The Mighty (and cold) Yosemite

Ready for bed on first night in Greely Hill, Yosemite

The day we left San Francisco it was grey so a great day to travel.  It’s about a 3.5 hr drive to Yosemite and we weren’t staying in the park (no hook ups).  We had booked into a little place in Greely Hill who said they were a 25 minute drive from Yosemite.  The camp was at 3500 feet so it was a bit of a climb for Louie but we made it and managed to get the camper up before the rain set in.  It was COLD and not a great campsite.  1 toilet and shower for men and one for women and not in a great state.  On arrival we heard that the next day they were expecting snow in the park and a big storm to come through so when we woke up the next day to clear blue skies we took the bull by the horns and rushed off to the park. 

El Capitan and Half Dome, Yosemite

Yosemite is amazing.  If you want the majestic vistas head here and if you want the game head to Yellowstone.  There are huge granite cliffs towering over the park, El Capitan and The Half Dome are two of the biggest.  They beckon climbers from all over the world to come and conquer them, you don’t actually realise how big these cliffs are until you spot a climber who looks like a tiny wee ant on a rope.   You can also hear their voices reverberate through the valley as they shout to one another. 

Bridal Falls

Bridal Falls trail

Whanau shot

Geologists think that the granite of Yosemite’s walls solidified over 5 miles underground.  As the overlying rock eroded away over millions of years the granites rose to their current exposed level.  There are lovely waterfalls everywhere and the Merced river runs through the valley of the park.  Wildlife here includes bears (we didn’t see any), mule deer, marmot and coyotes to name a few.  This park also has huge Sequoia tree groves, they are massive.  It would take about 20 men around the base holding hands to get round the circumference.

Justin was a bit disappointed at how people are allowed to get out of their cars anywhere and walk anywhere they want as it means that wildlife are even harder to spot because they avoid areas where humans have been.  There are trails everywhere, it is a climbers and hiker’s paradise that’s for sure.  One of the best drives to do here is go through the Tunnel View, you enter a long tunnel and it opens out on to the most amazing view of the cliffs, valley and the Bridal Falls.  Just gorgeous.  Yosemite is actually very small, you can easily drive it in a day but you’ll need longer if wanting to do hikes etc.  The cost to get in is $25 for a 7 day pass.

We had our picnic at the Swing Bridge beach which was really nice.  There are squirrels (or Chip and Dales as Leo likes to call them) that are so tame they literally sit at your feet hoping for crumbs.  Spencer was fascinated by them.  We took a stroll through the valley by the river for awhile and then noticed the weather closing in.   Yosemite Village is at the East end of the park so we had a coffee there, gave the kids their bottles and prepared to head home as there was some serious clouds coming in and the temperature had really dropped.  The camp ground is here and we saw a little army of pup tents that the climbers must stay in, man they are brave.

What granite cliffs....where is Lowly Worm?

Spencer chasing her squirrel

Just as we were leaving the High Sierra we spotted coyotes!  Two of them and as we stopped the car they simply strolled right past us.  They must have been a mating pair.  It was awesome to see them as we have heard them a few times howling in the night but have never seen one.  Leo was half asleep but we managed to rouse him for a look.

Right outside Leo's window!

By the time we got back to camp it was pouring and it was a long night listening to the pine cones thud on our roof, hoping for no leaks and trying not to need to go to the toilet.  The next morning Justin found a puddle of water on the floor in his socks but it was because we hadn’t put the bbq away.

The park was off limits for us because of the snow and although Louie is 4 wheel drive it’s not recommended without chains.  We considered leaving that day but wanted to give the kids a break so we headed out for a nice warm breakfast at the local diner and had a look around the old Gold Town of Coulterville.  They still have the hangman’s tree where they hung the villains back then.  It’s right at the bottom of the main street.  There are still privateers mining in the hills around Yosemite so it’s been a productive area since the 1850’s.  We headed back into town for a drink at the old saloon that has been open since 1845 which was nice.  They had a stuffed coyote there with a lizard in it’s mouth.  After falling in love with Gheko’s in Sth Africa Leo was quite upset about this and of course we got all the questions about death again. “The gheko goes into the wolf’s mouth, to it’s tummy, to his back, to his pooh poohs and then goes to be with Grandad Pit and Zara and all his friends will miss him.” .  Can’t argue with that.

Hangman's Tree!

We got a feeling for how tough things are in this area when Justin stood behind a lady in the queue at the supermarket who was trying to cash her husband fortnightly cheque for his job.  The amount was $60….when we grabbed a coffee the next morning at the local diner that woman served us so she can’t have been earning that much either.

Our camper has stood the test of time so far and been through quite a bit.  We have seen quite a few canopies from air con units on the side of the road and wondered why but now we know.  The cross winds when you are travelling some of these open roads, particularly in desserts, are very strong.  Our own canopy has a crack in it and is holding on by a thread.  Fingers crossed she goes the distance………..