Memorial Day in Yosemite N.P.
So we had planned to head up to Napa Valley to visit our friend Michelle for the weekend. Unfortunately, Michelle had to work more than she thought and we wouldn't be able to spend much time with her. So we had to scratch that trip for now and instead decided last minute to go camping in Yosemite National Park.
We arrived at the Yosemite gates 7 hours after leaving L.A. with no campsite reservations… on Memorial Day weekend (not a good idea). It was already dark and no camping would be possible that night. So we bunkered down into the first available hotel outside the park entrance.
We rose early the next morning and drove an hour and a half into Yosemite Valley. We crossed our fingers and hoped that one of the first-come-first-served sites on the valley floor would have room. The drive in is incredible. Magnificent views, waterfalls, El Capítan, Half-Dome, you name it. So much of what we'd been reading about was finally visible in person… it did not disappoint.
When we finally arrived in the valley, we are told by several rangers that all the campgrounds were full and going standby would be our only hope. Gomez-2: #15 on the list... not bad we're told. Our chances were good. At 3 o’clock we returned to learn our camping fate - we missed our chance at a campsite by ONE spot! Camping was not to be this weekend. Another hotel stay was in our future. At least we needn’t worry about being mauled by bears, and we did learn a valuable lesson of planning ahead for next time.
Around the camping disappointment we did take advantage of our trip. We hiked up the John Muir trail to the top of two of Yosemite's famous waterfalls, which peak during springtime. We got soaked at Vernal Falls, before drying off over lunch on some sunny rocks halfway up the falling waters of Nevada Falls.
On our way out of the park later that evening, we hiked up to see the Giant Sequoia grove. Though it was getting late we decided to do the full hike to the top and were rewarded with some alone time among a forest of giant Giants in the setting sun. It was fairytale-like... you really had to be there. Hopefully, the pictures do it some justice.
That pretty much marked the end of our first trip to Yosemite. Never again on a holiday weekend, and never again without camping reservations. But we will meet again one way or another. Enjoy the pictures (coming soon…)
We arrived at the Yosemite gates 7 hours after leaving L.A. with no campsite reservations… on Memorial Day weekend (not a good idea). It was already dark and no camping would be possible that night. So we bunkered down into the first available hotel outside the park entrance.
We rose early the next morning and drove an hour and a half into Yosemite Valley. We crossed our fingers and hoped that one of the first-come-first-served sites on the valley floor would have room. The drive in is incredible. Magnificent views, waterfalls, El Capítan, Half-Dome, you name it. So much of what we'd been reading about was finally visible in person… it did not disappoint.
When we finally arrived in the valley, we are told by several rangers that all the campgrounds were full and going standby would be our only hope. Gomez-2: #15 on the list... not bad we're told. Our chances were good. At 3 o’clock we returned to learn our camping fate - we missed our chance at a campsite by ONE spot! Camping was not to be this weekend. Another hotel stay was in our future. At least we needn’t worry about being mauled by bears, and we did learn a valuable lesson of planning ahead for next time.
Around the camping disappointment we did take advantage of our trip. We hiked up the John Muir trail to the top of two of Yosemite's famous waterfalls, which peak during springtime. We got soaked at Vernal Falls, before drying off over lunch on some sunny rocks halfway up the falling waters of Nevada Falls.
On our way out of the park later that evening, we hiked up to see the Giant Sequoia grove. Though it was getting late we decided to do the full hike to the top and were rewarded with some alone time among a forest of giant Giants in the setting sun. It was fairytale-like... you really had to be there. Hopefully, the pictures do it some justice.
That pretty much marked the end of our first trip to Yosemite. Never again on a holiday weekend, and never again without camping reservations. But we will meet again one way or another. Enjoy the pictures (coming soon…)
posted by Meg at 4:28 PM
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