Week 245-246 - Yosemite Valley Fall and Spring - 05-01-2011
Yosemite Valley, Fall 2010 versus Spring 2011
In the fall of 2010 we made our 7th trip to Yosemite National Park and spent time in Yosemite Valley. This area rivals Yellowstone National Park for the most spectacular of all of the U.S. National Parks. This was our first trip into the park in the Mothership. We had been there in 1987 in a 35-foot rental motorhome, but now we are at 44 feet. We knew it would be difficult to get a campsite, since there are only 12 sites large enough for us. More on this later.
The first six photos of this travelogue are from September 2010.
1) A view of the valley as you enter from the West. 2) Coming through the Wawona tunnel.
El Capitan, the "climbing rock".
In the fall we hiked and climbed 1.5 miles to reach Vernal falls, the only falls in the valley that had water.
We estimated the falls to be perhaps, 10 feet across, again, this is the fall of 2010.
This, fall of 2010, photo of the valley was taken from the Tunnel View lookout.
Fast forward to April 2011. We were camped at Sierra Park in Coarse Gold, CA. Being only 40 miles from Yosemite Valley we thought it a great idea to scooter into the valley and get pictures of what it looks like in the Spring. Wow! Look at Bridal Veil Falls.
Compare the Fall of 2010, left side, with Spring 2011, on the right. You might think the tree is hiding the water in the Fall. But, alas, there was no water in the Fall. Believe us that you want to visit Yosemite in the Spring, it is awesome and we use that word very sparingly.
This is Bridal Veil Falls close up. The visual power and the sound is stunning.
As you approach the falls you will get soaked. Not knowing this, we trudged forward and wiped off the camera lens later.
This is the stream created by Bridal Veil.
Deeper into the valley we were treated to a beautiful blanket of snow . . .
. . . and to a great view of Half Dome.
With all the falls running at top volume, this is a view of Upper Yosemite falls on the north side of the valley.
From this angle you can see both Upper and Lower Yosemite falls. The Lower Falls looks puny by comparison . . .
. . . until you get up close and see how enormous and powerful it is.
The river coming off these falls is spectacular and full of great swimming and wading pools, if you are tough enough.
So there we have it: Yosemite Fall and Spring. This park is beautiful and awe inspiring any time of the year. All of our previous seven trips had been in warmer weather and they were great. But visit in the Spring if you want to witness the majesty of God's creation.
Take time to smell the flowers and see the falls.
Love, Pete and Ellen
Tip to motorhome visitors: As with all state and federal parks, they will not reserve you a site if you do not fit into the maximum length they have specified on their maps. However, when you get there w/o reservations, they try much harder to fit you in. Here is the specific drill to bag an unreserved site in Yosemite Valley (as of April 2011).
1. Drive into the valley and get to the campground reservation office by 7:00 am or earlier to be first in line.
2. Sign up on the waiting list.
3. Pray.
4. Come back at 3:00 pm (or whatever time they tell you) and see if you get a site. The available sites are those where people left early or canceled their reservations.
Note that we arrived about 9:00 am, which was way too late. There were 12 sites available on our day and we were about 20th on the list.
This special edition travelogue was brought to you as there is nothing new in our travel.
Photos from May 2011
The Full Time Motorhome Living Guide
Get a Better Browser Design by MattsonExpress.com © 1977-2024 MattsonExpress All Rights Reserved. Click to email us