A Special Place

Yosemite

Late April is an exceptional time at YosemiteNational Park. The run-off from the snow pack is at its peak, the wild flowers are in bloom, the bears are awaking and the tourist crush is still a few months away. There is room to breathe, stretch and hike. There’s even a big perk with the short lines at the deli - you won’t starve while waiting for a sandwich

The adage ”Loved to Death” is the current storyline of Yosemite. If John Muir had known what would have become of his beloved valley, I’m not so sure he would have fought so hard give it to the people.  

Can you imagine a pioneer heading out west, the tired mules hauling the wagon over yet another ridge and seeing this for the first time?

View from Glacier Point

I was in diapers the first time I visited the Valley. 50 odd years later, I still get goose bumps looking at this spectacular view.

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Vernal Falls

Yosemite Falls with Dogwood

There is a movement to ban cars and limit the number of visitors in the Valley.  As you can guess, many people are against this suggestion. 

I like the idea of taking a train from Merced, up alongside the Merced River into the Valley. 

Imagine a steam locomotive chugging up the line, clacking over the river on wooden trestles, puffing up to the summit until you reach the crest. And then you see...

Tunnel View Point

Goosebumps again.

It may seem hard to believe but there was a time when trees grew on the top of Half Dome. People could camp at the top. Over time, the campers removed, piece by piece, every bit of wood they could find. “Firewood” they called it. When all the downed wood was gone they started hacking up the trees. It wasn’t until after the last tree was gone the Park service banned camping on the Dome. Alas, with all the trees gone there was nothing to hold the soil in place. With the help of wind, rain and snow all the soil eroded leaving only the granite behind

The summit was first conquered by George Anderson in October 1875, via a route constructed by drilling and placing iron eyebolts into the smooth granite.

Today so many people want to hike to the top that the Park Service has devised a lottery system. All you have to do is win, 400 winners daily!

Could it be time to change the way people visit the Valley? 

When I was a little guy, my folks could drive up into "Little Yosemite Valley." Today, it’s walk-in only. Inconvenient? Yes. But, by banning automobiles and removing the trappings that go with them the Little Valley has been restored. Maybe we can save Big Yosemite Valley the same way?

Stay Tooned...