The best national park - Yosemite

Last weekend when we hit west coast, the two most important places on my mind were Yosemite and the Route 1 pacific coastal highway. I would admit Yosemite was the top priority although it was the worst time of the year to visit Yosemite, people say this.... I don't know.....I don't care.....I could not plan a long weekend in Yosemite because of time constraints, So I planned to reach Yosemite village at night and dedicate the full next day to the park. I along with my two buddies left for Lake Tahoe that pretty Saturday morning. Tahoe didn't had much to offer that day apart from scenic Gandola ride to top of the lake facing mountain. The lake is definitely pretty and one of the most beautiful lakes of the country. We had an early dinner in an amazing Chinese restaurant - water wheel, at the Nevada side of the South lake Tahoe city.

Our route was NV-207 S, NV-88 S to US-395 S to hit CA 120 E. CA-120 runs through Yosemite National park. We hit CA-120 from Nevada side and entered Yosemite from east. The CA-120 is also known as Tioga Pass Rd in Yosemite park area. This road is all year open road on Yosemite. When we reached US-395 it was pretty dark and by the time we entered Yosemite it was 11:30. Unfortunately we found nobody at the park gate, so we entered the park without paying. well paying was not a big deal because we can easily pay while going out but we were missing the park map which we were supposed to get at gate....we thought of getting the map from Yosemite village next morning and proceeded our drive. It was all dark. Yosemite is a park which allows night hiking also so its open 24 hrs. For us it was good 1 hr drive more before we reached the Housekeeping camps at Yosemite valley. I was driving and enjoying the forest in night. Thanks to the almost full moon that night, the forest was looking beautiful, we passed the Tenaya lake, which looked awesome in moonlight, we almost crossed the Yosemite park on CA-120 and turned towards east for the valley.

The guy at Housekeeping told me that they are open 24 hrs, well the park is 24 hrs so they should be... and yes he was infact waiting for us. I didnt knew the concept of housekeeping camps before I visited them at Yosemite. The are like three brick walls covers with tent at top and a curtain as fourth wall. The camp has a light buld and two cots and a rack, that's all with a fire grill outside and a bear box. Its like an installed Camp for you. Cool concept, you just need to carry blanket etc and other stuff, no need to worry for roof and walls.
Bear box, whats that, well these are the iron boxes installed just outside each camp to keep food. Yosemite has lots of California black bears which are actually brown in color. These bears smell food and come down to get them, if they sensed food in car, they are going to break the car and get the food. So they can come to your camps too to get the food and they might hurt. So its advised to clear the cars and store the food at secure locations i.e. bear boxes. We didn't planned and adventuresome night that day, so we were equipped with only Smirnoff Ice and tiring. We just had few and hit the bed.

Our whole of journey from Lake Tahoe to Yosemite valley was in dark and I had no idea about the park except from the fact that is jungle and its hilly. Nest morning when I got up and stepped outside my camp. I was stunned. Oh gosh, I never imagined, is it real....I was surrounded by nearly vertical high rocks from all around. With lots and lots of pine tree in the valley. The whole view was so so amazing. I just wanted to get ready and go out into the wilderness.

We had quick breakfast and hit road, the Yosemite valley is amazing place....small flat area surrounded by high rocky mountains and a narrow merced river flowing in the middle of the valley. There is a point where we can see the reflection of world famous half dome in totally still merced river. I remember the time when I was a kid, just got a new PC and we had beautiful wallpapers of amazing views from different parts of world, we used to just sigh looking at them. And today I was witnessing one of the most beautiful creation of god with my bare eyes in real - Yosemite falls, Half dome, El Capitan, merced river and there are many un-named sights. wherever I look, its an amazing sight.

Shortly after 2 we left valley for Giant Sequias and in between I saw a sign pointing towards Glacier Point, the first thought was that it will be a place to look at the valley in winter to see the glaciers, but I could not stop myself, I didn't wanted to miss any angle of Yosemite, I wanted to see whatever I can in short span of one day. It was a well 16 mile steep drive to the Glacier Point. And along the way little drizzling enhanced the beauty of Yosemite. Everyone can imagine how beautiful forest look after rains. The extra 16 mile atop the hill for Glacier Point came heavy but equally rewarding when we reached there. That was an unbelievable site. It was drizzling and in front of my eyes was the Yosemite valley surrounded by high rocky mountains peaks.

Our next stop was Mariposa Grove which is residence of Giant Sequias trees. We went for small hike into the groves. Passed giant trees fallen and still standing proudly. The giant sequias have shallow roots but spread out to large area, which help these huge tree stand proudly. There is one California tree tunnel, which is a huge tree carved out to create a tunnel in the tree trunk. Wow, the trees are so huge.....you can pass a car from the tree tunnel. Amazing.

By 7 we left Yosemite from south gate and followed route 41 south for San Fran. What an amazing day. I would love to visit this amazing beautiful place again sometime. I missed out hiking this time. Yosemite has some best of the hiking trails. Something for every season, for day and for night. Hats off to Yosemite!!!