Yosemite National Park, arrived Monday, June 18 and spent two nights in the Valley Floor at Upper Pines before catching the hikers shuttle bus up to Tuolumne Meadows.
Before we went up to the meadows we hired a raft for a three mile ride down the Merced river. This was cool craic and really enjoyable down the river, stopped for a swim too.
We got the bus up to Tuolumne Meadows which is fantastic although at 8,600ft it's tough at first on the lungs and got cold at night. The meadows are really nice although it was very dry last winter, the ranger said they only got 28% of normal snow fall. This has reduced the usually flower coverage of the meadows.
Up in the meadows we just relaxed as the altitude took a while to get used to but we managed a hike around the meadows which is more of a walk. Also we hiked up Lembert Dome which is at 9,450ft (2,880m), but only about 800ft up from the meadows.
We got the bus back down to the valley and are here for a few days before continuing our trip.
We both hiked up
half dome which was a long, difficult and steep hike. About 14 miles (22.5km) from our campsite round trip and very tough. We got up at 05:20 and started our hike about 06:20 and we reached the top around 14:00 before we started our descent back to camp, arriving at 21:00. So a full day hike but the views were amazing. Most of the hike is up as the dome is 8,836ft (2,693m) high and from the valley floor is 4,800ft (1,463m). Considering that the highest mountain in Ireland, Carrauntoohill is only 3,409ft (1,039m) it is a lot of altitude and your lungs really struggle at times.
Coolest thing we did at Yosemite was the rock climbing which was really great and we highly recommend it for anyone who goes to Yosemite. We did it with the
Yosemite Mountaineering School which have all the equipment and shoes (even my size) and show you the ropes, pardon the pun.
Labels: Yosemite National Park
Sequoia National Park was amazing, really enjoyed the week and we were able to save a few hundred dollars by taking the new
Sequoia Shuttle (www.sequoiashuttle.com) from Visalia. The bus operates each morning from many stops in Visalia and Three Rivers in California from 07:00 to 13:00 and it takes less than two hours to reach Sequoia National Park, it return from the park between 14:30 and 18:30. A return ticket only costs $10 which includes the park entrance fee, a great way to see the park. The internal shuttle bus in the park lets you travel freely around the park quickly.
The bus saved us from renting a car for the week which would have cost a few hundred dollars, we highly recommend the bus for hikers and backpackers. Although you have to pre-book the bus online or by phone as it is not possible to walk on so some planning is needed.
The park's internal bus is great and the staff are really helpful and are always on the look out for bears to show you. Buses run from 09:00 to 18:30 each day and are all wheelchair accessible and you can also bring your bike too, each is equipped with a bike rack.
Labels: Sequoia National Park
Very cool, saw lots of bears too including one which passed right beside our campsite as we were reading. The trees are very, very big but lots of other cool things too like Moro Rock, Tokopah Falls and the General Sherman of course. I will post some photos and update all posts soon as we have the comforts of a hotel for the next two nights, oh a soft bed!
Will be update soon.
Some of the photos now updated not all Sequoia yet though. Also it's very warm here on the local news about it as it hits 102f/38c Irish bodies aren't built for that type of heat. As we head north is should get cooler.
Labels: Sequoia National Park
Kings Canyon, a must see it is just north of Sequoia National Park and and both combine to make the Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Park. The park is much quieter than Zion NP and we were able to arrive at 13:00 on a Friday evening and have the pick of the campsites. We stayed at the Sentinel campground which is near the visitor centre and a short walk to Cedar Grove which has a restaurant, market, laundrette, showers and telephones as well as a hotel. Sentinel has flushing toilets and each site has a bear box to store your food and any scented items.
It is not possible to visit Kings Canyon without a car, there is no public transport of any kind to the park and no internal shuttle service. This is disappointing as we had to rent a car for the week and most of the time it was parked at the campsite. Hopefully Sequoia will extend their shuttle service up north to Kings Canyon but I don't expect this to happen any time soon.
So what did we do and whats to see. One of the best hikes is up to Mist Falls, this a 8.5 mile (13.5km) round trip. The trial follows the river up to the falls and most is shaded which makes it easier in the summer. Watch out for rattle snakes on the trial we met one but the rangers have warned that due to the extremely dry conditions and low snow fall this year their numbers have increased. If you continue on the trial it brings you to paradise valley which I heard is spectacular but we didn't get to make it this time.
Zumwalt Meadows is also a nice short easy walk, about 1.5 miles (2.5km) the trail follows the perimeter of the meadow with great views of the granite cliffs and river.
Labels: Kings Canyon National Park
Having a great time so far of course, and so much more to do! Currently in Visalia, CA, for one night heading to Sequoia National Park tomorrow morning on the Sequoia Shuttle bus. Left Kings Canyon this morning packed up the tent etc and came to this small but not so small town, so not like Irish towns. Had to drop our stuff off in Sequoia NP at the campsite we booked there, then dropped off the rental car here and what should have been a 1 hr journey from Sequoia NP to here, turned into 2+half hrs of 'fun'. I'll never, ever, say a thing about Irish roadworks again. We were stopped about 10-12 miles from our campsite outside the park for AN HOUR, which at first we thought was because they were digging up the road or something and needed the time to get work done but then when we were finally let go all the workers were sitting there doing nothing at all and a simple traffic light system either end of the roadworks with a timer would have worked, there was loads of room for cars to go in 1 lane.
Anyway yesterday evening was so cool, seen a bear run through the campsite and decide to have his dinner in the meadow of the campsite! Cue all the cameras etc, and he just sat there eating not even noticing anyone. Then along come all the rangers to make a path for him so when they chase him out of the camp he doesn't run into all the people watching him happily eating his dinner! Watched him for ages until he was chased out, they look harmless enough but wouldn't want to cross them, 200-300 pounds of muscle (yeh archaic american measurements I know but I'm not going converting it)! Among the bears there has been the most beautiful birds, Mule deer, squirrels, and rattlesnakes!
Before all this we were in Zion NP which was completely different to Kings Canyon. Kings Canyon is a gorgeous park in the Sierra Nevada range but with forests, and meadows and lots of wildlife. The Kings river and the resulting canyon is the product of glaciation which means lots of life. Zion is completely opposite, it too has a canyon but it is the ultimate result of the Virgin River which means no forests, or big boulders deposited from the glacier, and it is extremely hot and dusty, very desert-like, and loads of red sandstone cliffs. The contrast is so obvious but each of the parks are well worth the visit!
Working backward again we were in Las Vegas which is such a cool city. It is the ultimate party town millions of clubs, restraunts, bars, and casinos of course. Didn't get into the whole gambling thing (I failed you Aodhan!), think we spent a total of $7 dollars in the casinos, so they probably won't want to see us again! LOVED the alcohol though, cocktails (with 99% alcohol, 1% mixer) in the middle of the day walking the Strip , couldn't get any better! LOVED the sun too great place to go for 2 weeks of fun with a twist!
Anyway thats it so far, if I think of anything I'll add it on. Hope all at home is well, and not too cold!
Labels: Kings Canyon National Park, Las Vegas, Zion National Park
