Our First Road Trip: Yosemite National Park

          We enjoy our breakfast of oatmeal, cereal, and waffle at the Miners Inn.  After packing the car we check out and head to the park.  The road into the park follows a river down between the mountains and gives us beautiful scenery to enjoy.  A detour with a one-way road is controlled by traffic lights and crosses the river twice.  Once we enter the park we follow the signs to the parking lot, grab our bag and a bottle of water, and head to the visitor center for a pre-hike potty break.  A model of the entire Yosemite Valley is in the building and we trace the routes we plan to take.  

We only saw El Capitan from the car.

          First up is the trail to the bottom of Yosemite Falls.  We hear a woman tell a couple that it is pretty dry right now so they head back to their car and we follow them for a bit believing that it was the beginning of the route.  When we reach a bridge with signs we realize this path might not be the one we want to take and as we turn to head back a buck bounds through the woods, across our path, and back into the trees.  That was really exciting!  The hike to Yosemite Falls is short and easy and we aren't surprised to see just a trickle of water coming down the wall.  Huge rocks fill the path that the river would usually take and we try imagining what that would look like.  

          With a short backtrack, we decide to take the path to Mirror Lake since it starts nearby.  It's supposed to be a lake at the base of Half Dome and we might be able to get some great pictures.  The hike isn't easy.  As it turns out we weren't on the Mirror Lake Trail, we were on the Loop Trail which is a moderate hike difficulty.  We saw lizards, blue jays with dark ashy blue heads rather than the ones we see in Illinois, and the horse stables.  We got sweaty on this trail in the sun and shadow as we climbed up the trail and across rough terrain.  The huge fallen rocks from centuries ago were everywhere and made the path very interesting.  We could have done without the horse poop, but that was a minor complaint.  

          Sand and small white rocks greeted us in the dried up lake bed, there certainly wasn't a reflection of Half Dome.  We were a bit disappointed but only had ourselves to blame for not reading that it would be dry by now.  Half Dome towered above us and we were surrounded by impressive peaks, so our disappointment faded quickly as we took in the view.  The stripes on the towering rock formations thousands of feet above our heads made the view that much more spectacular.  Trees looked tiny high on their peaks and clinging to the rock walls.  

What I imagine Half Dome would have looked like in the lake.

          After enjoying the view and sitting on the lake bed we started toward waterfalls that were guaranteed to still be running.  Finally on a paved path again we were surrounded by green oak and maple trees and it felt a bit like home.  Then some sequoia and possibly redwood remind us that we are in California.  We find our path and trust the sign that indicates the path to our bridge is 0.8ish miles away.  The path is flat along a river then it begins a steep and constant route upward.  We went as far as we could before our first break.  All the hikers climbing down must use the front of their leg muscles and their abs to remain vertical while we are using the backs of our legs, our butts, and lean forward to remain upright.  It is a grueling hike for us and we begin to doubt the accuracy of the posted sign.  We ask one hiker if we're near the top and he is honest when he tells us no, we have a long way to go still.  Several short stops later a man in his 60s stops us and asks if we're heading to the falls, we say yes we are and we're hoping to see it from the bridge so we needn't go further.  Again honesty hurts as he tells us we won't be able to see anything from the bridge and it's a very steep hike to get there but the views are worth it.  We thank him and push on.  

          Finally reaching the bridge we see that he was right, all that we see are the large rocks with water running between them making very small waterfalls between them.  We refill our water bottle, use the restrooms, and decide that since we've made it this far and came up that horrible path that we might as well continue in hopes of seeing something worth it.  The route continues steeply upward following the water route and soon we see stairs in the stone.  We need more breaks but make it to a ridge looking over some more small waterfalls.  I stop for pictures and D continues to the edge of the ridge to wait for me.  When I join up with him he points up and my heart sings at the sight of Vernal Falls.  We made it!!  

          Climbing more flights of rock steps takes us as high as we can without beginning the stairs to the top, and we stop to enjoy our success.  I take in the sound of the water crashing and slapping against the rocks as it hits bottom and notice how it is much different from the sound the small waterfalls make.  Vernal Falls is very narrow since it is fall but it definitely the tallest waterfall I've ever seen and it is so much fun to stand and watch the ways the water moves through the air and down the rocks.  We are almost ready to go when we notice a photographer on a lower ledge starts moving and following something with her camera.  

A panoramic view from our location at the bottom of the waterfall.

          A bobcat is making its way down the mountainside and toward the river.  We watch as it sneaks along the rock, glancing up at us now and again, until it disappears and realize that it is walking parallel to the path, so if we start heading back we might be able to see it again.  We follow it along the path until I think it looks like it wants to cross the path so we stop to let it.  Instead it crept in between two rocks beside the path and stayed there, probably checking to see if the coast is clear.  Another couple comes up behind us and we point out the cat to them and they have their camera ready.  After another minute or so I begin to doubt that it will move and I don't want to hold this couple up so we continue along the return path and startle it down the rock side a few feet.  The other couple stay behind for more pictures but we are happy and satisfied with our experience.  

          Yesterday we saw a bear at the end of our day and today we saw a bobcat.  What unexpected treats and a perfect reward for all the work it took to reach Vernal Falls.  We hop on a bus at the bottom of the path and take it back to our parking lot; it is time to go home, but not before one last treat.  As the bus passes a  meadow I notice three dark figures moving among the yellow grasses and realize there is a mama bear with two cubs.  The driver stops as the bus erupts with excitement and we all take pictures, video, and stare in wonder at these beautiful creatures.  Mama bear keeps and eye on all the gawkers and one of the little bears stands on its hind legs to get a better view over the grass.  We get off the bus at the next stop to head back to watch but they disappear into the woods as we arrive.  Not disappointed, we enjoy the meadow view and watch some deer as they feed nearby.  We catch another bus and finish our trip to our car.  

          Our current trip total is 4 bears, lots of deer, squirrels, lizards, and birds, and one bobcat in just two national parks.  What more do we have to look forward to in the rest of our trip?  I don't know but we are very excited to see!