May 10 - Yosemite National Park

Sunday, May 10 – I slept in my tiny one man tent, with see through tops and sides. I slept good next to the running water, and the view going to sleep was amazing. I was awoken though at some point before dawn from a nightmare. I don't really remember what it was about besides a skull coming to get me, but after I fell back asleep I dreamt I was telling someone about the skull dream. Weird how that works.

The road into Yosemite was as I would have expected, twisting up and up through pine forests. Suddenly a line of stopped cars appeared ahead. Stopping behind them, we speculated that it was a bear jam. Fifteen minutes, we arrived at The Yosemite National Park ticket booth. A line just to get in!

After showing our passes and entering, we were immediately disappointed that the entire Sequoia Grove area was closed. Continuing down a winding mountain road bumper to bumper with families from Fresco, we headed into the Yosemite Valley. We passed a wild fire on the side of the road, not too big, but who knows what could happen with a little wind. After driving by the flames, we entered a long tunnel and came out at a viewpoint of the valley, waterfalls, El Captain and the Half dome.

Trying to stop there for a picture took a few minutes. The 40 car parking lot was full and everyone was quick to steal a spot. Tyne jumped out to just take a quick picture and I was going to wait, but suddenly a spot opened up. Dazey and I got out and both our breaths were taken away. Mine taken by the scenery, hers by all the other dogs to say hello to.

Continuing down the valley, we attempted to stop at Bridal Vail Falls, but there was a line just to get into the parking lot! Another mile down the road, we stopped at the Cathedral beach picnic area, where we managed to find a spot and take a close look at El Captain and the swift Yosemite River. Dazey got into the water a little, but we dried her off with the doggy towel.

A few minutes later, we stopped at another picnic area with a bridge over the river. From the bridge you could see 3 waterfalls, and most of the canyon sights. We tried to walk from there to one of the waterfalls but a granite wall appeared in front of us and prevented us from getting close at all. This was probably about a mile or two, the best little walk we were able to get in for the day.

Down to the end of the valley, we went past the mostly closed campgrounds and headed back on the other side of the valley. We made a couple quick stops on this side, but we were planning on driving up to the mountain pass that runs west to east across the park, and find a good hike to do up there, away from the crazy tourist mob in the valley.

We made for the pass. Figuring this would be the last time we would have a chance to get gas for a long time, we topped off the tank at an incredibly high $2.82! A mile on the road up to the pass, a sign informed us that the road was closed 4 miles ahead! No way, we had to get over. 4 miles ahead, the road was indeed closed, so we looked at the map and decided to head back west and then north to another pass.

Leaving the park, we were mad that we filled up with such expensive gas, but we saw $2.99 and $3.10 at the next few spots, so we weren't too upset. As we were exiting the park, the ranger told us that the pass we wanted was still closed, and we would have to go even farther north! Reluctantly, we continued out and down out of the mountains.

We got to the town of Sonora at around 3pm. It was 84 degrees and hot. Topping the tank off again at the lowest price in miles, $2.33 we got water and attempted to get internet (to no success) and then again headed up into the hills.

From under 2,000 feet, we slowly climbed out of the heat and into The Stanislaus National forest. We pasted a state park advertising Giant Sequoias and continued to over 7000 feet. Up here the trees started to grow stunted and snow was making its comeback. By the time we reached the 8,314 foot pass, there were drifts of over 6 feet all over the place. We passed a half melted alpine lake, and then another that was completely frozen still with a cabin buried in snow as well. Towering Sierra Peaks surrounded us in a winter dreamscape.

The other side was not nearly as wet. The snow quickly vanished as we twisted and turned down into Toiyabe National Forest. After a few miles, we started to smell the brakes and took a 10 minute break. Dazey was anxious to get to camp and we were too. It was getting late and we wanted dinner.

A few minutes before 6, we came into a large pine forest and watched the terrain start to level out. Still up around 6000 feet, it was cool but not bad. Turning into a designated camping area, we found home for the night. We cooked some Cajun rice with Vienna sausages, a can of mackerel, and a can of peas and carrots. I thought it was awesome. Tyne had to open a can of Spaghetti-o's.

A strange atmosphere dropped upon the evening as the sun went down. Dazey was well aware of some animals in the darkness, and she didn't go to sleep for some time. Tyne slept in her tent, and I in the van. Both of us were haunted by scary dreams.

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