Patrick
Well-known member
The final report of this trip (ski report from Mammoth June 9-13) while follow sometimes this weekend.
June 13th: Mammoth to Yosemite Valley
After finishing skiing around 12:30, I left Mammoth to start making the long drive to Yosemite Valley. In a normal June this trip takes about 2.5 hours to drive the 100 miles through Tioga Pass into Yosemite National Park. However, this isn?t a normal year, Tioga Pass is only opening today (June 24) and the shortest route involves a detour through the Sonora pass (open for Memorial Day weekend). This route is 230 miles and a 6 hours drive, but what a beautiful drive. So back to the 395 driving north pass beautiful Mono Lake again which I stopped to visit during my week of skiing.
One thing I noticed about the California road signs is that you?re never far for sign with the altitude on it, so from 8,900 in the parking lot down to 6,000(?) in Bridgeport then way up to close to 9,700 in Sonora Pass, then way down to 1,200 in Sonora and finally up to 4,000 in the Yosemite Valley, my final destination for the day. What a drive, better not follow an old VW van from Manitoba going up at 10 miles a hour (as I did). As mentioned by Tony, access to backcountry skiing from the Sonora Pass would definitely be interesting. I estimate that close to the top of the pass, the snowbanks along the road were approximately 4 feet high. The scenery change so many times, arid hills, mountains snowfields, farmers field near Sonora, to zigzagging back up on brown/red sidehills toward Yosemite and its granite faces and great waterfalls.
Today (as I will later mentioned in my ski report), has been the warmest day of my trip so far. I even got my first sunburn ? on my left arm by driving so much. Probably arrived at 8PM at Curry Village in Yosemite Valley and checked-in for my stay in a tent cabin. Curry Village felt more like a small city; many people like myself here to enjoy the beautiful sights, hike or do what ever in this beautiful national park. There were a few signs that freaked me out. The first one was regarding Bear warning, the second was about Mountain Lions when hiking!!! YIKES!!! The park had a nice video of bear breaking into cars. I remember the guy for the car rentals at Reno Airport mentioned that they had a few people with bear damaged cars. The strong advice was not to leave any scented items (food, garbage, sunscreen, toothpaste, soap, does that includes wet ski boots and socks?) in your car, tent anywhere else than the lockers. After cleaning up the rental car and safely storing my stuff, I went to eat. It was 9PM and I hadn?t eaten since I left Mammoth. The only food still available in the area was at the Pizza Patio in Curry Village. The line-up was 25 minutes long then 10-15 minutes to actually get the pizza. Boy, is this place crowded.
In the tent at 10:30PM, lights out?
June 14th: Yosemite (Mist Trail, Glacier Point)
Had good night sleep expect maybe for the noise and banging on lockers at 2AM. Was it Bears??? I got up late, it?s was probably the first morning in a week that I didn?t get up at 5:30-6AM, I wasn?t going to hike up the Half Dome today (10-12 return trip hike). I slowly started getting ready for my day getting some stuff (clothes, bag) back into the car. It?s probably okay to just leave my sandals and t-shirt, the tent is locked anyway?
Back to the car, pawn prints on the passenger side window!!! After another line-up and a buffet breakfast (breakfast start at 7AM), I started waking toward the Mist Trail, once at the head of the trail The Free Yosemite transit bus dropped off a bunch of people more or less all headed toward the same place I was. I started passing people quickly and kept hiking, the flow of people stopped once the mist (i.e. shower) from the Vernal fall started. Hiking past that point probably took about 15 minutes that include hiking up some wet steps. Once that the top of the Vernal fall (395ft?), I was drenched, it was time to dry off in the sun. The Mist trail continues to follow the Merced River all the way to the top of the Nevada fall, although the second fall (597ft?) is bigger, the hike is not as wet. The trail and Nevada is located near what I thought was a huge granite face. I thought it was Half Dome, I only saw later that it wasn?t and that it would have been a much longer hike to get to top of the Half Dome. The staff installs cables to help hikers reach the summit, cables were being installed that day. The view of the waterfall from here is impressive.
I used the John Muir trail as an alternate route down. This trail is not as steep, but offer a different view from the canyon. It was mid-afternoon when I made it down in the valley; I still had plenty of time to see the sights. Took the car and drove toward Glacier point which is a one hour drive. There is a great view of the valley from Inspiration point just outside the valley. On the way to Glacier Point along Glacier Point road, you drive past Badger Pass ski area. There are many vistas before the end of the road and the point, many stops along the way. Each stop is more spectacular than the last one.
