Denis said, "I have never ridden a road that gave me so much energy!"
Bob said, "For what it's worth, it exhausted me!"
In my journal: "Man! That a ride today! Incredible climbs and scenery much different than the coast! We crossed over the central valley with crops growing in endless fields. Then, the road began to wind and climb. We saw where we headed. The high Sierras awaited our legs and resolve."
We climbed up to 4,000 feet elevation toward Yosemite. The ride along the roaring Merced River provided electricity to our legs. We arrived late and camped out in the last campground for backpackers. Visitors packed the park, or should I say, crammed and jammed it into an anthill of humanity. Not too much peace, quiet or natural serendipity. Nonetheless, we explored its beauty.
We visited all the great waterfalls blasting massive amounts of water to the valley floor. Half mile high Yosemite Falls, romantic Bridal Veil , raging Nevada Falls, soothing Vernal falls, Mirror Lake, Merced River at full blast, Half Dome, John Muir Trail and Trail of Mist where everyone suffers a mini-rain storm. We saw a bear jump into the Merced and swim across. One night, two bears frolicked through our campsite while they nonchalantly played the mating game. We climbed for hours to Nevada Falls for a spectacular sight! It raged with noise and power and stunning displays of water and vapors. At the bottom, the crashing water formed an apron that shot out from the base like "dry ice' that streams over the ground. The sun beat down on the mist, creating endless rainbows from all angles. We listened to Lee Stetson perform his rendition of John Muir, the first environmentalist and world traveler who lived in Yosemite and created the National Park Systems along with Teddy Roosevelt.
In my journal: "Just amazing rush of mist, of spray and water down from all the waterfalls cascading into this amazing valley! At Nevada Falls, we sat by SO much energy rushing down from the cliffs. At the bottom of that particular falls, we watched the crashing waters spray out like a phantom of dry ice spreading into the woods below. A most amazing site! We loved the trails, birds, hawks, deer and sounds of water everywhere in the valley."
We rolled out of Yosemite four days later to climb 80 miles over up and down mountainous roads to 10,000 feet at Tioga Pass with a great deal of snow and passed the majestic Tenaya Lake. We saw a mama bear and two cubs too close for comfort. We camped in the snow. We enjoyed a backdrop of white-capped mountains and crystal clear waters. Amazing! Again in the morning, we saw the bears again!
"Bears are made of the same dust as we, and breathe the same winds and drink the same waters. A bear's days are warmed by the same sun, his dwellings are overdomed by the same blue sky, and his life turns and ebbs with heart-pulsings like ours, and was poured from the same First Foundation. And whether he at least goes to our stingy heaven or no, he has terrestrial immortality. His life not long, not short, knows no beginning, no ending. To him life unstinted, unplanned, is above the accidents of time, and his years, markless and boundless, equal Eternity." John Muir 1871
After two days of up and down, log curves, many lakes and enormous beauty, we reached Tioga Pass. Snow and frozen lakes greeted us as well as astounding scenery. We celebrated at 9,945 feet at the ranger station!
(Note: You can view every article as one long page if you sign up as an Advocate Member, or higher).
