Stop 8: Midpines, CA (Yosemite National Park)

First, something extra about the RV Park that we stayed in in Columbia. One of our park neighbors told us about this old Huell Howser video. It looks like he made a wrong turn and pulled into the park to ask for directions. In typical Huell Howser form, he got an entire show out of it.

We were still studying our Mountain Guide and trying to figure out about why it didn't warn us about Hwy 49 South of Auburn. We finally discovered that there is a warning but it has been placed on the extreme Southern end of Hwy 49 (probably a hundred miles away from the stretch that we were interested in). The associated text described Hwy 49 from Auburn South and, had we read it, we would have been warned.

After reading that text, we thought that we would be OK continuing South on Hwy 49 to Mariposa. We did consider and dismiss several alternatives. As we were preparing to depart, one of the friendly staff people came over to chat. We shared our route for the day with him and he told us that that was the worst stretch of Hwy of all and that he wouldn't ride his motorcycle on it.

He recommended that we take Hwy 120 from Sonora into Yosemite and then head down toward Mariposa on Hwy 140. We've driven Hwy 120 many times on our way to Yosemite from the Bay Area so Priests Grade (even the bypass) immediately came to mind as something to be avoided. We also remembered that our Mountain Guide warned against that stretch of Hwy 140 (subsequent trips along Hwy 140 between our campsite and Yosemite have shown it to be worse than what we were warned of).

An alternative that we had considered was to drop out of the Sierra foothills into some flatter land, cut across that area and then climb back into the foothills. We discussed that route with our friendly staffer and he was entirely in favor. The route added about 15 miles but made up for it by being a faster, straighter, leveler route. It was a beautiful route through grass covered hills that were covered with oak trees and wild flowers (reds, oranges, yellows.blues and purples).

We're staying at a KOA in Midpines for 3 nights. It's a nice place, and is about 20 miles from Yosemite's West Gate.

On our first full day, we decided to head toward the South end of Yosemite (saving the Valley for day 2).

Tunnel just inside the West Entrance. I'm sure that it would have fit but I sure wouldn't want to take the trailer through.

Another shot of the tunnel

The Merced River (heading into the park on day 1)

Waterfall on the Merced River (heading into the park on day 1)

Interesting rock above the waterfall.

Bridalveil Falls is immediately after the turn to the South..

View of the valley from the observation point near the tunnel on Hwy 41.

From the observation point at the other end of the tunnel.

We arrived in Wawona, just in time for lunch at the Wawona Hotel (which, in this case, was a very fancy Easter Sunday brunch).

Easter brunch at the Wawona Hotel.

We stopped at the Visitors Center near the Wawona Hotel and learned that the road to Glacier Point, which was supposed to open in late May, opened last week. We've always wanted to go there but, every trip that we've ever made to Yosemite has been in Winter or Spring and the road has always been closed after Badger Pass.

Our stop after lunch was nearby Camp Chilnualna. Kristen and I honeymooned there for a week starting December 31, 1972. The little cottage that we rented had a bedroom that was just big enough for a wall-to-wall double bed. The bathroom was miniscule and the rest of the place was a combination living room / dining room / kitchen. We visited the cottage and then hiked up to Chilnualna Falls.

Our honeymoon cottage in Camp Chilnualna.

Chilnualna Falls.

The road to Glacier Point was on the way back. It's a long drive out to the point (harrowing at times) but it was worth it. Glacier Point offers by far the best views that I've ever seen of Yosemite.

Halfdome from Glacier Point.

From Glacier Point.

Nevada Falls from Glacier Point.

Nevada Falls and Vernal Falls from Glacier Point.

Halfdome from Glacier Point.

Upper and Lower Yosemite Falls from Glacier Point.

Yosemite Village (straight down) from Glacier Point.

Flower covered hills along Hwy 140.

Landslide (apparently years old) that buried Hwy 140. A single lane road was built on the other side of the river. 2 single lane bridges cross from the old road at either end. A traffic signal changes the direction of traffic every 15 minutes.

River view while we were stopped for the landslide signal.

As I mentioned earlier, our day 2 destination was Yosemite Valley. We didn't end up with many pictures on day 2, partly because the weather is changing and the light was kind of bleah, and partly because everything paled after Glacier Point.

Our first stop was Yosemite Village where we tried to look up one of Grant's friends who is a ranger there. Another ranger made some calls and he and his wife were both off duty. We next went into the Ansel Adams Gallery. We had hoped to find some of the photos that he'd taken of Mono Lake but none were available. We did buy a beautiful print of a photo that he took of the back of the Sierras from Lone Pine. After grabbing a hamburger, we moved on.

We fully intended to make the hike up past Vernal Falls to Nevada Falls (that trail has been covered by a frozen waterfall every time that we've ever attempted it) but found that the hike from the closest parking place to the trail head was longer than the actual hike. We got to the trail head and decided to do it another time.

El Capitan. At least 4 climbers and a tent are in this shot (Where's Waldo?).

Interesting ridge line across the canyon from El Capitan.

Tomorrow, we're off for Three Rivers, CA which is near Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks.

-JC-