Exploring California
Since we've been here in California we've tried to explore as much as we can whenever we can. One of my favorite trips was an overnight one around the Sierra Nevada Mountains. We started with a drive through Yosemite Park. So far we've been there 3 times and I can't wait to go back again. We always drive in from the southern entrance on Route 41 out of Fresno. We drive through Wawona on our way to the famous valley floor. There is a lot of evidence of fire activity along this section of road. Over the past year the park service has been hard at work piling downed wook at regular intervals to be burned off systematically in the hopes of preventing a devastating forest fire along the road in the future. The farther you go on the road, the more evident it is why they have been working so hard. Just a few miles before you enter the Yosemite Valley, the mountains are still scarred and charred from their last fire.
I highly recommend Route 41 to anyone that hasn't been to Yosemite National Park yet. The road is longer and more winding than the approach from 140 or 120, but the view is spectacular. You round a corner,
enter a tunnel and once you emerge you are at the aptly named Inspiration Point.
Driving along the Yosemite Valley floor is no fun. Yosemite National Park has the highest visitor volume of all of the national parks (last time I checked) and most of them visit this area of the park exclusively. Parking is difficult to find. The shorter trails are crowded. But it is worth the trip if you can stay patient among so many people. Bridal Veil Falls is probably the most popular short hike. The water volume is usually highest in the spring. We went in April last year and couldn't even get to the end of the lookout point on the trail without getting soaked. The rocks are slippery too! We went back in July and found the falls a shadow of their former self. Most people were climbing over the end of the lookout point and scrambling up the boulders to get as close to the falls as they could. It's not a good idea... but there were hundreds of people out there doing the same thing.
After touring the Yosemite Valley, we drove east on 120 through the Tolumne Meadow and over the Tioga Pass. I'll add pictures of those next time.
:-)
I highly recommend Route 41 to anyone that hasn't been to Yosemite National Park yet. The road is longer and more winding than the approach from 140 or 120, but the view is spectacular. You round a corner,
enter a tunnel and once you emerge you are at the aptly named Inspiration Point.Driving along the Yosemite Valley floor is no fun. Yosemite National Park has the highest visitor volume of all of the national parks (last time I checked) and most of them visit this area of the park exclusively. Parking is difficult to find. The shorter trails are crowded. But it is worth the trip if you can stay patient among so many people. Bridal Veil Falls is probably the most popular short hike. The water volume is usually highest in the spring. We went in April last year and couldn't even get to the end of the lookout point on the trail without getting soaked. The rocks are slippery too! We went back in July and found the falls a shadow of their former self. Most people were climbing over the end of the lookout point and scrambling up the boulders to get as close to the falls as they could. It's not a good idea... but there were hundreds of people out there doing the same thing.
After touring the Yosemite Valley, we drove east on 120 through the Tolumne Meadow and over the Tioga Pass. I'll add pictures of those next time.
:-)
posted by VA girl at 10:04 PM
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