Yosemite National Park!

29th November

Ice, Ice baby

I'd been looking forward to Yosemite National Park since before I began my trip.  The winter was closing in and I may have left it too late to cross the park and witness the wilder areas.  By the time I got to the Yosemite Bug Hostel, some twenty miles outside the park, it was apparent that snow had closed the road for the season.  That wasn't going to stop me seeing the park and what all the fuss is about.  You should really take chains at this time of year but it's possible to drive in Yosemite Valley without them.  On entering the circular route around the valley I lost control and skidded on the ice, and soon adjusted my driving style so that wouldn't happen again.  Hopefully.  I've only had that happen a few times, and although not serious, it can be a problem if travelling too fast.  Especially when returning the messed up hire car.

Yosemite Valley itself is halfway between a beautiful wild park and disney world.  The roads that were closed are where the real wilderness is found, but ascending one of the routes out of the valley can take you in to the wild side again.  I only went a few miles before turning back at an altitude where the paths become a little more icy than dry.  The views are spectacular and now I need to come back outside of winter to see the rest.  And The Grand Canyon.  And Arizona.  And everywhere else! To get the best out of these places you have to equip yourself and go camping.  I was hoping to get in contact with some locals who would be up for such adventures and have some of the equipment, but no such luck.  Winter's just not the right time for most people.

I was hopeful I'd see a bear, but they're no fan of disney world day trippers.  I bet they are around at dawn and dusk, there are signs warning drivers and campers to secure there food and cars, and bears have damaged many a car in search of an easy meal.  It's smart not to keep food in your tent with you if camping, but everyone in the US knows that already.

The Yosemite Bug Hostel is twenty miles outside the park entrance.  The road in to the park, winds slowly along the river that must have cut the deep valley.  There are so many great views and stunning rock landscapes here.  It's the sort of place you should share with friends or family.




























I don't remember seeing a single wild mammal here, and very few birds such is the disturbance from tourism.  I almost feel guilty, but it's not me, it's everyone else.  Bloody humans.  Next time I come it'll be in summer when the roads are open.

The numerous camping vehicle spots (I'm talking hundreds of births), were mostly empty at this time of year.  In the height of summer I can't imagine anything worse than coming to Yosemite Valley with thousands upon thousand of people.  That's what I meant likening it to Disney Land.  There are cafes, shops, a supermarket, a bar and likely a lot more I didn't see here.   The parks were famously created to save the environment for the public and wildlife.  I hope the wildlife are thriving more in the vast reaches closed to vehicles in winter.  After a day and a half visiting the park I realised I wasn't going to see any bears, and it was time to move on anyway.  Driving for 40 minutes each day, just to get to the entrance was something I hadn't envisioned/ or researched properly. The next stop: Fresno.  "What you wanna go there for?" someone asked me.  "To meet and stay with some real Americans in a real American home!"