Spring 08 RoadTrip - Day 1

Day 0 - May 21

... Well, finally am out on my first roadtrip. Though this roadtrip does not involve much of camping but hiking is for sure. Trip has been planned, google maps ready, AAA maps in hand, GPS in hand, most of the urgent shopping done. I picked up Hyundai Sonata from the rental company as that was the only one available. I was lucky enough to get a decent mileage car as the original rental location was giving me a truck or a PT Cruiser ... grrrr !! I wanted something basic, economic and the best out of gas. Everything packed and ready to head out. Here is the list (hiking shoes, extra pairs of clothes/socks/etc, hiking backpack, camera backpack, MagLite torch, camping sleeping pad, sleeping bag, comforter (kombol), packed food, lots of water and gatorade, couple of diet cokes, medicines, extra glasses, ice cooler box, necesarry utensils, 2 gl gas tank, music CDs, sunburn protection cream, gum). Am i missing something? Maybe yes, but will come to know only when i head out ... hee hee. Well, its been almost 3 AM since packing is all done and am sceptical if i can make it tomorrow at 6 AM. Adios !!


Day 1 - May 22


As usual, woke up late, all ready and set to head out at 7:30 PM. Bought the ice bags from 7x11 store and while i took 880 remembered i forgot the umbrella and the extra pair of shoes. Damn !!! anyway no returning back. Enjoying the drive i headed out for Yosemite. 880-156-152-SR41 into Yosemite. Starting 156 it was a scenic route and thats what i had planned for. SR41 was a great road too, with good winds and turns up into Yosemite. Took my Annual Pass (ya ya, i spent 80$ for the pass and not 20$ for the entry ticket, as i knew am going to come back several times) from Wawona Information Station and headed out towards Glacier Point.

That was the plan to detour into Glacier Point Road, spend some time there and then go to the village. What should i say about the views. Beautiful, exotic, scintillating, i was rejuvenated. Really worth that i ventured out. I reached Glacier Point around 1 PM. The expression was simply Wowwww. walked around the area, took lots of pictures, sat at a secluded downhill area for sometime (away from the crowds) with my eyes and mind gazed towards Glacier Point and the Valley. Wanted to do the 4 mile hike down to the valley but a 8 mile return trip will kill the day and i had lots to do. So headed out back down, stopped at couple of Vista points, took pictures and took the turn towards the village. Best part is the valley view to El Capitan. Man, i really need the feel to buy a wide angle lens now. It was very crowded. Northside Dr was closed so it was bi-way traffic on Soutside Dr. I did not want to hang around as i kind of fell suffocated with so many ppl around. Took a loop drive, stopped by couple of points (El Capitan view, Tunnel view, and views to Dewey point), took pictures and headed out for the wait of the day, Tioga Pass. It just opened today yesterday so was kind of worried on the road conditions.

Finally entered Tioga Road and what i was presented with cannot be explained in words. I was cruising at 30-35 mph to get a good grasp of all the views. My first stop was at Senta Lake, small one yet serene, calm, and beautiful. Sat there for sometime besides the water and felt so good. Well, i did not have any food until now, just some regular munchons like Pringles and Oatmeal bars. I was fine completely, not feeling hungry at all. Was ensuring to drink lots of water and gatorade in periodic intervals. There were not much cars/vehicles on Tioga pass so i was able to cruise around, stop and look far ahead of me. Well, it suddenly started rainging with very little snow showers. I mean, it was bearable though and i could walk around. It was windy and chilly though. Kept on driving from there without a stop and came upto Olmsted Pt. It was partially covered with snow, with portions of the mountain visible. There were little snowshowers and was slight foggy. Nevertheless, i was awestruck again.

I was approaching by Tenaya Lake and the wonders of nature was slowly revealing. I stopped by one of the view points down the lake brink. Its my bad, that i did not note down all the view point names, mountain names, but i remember one which is Pywiack Dome. Geographically am bad too to explain the natural set presented :(Along the banks of the crystal clear blue water (you can literally see the rocks below) the Dome looked fabulous. The Dome was portruded in front of the range (Sierra Nevada) and it felt like it was sitting on a cushion. The backview of dense forests was marvellous. I strolled around the lake for sometime (hit up on google search for Tenaya Lake and it will reveal lots of information and breathtaking views) took pictures and headed out.

I did not go into Toulemene Meadows that day and thus headed out towards Lee Vening where the night stay was booked at Lake View Lodge. The stretch from the exit station of Tioga to Lee Vening was great too, with beautiful mountain drops and views to the valley. Finally with an everlasting experience, ended the trip to the lodge. The lodge was great with a good view. Checked in, bought a small pint of JD from the store next door, had a good steak sandwich at the Mobil Restaurant and went to sleep. Target was to wake up as early as possible to get into Moon Lake.

One thing i did not mention was about bikers. Myriads of bikes (mostly cruisers) and groups were swarming around Glacier Pt Road. It was so good to see them. I so badly want to do a roadtrip on my bike too. That would be real fun and enjoyment.

However, Yosemite should be more visited at summer and fall time. Fall time is the best due to change of colours which makes the place, i would say the "abode of Gods".

And, here is the map for the day

Home to Glacier Point Road to Curry Village, Yosemite National Park to Lake View Lodge, Lee Vening (via Tioga Pass)
http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&hl=en&geocode=17919502777459609228,37.020120,-119.793440%3B17952120303703987918,37.727118,-119.575249%3B8954944997412107740,37.739349,-119.560435&saddr=444+Saratoga+Ave,+Santa+Clara,+CA+95050&daddr=CA-41+%4037.020120,+-119.793440+to:Glacier+Point+Rd+%4037.727118,+-119.575249+to:Happy+Isle+Loop+Rd+%4037.739349,+-119.560435+to:37.95638,-119.119263&mra=mi&mrcr=2&mrsp=4&sz=13&via=1&sll=37.949342,-119.123554&sspn=0.056718,0.116043&ie=UTF8&z=13