April 8, 2013
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Yosemite et al. 2012
OCTOBER 7 - OWENS VALLEY WONDERS
My parents, brother Van, sister-in-law Konie, my friend Prapan, and I took off from Los Angeles at around 8:20 am via our rented GMC Yukon. We were en route to Yosemite National Park for Van's birthday. After a little while we first stopped at Fossil Falls. We all walked a little down a path passing by several black rocks until we came across a large pile of black rocks ending in a tall cliff to the bottom. Turns out all these black rocks resulted from a lava flow long ago. In some places are light green plants growing amidst these black rocks. They offer a stark colorful contrast for a most interesting view. On the way back, not far from where we parked our vehicle is a mound called Red Hill. From our vantage point, I thought it was manmade but Van told me it was natural.
Mom and Dad
Red Hill
Fossil Falls
Prapan pondering a leap of faith?
Left: Mom Right: Me with Prapan in the background
Prapan, Van, and Konie in the distance
We continued on. Next near the town of Lone Pine we ventured onto the Whitney Portal and passed by some rock formations which frankly looked like somebody piled a bunch of rocks all around. We came across a trail that will lead us to some arch at Alabama Hills. My mom chose to remain in the car. I guess she was tired from the walk at Fossil Falls. Around the start of the trail Van pointed out Mt. Whitney to us in the distance. Mt. Whitney is the tallest mountain in the contiguous United States (i.e. not counting Hawaii and Alaska). The peak is 14,505 feet high. Near where we parked we saw an arch with an opening resembling the shape of a heart. Fittingly it was called the Heart Arch. We walked on and finally came across the arch. Prapan climbed to the top of it. Van took my dad's picture while I took candid shots from behind.
Rocks behind Lone Pine
Left: Trailhead Right: Heart Arch
Mount Whitney
Left: Me Right: Konie
Left: Me Right: Dad
Dad at a small arch
Alabama Hills Arch
Van, Prapan, Dad...and Konie
We drove up the mountains and had burgers for lunch at Whitney Store. This is near the trailhead to the Mt. Whitney trail. Van had conquered this daunting trail before. We were surrounded by tall peaks and pine trees. Burgers were quite good. We then drove down and passed through Lone Pine. It is very proud that a number of movies have been filmed here. It's quite ideal for westerns.
Left: Mount Whitney trailhead Right: Where we got our tasty burgers
Near the Mount Whitney trailhead
We continued on to Bishop. There stopped at Eric Schat Bakkery. Mom and Konie bought some tasty cakes and other confections there.
We then stopped by Hot Creek. From atop we could see steam rising from the hot springs below. Van, Prapan, and I walked down and then alongside the creek. The sulfur odor was quite apparent. I walked ahead and wanted to go to as far as we were allowed to until I noticed some men and women nearby at the creek. The women wore only towels and one man was also in a towel. Obviously they were bathing in the hot springs. To their right was a man drying himself who wasn't in a towel yet so yes, I saw a fully naked man from behind. I was stunned at this sight and turned around. Prapan was behind me and soon also caught this ghastly sight. He too turned around and we all walked back. Prapan was wondering why I didn't warn him since I saw him first. I think I was still heebie jeebied from the sight myself. When Konie wondered about us seeing a naked man, Prapan said that it's daytime but there's a full moon out.
Hot Creek
Prapan reeling from sight of naked man
It is close to sundown. We have reached the outskirts of Yosemite National Park. Just the view around us while driving in was awesome. Yosemite is full of towering peaks and other rock formations. We stopped and took photos with Mt. Gibbs and Mt. Dana.
With Mt. Gibbs and Mt. Dana
We then drove on. We finally got to our residence, Yosemite West Condominium, just before 9 pm. For dinner we had steak, macaroni and cheese, and kabobs. We watched a little bit of The Avengers. Soon everyone went to sleep. Upstairs my parents shared one bed with Van and Konie in the other. I slept on the couch and Prapan on the Lazy Boy. Fortunately for Prapan, we had earplugs for him. This is so he can sleep despite my sawing wood.
OCTOBER 8 - YOSEMITE HIKE
Konie whipped up some bacon, eggs, and rice for breakfast.
At 10:58 am we went to Glacier Point. My folks, Prapan, and I had never been here. I had never gotten such a close-up view of Half Dome. Below is the Yosemite Valley. Yosemite is one of the most visually breathtaking places I know. Everywhere you turn is a majestic view.
