how the river looked like a shallow lake in some places compared to the spring when it's a torrent. I got pictures of a mirror reflection in the river to give you an idea of how slow it was!
I've seen Yosemite Falls dry like that before. I have to get back next spring to see them alive again!
Utahtea
DH & I were in Yosemite this past weekend also! We were camping in Upper Pines Saturday and Sunday night and left on Monday. There weren't many tourist on the weekend and Monday it was almost erie and hardly anyone around.
We hiked to the base of Vernal Falls. The falls which are a wide band with heavy mist in the spring was a mire thin band of water but still beautiful.
We've never been in the east for fall color so we were impressed with what was in Yosemite. There were a few red trees in the campground.
We didn't see any bear or deer but we saw 4 coyote. We think it was the same one at 4 different times on two different days. He had the same markings.
There was a haze hanging in the valley and we were wondering if it was from a controlled forest fire we heard about.
The November days are SO SHORT! The sunset about 4:30 in the valley. Both days we were out watching the sunset on Half Dome.
I was surprised at how the river looked like a shallow lake in some places compared to the spring when it's a torrent. I got pictures of a mirror reflection in the river to give you an idea of how slow it was!
I've seen Yosemite Falls dry like that before. I have to get back next spring to see them alive again!
Utahtea
Nov 6th, 2002, 06:35 AM
#8
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In response to Heather: There is a free shuttle bus with about 15 stops provided year-round the eastern portion of the Yosemite Valley. In summer, there are free buses from Wawona to Mariposa Grove, and Tioga Pass to Tenaya Lake. The 2 hour tour on the tram through the Valley has a fee, as are other tours. In winter, tours are on heated and enclosed buses.
www.yosemitepark.com
www.yosemitepark.com
Nov 6th, 2002, 04:19 PM
#9
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The trolley tour I did is in Mariposa Grove, there is a shuttle bus that goes around the Village and that's free.
As for my frequent use of 'anyways', I apologize, I tend to do that when I type quickly while explaining a story. Didn't realize I needed to have 'novel' material on this board.
As for my frequent use of 'anyways', I apologize, I tend to do that when I type quickly while explaining a story. Didn't realize I needed to have 'novel' material on this board.
