Day 15 - Yosemite 2

We got up at 5:00 AM this morning and hit the road for Yosemite at 5:15 AM. We slept great as it was quiet and cold. There were little chipping sounds at first that were either mice or bats flying over the tent.

It's a 45 minute drive to the Yosemite Valley unfortunately and it is a winding, heavily forested road, so it seems long.  Tim was right...early in the morning and evening is the best time to see the park. When we hiked the Sentinnel and Cook's Meadows, we were one of the few out there.  It was so amazing! It was beautiful in every direction including the cold, clear Merced River.  I was so thrilled to get good, long looks at Acorn Woodpeckers, which were a life bird.  I also heard a different vireo and it matched the iPod call for a Cassin's Vireo exactly, so that was life bird #2 for the day.

Next we hiked the Swinging Bridge area and that also was beautiful.  There are Stellar's Jays everywhere along with Western Wood-Pewees and Common Ravens. There were many raisins.  Then there was a trail where we could see both waterfalls at once.  We felt much better about Yosemite after today!

We stopped at the store and a 12 pack of Mountain Dew canned soda was $11.00, so we passed on that.

At 9:45 we hiked to Lower Yosemite Falls and that was a cool hike. Then we had a picnic with the Brewer's Blackbirds amongst huge trees.

12:30-3:30 We hiked the most difficult trail I've ever hiked!  We did the Mist Trail Hike to Vernal Falls.  It was 2.50 mile hike and the last 1.5 miles had over a 800 foot gain. It was steep and quite a workout for us 50 something flatlanders, but the waterfall was beautiful!  We were so close that we were getting wet from the mist.  

We were ready for a real shower afterwards, so we went to Curry Village to the public showers that cost $5 each.  That was refreshing!  We went for a drive to get used to the layout of the valley floor.  Then on the way out we spent some time at Valley View/Gates of the Valley near the Merced River viewing nearly the whole valley.  Then we spent some time at Tunnel View, which is a view from up high. That was spectacular too!

Then the long haul back to the campground for chicken brats! Oops! That was my fault.  We will chill at the campground this evening. 

The Acorn Woodpecker was a wonderful life bird to see!

Cool looking beetle!

A view of both falls.

This butterfly is called the California Sister.

This is a Rock Squirrel I believe.

Here is one view of our campsite.  Notice the bear box where everything with a scent is to be stored.

Our campsite from another angle.

This is the lower falls.

Valley View of the Merced River

A nice picnic area.

Occasionally we would see bear traps set up.