In continuation of my visiting the Mosaic Canyon we stayed in Lone Pine as per our plans. On 21st August 2011, We got up early to see the Sun Rise from the base of the Mt. Whitney. We drove there and could see the sunrise rising in the opposite direction of Mt. Whitney, rising midst a range of mountains. Lovely sight.
We got down at the base and A said that is where the trek starts for climbing to the top, which he had done the previous year. All I could do was just watch the Mountain top from there and be happy.
We proceeded towards Yosemite National park after break fast. It was about two hours drive from Lone Pine to reach the entrance of the National Park. The National Park is real HUGE and it has many entrance points.
It would be another two and half hour drive on mountainous terrain to reach Valley Yosemite from here, where we had planned to stay for the night.
This was a very relaxed drive , we stopped in between when ever we felt the place and view looked good and had a coffee break in a very small cafe on the way.
It would be another two and half hour drive on mountainous terrain to reach Valley Yosemite from here, where we had planned to stay for the night.
This was a very relaxed drive , we stopped in between when ever we felt the place and view looked good and had a coffee break in a very small cafe on the way.
We went to the park office where there were very friendly rangers helping the visitors with all the information they need and guiding them as to how to go about inside the National Park and what to do etc. This entrance is called Tioga Pass entrance . This route will be open only in summer and will be closed in winter as it would be completely covered with snow.
We entered the national park and it was a beautiful drive . Lots of Pine trees are lined up on our way and it is such a beautiful sight to watch.
We reached a meadow called Tuolumne Meadow which is 9000 ft above sea level. There is a place here called Soda Springs. This is a small place where bubbled water flows up comes out of the soil which is carbonated bubbled water.
The beauty is more in the huge surrounding, where there is a small rivulet flowing nearby. The trees, the meadows and the river looks very enchanting . We walked around and there are lots of smooth rocks which we tried to climb. We both tried while A climbed farther which reminded me of my childhood where we used to climb what we used to call in kannada as 'Bandes'.
We reached a meadow called Tuolumne Meadow which is 9000 ft above sea level. There is a place here called Soda Springs. This is a small place where bubbled water flows up comes out of the soil which is carbonated bubbled water.
The beauty is more in the huge surrounding, where there is a small rivulet flowing nearby. The trees, the meadows and the river looks very enchanting . We walked around and there are lots of smooth rocks which we tried to climb. We both tried while A climbed farther which reminded me of my childhood where we used to climb what we used to call in kannada as 'Bandes'.
Our next stop was Tenaya lake . There are huge rocks near the lake and we saw two people climbing high up with rope. The lake is quite shallow near the shore and I enjoyed standing in the water.
Next stop was Olmstead point from where we can see the view of 'Half Dome' a big granite rock which is a very famous rock . I do not know what to call this , as it is so huge which can me called a mountain which happens to be made in granite. People come here to climb this sheer Granite.
Next stop was Olmstead point from where we can see the view of 'Half Dome' a big granite rock which is a very famous rock . I do not know what to call this , as it is so huge which can me called a mountain which happens to be made in granite. People come here to climb this sheer Granite.
There is another famous Rock! Granite mountain in Yosemite which is called 'El Capitan' which is a sheer drop on one side and people climb this also and it takes three days to reach the top and people pitch tent (can I call it a tent) on a flat vertical surface and sleep? and then proceed up. Humans must be crazy to do such fetes and the enormity of the fete can be understood only when you look at the mountains.
When we see from down it is impossible to locate them, so people bring in binoculars to watch the climbers. When we see without binoculars , the climbers look like some small insects and only the movement make us 'guess' that there is some body up climbing.
Oh the endurance of Humans! I can only salute such people. These Rocks/Mountains do have characters of their own . I was just fascinated by looking at them.
Actually all these comments about the Rock Mountains were made after seeing the Half Dome. I saw both the rocks, after getting into the Yosemite Valley and watched those climbers.
When we see from down it is impossible to locate them, so people bring in binoculars to watch the climbers. When we see without binoculars , the climbers look like some small insects and only the movement make us 'guess' that there is some body up climbing.
Oh the endurance of Humans! I can only salute such people. These Rocks/Mountains do have characters of their own . I was just fascinated by looking at them.
Actually all these comments about the Rock Mountains were made after seeing the Half Dome. I saw both the rocks, after getting into the Yosemite Valley and watched those climbers.
Each area where we stop over, the meadows, etc in itself is like a little town with such vast area. There is a lovely sandy area (beach) near the Tenaya lake where people sit and relax.
I can not but think of how our Ooty/Kodaikanal and all other hill stations are so crowded and ugly.
It all started with Brits when they built dwellings as the weather resembled (in these hill station) their native weather. We took from there and now it is all completely spoiled and beyond redemption. We hear about land slides every monsoon .When we visit , it is so pathetic to see ugly structures every where in the hill stations.
It all started with Brits when they built dwellings as the weather resembled (in these hill station) their native weather. We took from there and now it is all completely spoiled and beyond redemption. We hear about land slides every monsoon .When we visit , it is so pathetic to see ugly structures every where in the hill stations.
