This review is for who has never been to Yosemite National Park, who is used to visiting it can write an encyclopedia on it. The trip starts at San Francisco and after many curves and crossing with exits over and under us; we finally leave the center of the metropolitan pass Oakland. The way to Yosemite is nice. The various changes of the landscape are incredible. At first, you will cross-hills full of turbine windmills. They are all over, as known California is the State with the highest number of alternated source research. Then you will cross-fields exclusively with fruit cultivation. Suggested to stop and buy the delicious fruit in the many booths on the way. In the park if you intend to cook on your own instead of going to restaurants, stop for shopping before you reach the park. There are two super markets, one outside the park and one inside. The one outside is at Groveland, the closes town to the park (about 20 miles). It is better to shop at Oakdale, on the way about an hour trip from the park. There are a few good supermarkets. You can buy some very good quality meat, being that there are many farms in the valley, and the fruit comes from the surrounding valley.
For the lodging, everything depends 1) on the period you reserve 2) on the time you want to stay 3) where you want to lodge. Inside the Park there is a village with structures for every pocket. There is a camping, lodges, the Curry Village, and up to one of the best hotels in the world. The Ahwahnee Hotel. If your interested in this hotel there is no problem not to find rooms, but for the other places start looking for reservations between January to march of the same year. Otherwise, you can sleep in one of the close towns. Many think that outside the park is full of hotels, but it is not so. The closes lodgings are about 45 minutes from the park entrance, which you have to add other 40 minutes to reach the center of the park where all the excursions leave.
The first sight of the park is splendid; as soon as you pass the entrance for miles and miles you cross threw a forest that leaves you breathless. Seem to be another world. While advancing for more miles you reach a vista point (near the tunnel) that permits to see the whole valley of Yosemite from high. Practically it is an all together of forest and prairie closed between two steep chains of mountains. You will see “The Sentinel “and l’Half Dome on the background. Continuing on the way you reach the village and from their, you will see signs indicating the various excursions possible. It’s a shame that during August and also most of July and part of September the water falls are dry. The best period to see them is going the first half of June. The mountain sides are so steep that there are water falls on both left and right side, and are visible from the bottom of the valley. At the entrance of the park they give a map and brochures for every event, in special mode for excursions. The list of excursions has the level of difficulty written on the side. I couldn’t take difficult claiming tours, so I took the ones on the bottom valley, beautiful anyway. To bad that “Mirror Lake” and “Yosemite Falls” where dry out. At least the “Bridal Vail Fall” was not completely dry. It is beautiful it creates many rainbow effects due to the wind divert. You can also follow a trail that follows the river and claiming rock by rock you can arrive under the fall. Really emotional!! If you’re a type that doesn’t like walking next to the visitor center you can take a tour with an open van. After have visited all take a swim along the river “Merced” which crosses the whole park and “very freshness”. This can be considered a unique experience.
Leaving the Yosemite Valley we directed towards Tioga pass, a road that coasts the whole park and is closed during the winter. This road can remain closed even till late May. This road permits you to reach Death Valley or to Nevada or even Mono Lake. If Yosemite is beautiful, crossing the area Tioga is even better. Traveling for over an hour you will be at 2500-3000 meters above sea level (also touching 3200). Here the water streams are never dry!!! You will see valleys that will fill your eyes for a long time. Before arriving to Tuolumne Meadows (the closes hebetated center) you must take a stop at Tenaha Lake!! A sight that will finish out your camera. The best pictures of the whole trip were taken there, not mentioning the various excursions possible. Seeing the many cars parked on the street, I think that I was not the only one who made a mistake on the beauty of this zone. In fact the Yosemite Valley is famous, but takes a day to Tioga Pass it is worth it. |
