After a hard night of sleeping and some apologizes for being grumpy the night before, we set out towards Yosemite. It was the worst stretch of driving; flat, hot, and boring. We did have the opportunity to dip into Death Valley but as we read, “the lowest, hottest, driest, and one of the most extreme places on earth” we decided that it could be skipped by a family that appreciates and pursues cold, wet, and mountainous areas. Once again mountains appeared on the hazy horizon. We pulled over for a quick bite just before entering the park and were surrounded by tanned and fit Californian hikers. Oh, to be young... I reveled in watching Emily as her jaw dropped driving through Yosemite. We arrived from the East which is not very impressive but it is a 750,000 acre park that we started driving through. With each bend and twist new vistas shocked and stunned us. Starting in the high sierras which involve smooth granite domes, craggy peaks, and spacious meadows. Next as the vertigo inducing roads continued to wind around we saw the glacier cut mountains and valleys. We wound down towards the famous valley and after coming through a tunnel the full valley majesty laid before us, including a terrific waterfall front lit by the sun causing a rainbow to blanket it. It was amazing! Sadly we arrived late and wanted to get a great view of the park so we drove the dizzying route up to glacier point which is an overlook with a commanding view of Yosemite Valley, Half Dome, Yosemite Falls, and Yosemite’s high country from a height of 7,214 feet! I walked over to the furthest point and peered over the edge watching the earth fall away over a 2000’ cliff. We sat up there cuddled together and watched the sunset over the park. It was a glorious explosion for reds and purples made even more impressive as we left and the other side of the mountains had a totally surreal and colorful sunset! Exhausted we wound our way to a hotel and collapsed.
With the best laid plans we woke up EARLY with the thought to hike up to the Sequoia Grove and run our training run back down. We beat the forest rangers to the park, in fact we beat everyone to the park and had it all to our selves as the sun came up. With an excited pup we started up the trail listening to the sounds of a waking forest with deer jumping about, birds chirping, and wind through the trees. The crisp delicious smell of pine wafted through the air. It was a simple hike up to the sequoias. Giant sequoias dwarf even the largest pine and fir trees that live among them. Their trunks can reach over 25 feet thick. Throughout the National Park System, thousands of rangers wear uniform belts and hatbands embossed with images of the cones and foliage of the sequoia. After exploring in silence the powerful trees we headed back with our run which felt great as it was all down hill! Next we hopped in the car and drove to the valley where we had a very nice breakfast at Ahwahnee hotel. The Ahwahnee distinguishes itself as one of the crown jewels of national park lodges. The Ahwahnee was designed and built in the 1920s with the specific goal of attracting well-to-do clientele. In the following century, The Ahwahnee has more than fulfilled that ambition, hosting presidents and royalty as well as other famous personalities within its walls. The fireplaces alone were gigantic with enough space in the hearth to fit a car! The dining sported 34-foot-high high beamed ceilings that soared above floor to ceiling windows that showcased the beauty of the surround valley.
Following breakfast we hiked around the valley with Bear. We saw wildlife, waterfalls, and were again impress that the very flat valley abruptly ended at 90° angles to glacier cut mountains. After nearly killing our dog in the 90° heat we finally said our goodbyes and left to have dinner with Ben and Pamela in San Francisco.
I have to most adorable niece Bowie! We met her for the first time last night over a delectable middle eastern dinner.
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