Yo Semite!! --Day 1

                Our day started early. Early meaning very very early for a Saturday morning. Surprisingly I woke up after only one snooze at 3:10am! After packing in a hurry we left at 4:30. Our drive would last for 5.5 hours. I am lucky, ‘cause my husband loves travelling too, and also loves driving. So I was off duty. I took a siesta and read a photography magazine to get some quick tips on taking pictures with our brand new Canon T1I.

                We entered Yosemite National Park at about 9:30am. It was the National park day and so, our $20 fee was waived. We were given guides and maps. We were also warned not to follow any GPS or phone device to navigate ourselves around the valley. So I was trying hopelessly to guide us to our first stop The Glacier point.

Glacier point is a view point of the entire Yosemite Valley at a height of 7214ft. The view was spectacular! White granite mountains spread all around till the horizon and burning white in the hot sun. Half dome, basket peak, royal arches, upper and lower Yosemite falls(with no water unfortunately), Yosemite Point and in the valley, a narrow meandering stream of Merced river, the grand Ahwahnee Hotel, Yosemite Village, Curry Village and Mirror Lake area. It took so long for us to take all this in. It was nothing we could ever imagine. Granite faces going far far away, with Sequoia trees at the base. Half dome itself is at 8836ft above sea level. Looked exactly like a dome cut exactly in half top to bottom. People could climb the peak following a trail that is 17mi long! Not something I would do that too in such scorching heat! The sun was baking us, and we were basking in the splendid view of the valley. It was indeed jaw dropping. A geological exhibit at the Glacier point explains how the valley was formed. Thousands of years ago, the valley was full of glaciers. As these glaciers melted and erode the rocks, Merced river was formed and with its eroding the valley, this beautiful valley was formed. Just to imagine that vast range covered by a glacier was shocking. We then decided to come back in winter to witness this place covered in snow atleast. An interesting info about Yosemite falls was also given. The fire falls. Earlier many many years ago, people would light fire at the top of the upper falls and throw the fire down. The result would be a waterfall of fire. Quite contradictory I know. But that’s what happened back then. It was later stopped because it was considered man made and harmful for retaining the naturality of the falls.

Half Dome

Dragging ourselves from Glacier point, we headed towards the valley. It was already afternoon and we were damn hungry! The sun was harsh and we were baked already. We headed straight to the Village Grill. But, with a stop at the Tunnel view. Another spectacular view of the valley from between the mountains bases. The reason why its called Tunnel view just probably because its at one end of a tunnel leading to the valley. Thousands and thousands of sequoia trees all along the valley base and strikingly high steep faced granite mountains on either side. The view is a definite picture spot. We decided to go back to it on our way back!

Tunnel View

Village Grill was in Yosemite Village. Amazing how the village was hidden beneath the tall trees. We couldn’t spot most of it from the Glacier Point. Even though the sun was burning us, the trees were such a blessing. We were thrown into wilderness immediately. Squirrels running all over, we were on the look-out for bears too (bears could break into our cars for food). So we were unknowingly trying to spot some wild animals. The food at the Grill? There is a reason why I didn’t start with that. Even though me and my husband try out the best of foods everywhere, that day was unfortunate. The cheese burger was bad. My veggie burger was eaten just so that I am not hungry for the rest of the day. Sweet potato fries, um… interesting, but not very appetizing. Never know what worse food we could get in other places! So our expectation of food in the valley, dropped to a 3 from an 8.

                Neither of us ever rode a horse. And it pleased me to see my husband was also interested even though the cost for the ride seemed a little too much for me! $60 per person for a 2 hour ride. I am always thinking if it was worth it or not for the buck. But as I will tell you later, it was definitely worth it. We stood for the free Yosemite shuttle buses and ended up on the wrong side! Thanks to the confusing bus route map. We were right at a certain loop standing in the wrong direction, in a hurry to reach the Yosemite stables. When we reached, it was too late.  We missed our ride. Anyway, we booked our ride for the next morning at 9am and started back to go see the visitor center and museum.

                The Museum has a detailed description of how the peaks and valley came to being thousands of years ago. Even before the glaciers. It has a good exhibit of the kind of animals residing in the valley and the kind of stone in the mountains with glacial footprints on them. A very interesting place to just ponder on the mightiness of nature and what it can bring about to our surroundings.

                Our next stop was at Sentinal Bridge. Stop #11. It was a spot where we just sat and stared at the sight. It gave a pretty view of the Yosemite falls on one side and exactly at the bridge the half dome could be seen. We were sitting at the bus stop watching the Yosemite Falls with no water of course, and again we decided to be back when the water is full. It was the perfect spot for the falls. Seemed like a painting was in front of us. But of course much more magnificent. We could sit there forever, waiting to see water gush down the face of rock and splash onto the lower falls. We missed the white foamy water even though we had never even seen it there! It was wonderful.

Yosemite Lodge at the falls was where we were going to stay for the night. After checking in, we went for a walk to the lower falls. It was a short trail. The bed of the falls was full of rocks. The trees all around and the distant peaks on the opposite side made for lovely pics. We retired to our room early after dinner at the food court at the lodge. We had a choice of Pizza, Pasta, burgers and proper American meals with steak and mashed potato. Food tasted much better here thankfully. And we were glad the day ended early. We were in bed to make up for our lack of sleep last night. 

Lower Yosemite Falls

Yosemite Lodge at the Falls