My first ever trip to Yosemite was for my 38th birthday this week. It's not like I haven't wanted to go before, I just never really planned it at a good time. I usually thought "oh this would be a great weekend to go" but of course it would be in the middle summer when no reservations were available. So in August I was thinking what can I do for my birthday, as I would never work on my birthday I think it should be a law, yet with no money for a big vacation I thought let's try for Yosemite. After consulting my resident Yosemite expert Sarah, I made reservations at Yosemite Lodge at the Falls that is right in the valley at the base of the Lower Yosemite Falls. Along for the ride was my mom, sister Fonda, and niece Jasmine. Fonda has been to Yosemite many times before but it has been a long time since, she thinks Jasmine was maybe just out of diapers. My mom and I have never been and since Jasmine probably doesn't remember her first trip, it was a great time for a first trip to make.We left Monday from Sacramento heading down 99 to 140. Unfortunately I had a migraine the night before so I couldn't really help with the driving and Fonda made it through the winding, twisting, cliff hanging drive into the valley. We did a quick loop around the valley, stopping at several turnouts to take it all the beauty around us. We drove up to Tunnel View which is a classic start to the trip. All the valley is laid out before you. It amazing how all the trees in the valley hide all the roads and camp grounds and you believe there is no human life below you, just tree and nature.
We checked into our hotel around 4pm. Yes, this isn't true camping in Yosemite, but it's October and 20 degrees at night so I'm ok spending the couple hundred dollars a night to have a private bath, tv and refrig in the room and indoor heating. Our room had a private little patio to sit out and watch the fattest chipmunks ever beg for food (we obeyed the Yosemite law and didn't feed them). The bike trail was also right out our back door and Lower Yosemite Falls out the front of the building. Since it we had a few hours of daylight to burn we asked how long of a walk to the Ahwahnee hotel as we weren't aware there were free shuttle service in the valley floor. Instead we took the 2 mile hike to the hotel along the lower Yosemite trail and got there just before it was completely dark. We encountered a few mule deer eating in the back of the hotel.
Now I don't want to sound unappreciative of the beauty, but I wasn't really that impressed with the Ahwahnee. I guess I was expecting something bigger and grander from all that I've heard about it. But I think I'm just used to the Grand California Hotel in Disneyland and we expecting something more along that line. But it was still worth the long walk and luckily we found out about the free shuttle to take us back to our hotel, as it was completely dark out by the time we were ready to leave the hotel.
The next day was my birthday!!!! Woke up for a restless night sleep, 2 adults don't fit that well on a double bed. Still had a slight headache, but not enough to keep me inside. We decided to take the shuttle around the valley and hop off wherever the mood struck us. We took the Happy Isles stop and starting up the trail to the Vernal Falls. Usually this is a wet trail, hence why it's called mist trail, but at this time of the year the only waterfall to have any sort of water was Bridalveil Falls, so we thought this would be a good chance to walk the trial without getting wet. Unfortunately half way up either it was the altitude or just bad timing, but all the sudden I turned a corner and my head went into full blown migraine mood. It actually felt like I was going to blow out the back of my skull. I started to sweat, even though it was only about 50 degrees out in the shade and felt sick to my stomach. After a few minutes of trying to see straight and not black out we decided to head back to the shuttle and go back to the room for lunch and for me to stop my heading from pounding. After eating and a few moments rest I was ready to get back out there. We decided to take head over to Lower Yosemite Falls trial and then to the bike/hiking trail that was out the back door of our room along the valley floor. I believe it was called the Sentinel/Cooks Loop. It took us along the Merced River (more like stream at this time) through meadows and to the Chapel (the oldest building in the park which is still in use).
After about an hour and half hike my head told me it was time to rest and I went back to the room for a quick nap in the dark while my mom, Fonda and Jasmine took off for exploring. They returned after a nice hour and half of stillness and ready for my birthday dinner. We ended up at Curry Village which wasn't my original plan for dinner, but after seeing the prices and entrees at the Ahwahnee and the Lodge restaurants it turned out to be a better deal. I had cheese enchiladas, spanish rice and salad for dinner along with chocolate cake and apple cobbler for dessert. Overall a good birthday, minus the pounding headache.
Thursday was check out time. We got up early and headed over to the Visitor Center, Ansel Adams gallery and the museum before checking out. After a slight fight with the family in the parking lot (by now we have had enough of each other in close quarters) we all stopped a took pictures of the deer wondering in the parking lot. It's amazing how unaware these animals are of people. Luckily we did not see a bear, only plenty of the red signs warning speeding kills bears which marks a recent site of a bear being killed by a car. But we did see a bobcat outside our room, mule deer, plenty of fat chipmunks and crows that could carry a small baby away.
We headed to the south entrance of the park with a quick stop for lunch at Bridalveil Falls (only a little amount of water flowing, but still very pretty). After and hour and half drive in the park we stopped for a quick photo of Wawona Hotel and then went onto the Mariposa Groves. These groves house some large redwoods, one known as the Grizzly Giant that is as tall as a 19 story building and one branch is over 7 ft in diameter. These are really impressive trees and such a peaceful beautiful walk through the forest. Definitely worth ending or starting your trip to Yosemite here, but I think it's something you only need to do once, as there is so much more to do within Yosemite Valley and surrounding areas that I can't wait to go back. Overall it was a great trip at a perfect time to go to avoid crowds and still have great weather. I hope to visit sometime in the spring to see the flowers and falls flowing. Hopefully next time I won't have a migraine and can make it up more of the hikes and see the whole beauty of the park.
Mom, Jasmine and Fonda at the view from our hotel
El Captain
Fonda and Jasmine in the valley
Bridalveil Falls view from the stop I took the picture of El Captain
Back view of the Ahwahnee Hotel
Sentinel Meadows
View of Half Dome at Sentinel Meadows
Sentinel Meadows trail
Fonda, me and Jasmine in Sentinel Meadows
The Chapel
Jasmine dwarfed by Lower Yosemite Falls
Jasmine at Lower Yosemite Falls
Visitors Center
Jasmine having a rest with John Muir
Ansel Adams Gallery
Jasmine at Bridalveil Falls
Climbers (crazy people) on El Captain
Mule deer wondering the parking lot
Big fatass Crow
Wawona Hotel
Mariposa Grove
Fonda and Jasmine pose with a fallen tree
The Bachelor and 3 Graces
Grizzly Giant
California Tree
View through the California Tree
Perfect posed Grey Squirrel
Mom the treehugger
More beauty in the park