Glacier Point is approximately at 8,000 ft, 4,000 feet directly above Curry Village. (Ah yes, the snow limit was still at 8,000 ft). Below the point on the right, there is a great view for the hike I did earlier; Vernal and Nevada falls and the small (not huge) granite face next to it. High above them all is the Half Dome. After many minutes were spent here, it was time to head down.
Back to the tent, room was done, no sheets on the bed, no sandals or t-shirt. Everything gone as if I checked out. Bummer!!! Detour toward the office where I was told that the items would?ve been put in the lost and found, which was now closed. Supper buffet was over, back to the pizza patio.
June 15th: Yosemite (Mariposa Grove)-Sacramento-Donner Pass-Reno
Early morning and checking out. Wanted to get started early to head toward Mariposa Grove to see the Sequoia trees. After a couple trips to the office and a breakfast in between, I finally found out that my sandals (and t-shirt) weren?t at the L&F. I will skip the rest of my feelings and conversations I had with the staff. :evil:
Mariposa Grove is located at the south of the park and is about one hour drive from the valley. Parking had just filled up, I had to park in Wawona (6 miles back) and take the shuttle to get to see the giant trees. Once I was done, it was time to get back to Reno, over 350 miles away (?cause the Tioga Pass was close). It?s was already 1PM.
Although it wasn?t the shorter route, it was probably the easier route. I left Yosemite National Park by the south exit and ended out of the mountains. I didn?t want to be zigzagging road following Winabego(?) and VW 60?s mini-van for hours. I headed straight toward Merced and the valley to hit some major highways. Highway 99 to Sacramento then I-80 toward Reno. I noticed the climate was hot, the temps were around 96F. I didn?t know there were palm trees around here. I timed it right so I got stuck in Sacramento at 4:30PM in time for the rush hour. Once on the interstate, the road started climbing slowing and turning, which reminded me a bit of the Laurentians autoroute near Ste. Agathe. Got off at Soda Springs to drive into Donner Pass and a few old ski areas (Soda Springs, Sugarbowl, etc) not to far from Lake Tahoe. I saw ski trails far in the distance once I got back on I-80, was it Northstar?
The closer I got to Reno, the more the scenery reminded me as the mental image I had of the Far West (tumbled webs, rolling hills, etc). After 7 hours of driving, I was back in Reno. Driving down this street, there seem to be only three type of businesses; Motels, Casinos and Bars (closing at 6AM ? which is the time I wanted to return my rental), Once again, I haven?t eaten supper, so I asked the staff at my Motel where was there a place to eat close by? Across the street, she said. The only thing across the street was the Rail City Casino, however there was a dinner inside this Casino. It?s was the first time where I eat somewhere where they had Keno cards and calls inside a restaurant, I guess that what Nevada doesn?t only mean ?Snow?, but Casino as well. :mrgreen:
June 13th: Mammoth to Yosemite Valley
After finishing skiing around 12:30, I left Mammoth to start making the long drive to Yosemite Valley. In a normal June this trip takes about 2.5 hours to drive the 100 miles through Tioga Pass into Yosemite National Park. However, this isn?t a normal year, Tioga Pass is only opening today (June 24) and the shortest route involves a detour through the Sonora pass (open for Memorial Day weekend). This route is 230 miles and a 6 hours drive, but what a beautiful drive. So back to the 395 driving north pass beautiful Mono Lake again which I stopped to visit during my week of skiing.
One thing I noticed about the California road signs is that you?re never far for sign with the altitude on it, so from 8,900 in the parking lot down to 6,000(?) in Bridgeport then way up to close to 9,700 in Sonora Pass, then way down to 1,200 in Sonora and finally up to 4,000 in the Yosemite Valley, my final destination for the day. What a drive, better not follow an old VW van from Manitoba going up at 10 miles a hour (as I did). As mentioned by Tony, access to backcountry skiing from the Sonora Pass would definitely be interesting. I estimate that close to the top of the pass, the snowbanks along the road were approximately 4 feet high. The scenery change so many times, arid hills, mountains snowfields, farmers field near Sonora, to zigzagging back up on brown/red sidehills toward Yosemite and its granite faces and great waterfalls.