Half Dome with Cloud's Rest in the distance
Yosemite Valley
View from Glacier Point
Soon after my folks and Konie returned to the residence. Van, Prapan, and I began our hike via the Panorama Trail. I begins as an inverted hike. Van is an accomplished hiker. Prapan is in great shape. I am neither. I needed an initial break to tape a couple of my toes. We stopped from time to time to snap some photos.
Left: Taping the toes Right: The start of our hike
Hiking at Yosemite
As we proceeded, we saw Illiloutte Falls across the way. Not much water at this time of year. The trail then took us across the Merced River. There wasn't much water there either so we were able to walk onto the big rocks on the riverbed.
Illiloutte Falls
Merced River
Danger sign
On the Merced riverbed
From the river are some switchbacks that scaled the opposing rise. We stopped at one of the switchback turns to eat lunch. Onwards we continued. The trail took us behind Half Dome. I had never seen the backside of Half Dome before. It pretty much dominated the surrounding landscape. As we ventured on, we also came across Liberty Cap. We were also able to see Cloud's Rest and Nevada Falls. Once again, Nevada Falls didn't have as much water as it could have. We took the historic John Muir Trail to descend from this peak. There was a lot of horse poop we needed to avoid on the way down.
The hike continues towards the Yosemite Valley
Half Dome and Liberty Cap
Liberty Cap
John Muir Trail to the Yosemite Valley
One last rest
Finally we reached the bottom and none too soon. My right knee was killing me. We took the shuttle to the Visitor Center. There we rendezvoused with my folks and Konie. We changed clothes then went to check out El Capitan before it got too dark. El Capitan is probably one of the most scaled peaks period.
Bridge over river at bottom of valley
End of hike
El Capitan
That evening we had dinner at Mountain Room Restaurant. I enjoyed a good, fairly large ribeye steak with a baked potato and veggies. We all shared a creme brulee, sorbet, and mudpie.
We then returned to our residence. Today's hike covered over 10 miles. For me, it's the most mileage I ever covered in a single hike.
OCTOBER 9 - MARIPOSA GROVE
We departed from the Yosemite West Condos after a breakfast of scrambled eggs, bacon, and mashed potatoes. On this cool morning we headed for the Mariposa Grove. Before our scheduled tram tour, Prapan and I went to admire two sequoias near the entrance of the parking lot. They are known as the Sentinel and Bigfoot. Sequoias pretty much dwarf everything else around especially people.
Ready to check out some trees
Me and Prapan with Bigfoot
Prapan and I with Sentinel
With the time before the start of the tour approaching, we were wondering where my father was. I tracked him down amidst an area with sparser trees. He spotted a woodpecker and point it out to me. I managed to snap a couple of pictures of our feathered friend.
Woodpecker
Our tram tour began at 11 am. We wore headphones connected to an automated guide. The tram route took us through this sequoia forest full of these giant trees. The most notable ones all have names. First one we was the Fallen Monarch. It is a large tree now on it's side. Then we came an impressive quartet called the Bachelor and Three Graces. Other notable ones we passed by were the Mariposa Tree, Telescope Tree (one can see the sky from within), Columbia Tree (tallest in the Mariposa Grove), Fallen Giant (formerly for cars to drive through), Faithful Couple (joined), Massachusetts Tree (fallen with alienlike roots), and Clothespin Tree (can drive through).
Fallen Monarch
Bachelor and Three Graces
Mariposa Tree
Faithful Couple
Massachusetts Tree
Columbia Tree
Telescope Tree (from inside you can see the sky yet it's still alive)
Clothespin Tree
The most dominating presence in the Mariposa Grove is the Grizzly Giant due to its size and uniquely menacing appearance especially due to the thick branches. Nearby is the California Tree which is most noted because you can walk through it.
Grizzly Giant
California Tree
We then left Yosemite National Park. We went to Fresno for lunch at Dog House Grill. It's a sports bar with some great tri-tip sandwiches.
We returned to Los Angeles at around 8 pm. On the way back we saw a cool plane overhead. First we dropped off Prapan and then finally home after a long day.
For me this was the very best trip I had ever taken to Yosemite to date. Though I suffered, it's great to be able to hike one of the many legendary trails at Yosemite. I got to see it from many different vantage points I hadn't seen before. This was my first time at the Mariposa Grove and enjoyed every moment of it.