I could not see any structure any where except some wooden dwellings here and there for the resident rangers/wardens. Only the Yosemite village is crowded but there also it is very basic structure.
The Americans will not allow a spoon of sand or a small rock memorabilia to be taken from their National Park and conserve it with such fetish.
Alas! my river beds in India are bled by Poclain Machines every day.
After all these thoughts we went to the area called Crane Flats.
Here we stopped for our lunch and have the packed lunch we brought in the ice box . I ate hurriedly as I see signs not to expose food as this is a Bear Country every where. Bears can smell any mild scents of food and come for the food. There are big Bear proof Canisters in the camp area to store the food .
We parked the car and walk down to 'Toulame Grove' to see the 'Giant Sequoia' trees. This is a trek which is around one mile distance and 400 ft down hill. The Giant Sequoia are the World's biggest trees.They are the same species as Red Wood. The Trees are very old and Giant sized . Again I struggled to come up hill and stopped now and then even though the trail is one of the easiest.
We headed towards 'Glacier Point' instead of 'Yosemite Village'. We wanted to see the sunset from this highest point in the whole valley. This is about 26 miles uphill (7200 ft above sea level) on winding roads. The sight from Glacier Point is breath taking. We can see, the 'Half Dome', ' El Capitan,' the Huge
Water Falls, two of them one below the other (must be the upper and lower yosemite falls) .
All these are on the other side of the valley. In spite of the huge valley separating the falls and where we stand we could hear the sound of the water falling. We could see the cliffs from where the water is falling as we were in a higher level. I tried to fill my eyes as much as possible and keep all the sights in my memory as it is one of the sights to be memorized.
Once the Sun set into one of the cliffs, we headed back to the Yosemite village in the valley. We had bookings in a camp, and though it was pitch dark, A managed to locate the route and reached the camp.
Water Falls, two of them one below the other (must be the upper and lower yosemite falls) .
All these are on the other side of the valley. In spite of the huge valley separating the falls and where we stand we could hear the sound of the water falling. We could see the cliffs from where the water is falling as we were in a higher level. I tried to fill my eyes as much as possible and keep all the sights in my memory as it is one of the sights to be memorized.
Once the Sun set into one of the cliffs, we headed back to the Yosemite village in the valley. We had bookings in a camp, and though it was pitch dark, A managed to locate the route and reached the camp.
We stayed in a room which is a stone base room, which had a tarpaulin like material as door with a double cot and a bunk bed. A small light was provided. Outside there was a table and a pit and for campfire. Common bathrooms are built near by which were extremely neat. Shower place and launder-mat are near the entrance. Lot of people were eating their dinner by the side of the bonfire. We had not brought the fuel to light the fire. We ate our food and the food was still good as we planned the menu in such a way. In this place food is available , might not be that user friendly especially to a person like me who is a vegetarian.
Paranoid about Bear I kept even the tooth paste inside the Canister. A teased me a lot for this, but later on, one of my friends told me that she did see (freeze?) a Bear while here which was trying to locate food from the garbage.
We slept very well after such a lovely day, but alas my Sonny could not as both of us are great snorers who do not hear each other's snore!
Next morning it was very cold and we had a nice hot bath in the clean shower place. After breakfast, we vacated the room?
We went to misty trail to see the water falls. It is just 0.8 miles up to the bridge but it is quite steep.
I struggled, so we just went up to the bridge and A went up further to see Vernan Falls. For our sake he adjusted himself to be like a tourist and not as a trekker. We came to this place by Bus from the Curry Village parking our car there.
We came back to our car and went to the 'Lower Yosemite falls', then to the 'Bridal Veil falls' . The water, falls from a very great height and due to heavy wind the water sprayed on us as droplets. It was such a lovely feeling when the chill water droplets fell on us.
We went to misty trail to see the water falls. It is just 0.8 miles up to the bridge but it is quite steep.
I struggled, so we just went up to the bridge and A went up further to see Vernan Falls. For our sake he adjusted himself to be like a tourist and not as a trekker. We came to this place by Bus from the Curry Village parking our car there.
We came back to our car and went to the 'Lower Yosemite falls', then to the 'Bridal Veil falls' . The water, falls from a very great height and due to heavy wind the water sprayed on us as droplets. It was such a lovely feeling when the chill water droplets fell on us.
Now it was time for us to start back home. Our food was getting over and here I have to record that the powder (puliogarai powder) which my friend Nalini prepared and gave me came in very handy. I had mixed it with fresh cooked rice and kept it in the icebox. The savouries my sister Janaki gave for A ('thattai') was relished with gusto.
We returned on a different route and not the Lone Pine Route.
We returned on a different route and not the Lone Pine Route.
On our way back we stopped in a place called 'Mariposa' to see some more giant Sequoia trees . We were hooked on to these lovable trees. So I fell in Love with them! The trees here were Too good . That is all I can say.
We came back to plains and stopped in a city called 'Fresno' around 3 p.m. and had lovely food in an Indian Restaurant. We packed some dinner and when we reached Santa Barbara it was around 8.30 p.m. Lovely three days.