Today (as I will later mentioned in my ski report), has been the warmest day of my trip so far. I even got my first sunburn ? on my left arm by driving so much. Probably arrived at 8PM at Curry Village in Yosemite Valley and checked-in for my stay in a tent cabin. Curry Village felt more like a small city; many people like myself here to enjoy the beautiful sights, hike or do what ever in this beautiful national park. There were a few signs that freaked me out. The first one was regarding Bear warning, the second was about Mountain Lions when hiking!!! YIKES!!! The park had a nice video of bear breaking into cars. I remember the guy for the car rentals at Reno Airport mentioned that they had a few people with bear damaged cars. The strong advice was not to leave any scented items (food, garbage, sunscreen, toothpaste, soap, does that includes wet ski boots and socks?) in your car, tent anywhere else than the lockers. After cleaning up the rental car and safely storing my stuff, I went to eat. It was 9PM and I hadn?t eaten since I left Mammoth. The only food still available in the area was at the Pizza Patio in Curry Village. The line-up was 25 minutes long then 10-15 minutes to actually get the pizza. Boy, is this place crowded.
In the tent at 10:30PM, lights out?
June 14th: Yosemite (Mist Trail, Glacier Point)
Had good night sleep expect maybe for the noise and banging on lockers at 2AM. Was it Bears??? I got up late, it?s was probably the first morning in a week that I didn?t get up at 5:30-6AM, I wasn?t going to hike up the Half Dome today (10-12 return trip hike). I slowly started getting ready for my day getting some stuff (clothes, bag) back into the car. It?s probably okay to just leave my sandals and t-shirt, the tent is locked anyway?
Back to the car, pawn prints on the passenger side window!!! After another line-up and a buffet breakfast (breakfast start at 7AM), I started waking toward the Mist Trail, once at the head of the trail The Free Yosemite transit bus dropped off a bunch of people more or less all headed toward the same place I was. I started passing people quickly and kept hiking, the flow of people stopped once the mist (i.e. shower) from the Vernal fall started. Hiking past that point probably took about 15 minutes that include hiking up some wet steps. Once that the top of the Vernal fall (395ft?), I was drenched, it was time to dry off in the sun. The Mist trail continues to follow the Merced River all the way to the top of the Nevada fall, although the second fall (597ft?) is bigger, the hike is not as wet. The trail and Nevada is located near what I thought was a huge granite face. I thought it was Half Dome, I only saw later that it wasn?t and that it would have been a much longer hike to get to top of the Half Dome. The staff installs cables to help hikers reach the summit, cables were being installed that day. The view of the waterfall from here is impressive.
I used the John Muir trail as an alternate route down. This trail is not as steep, but offer a different view from the canyon. It was mid-afternoon when I made it down in the valley; I still had plenty of time to see the sights. Took the car and drove toward Glacier point which is a one hour drive. There is a great view of the valley from Inspiration point just outside the valley. On the way to Glacier Point along Glacier Point road, you drive past Badger Pass ski area. There are many vistas before the end of the road and the point, many stops along the way. Each stop is more spectacular than the last one.
Glacier Point is approximately at 8,000 ft, 4,000 feet directly above Curry Village. (Ah yes, the snow limit was still at 8,000 ft). Below the point on the right, there is a great view for the hike I did earlier; Vernal and Nevada falls and the small (not huge) granite face next to it. High above them all is the Half Dome. After many minutes were spent here, it was time to head down.
Back to the tent, room was done, no sheets on the bed, no sandals or t-shirt. Everything gone as if I checked out. Bummer!!! Detour toward the office where I was told that the items would?ve been put in the lost and found, which was now closed. Supper buffet was over, back to the pizza patio.
June 15th: Yosemite (Mariposa Grove)-Sacramento-Donner Pass-Reno
Early morning and checking out. Wanted to get started early to head toward Mariposa Grove to see the Sequoia trees. After a couple trips to the office and a breakfast in between, I finally found out that my sandals (and t-shirt) weren?t at the L&F. I will skip the rest of my feelings and conversations I had with the staff. :evil:
Mariposa Grove is located at the south of the park and is about one hour drive from the valley. Parking had just filled up, I had to park in Wawona (6 miles back) and take the shuttle to get to see the giant trees. Once I was done, it was time to get back to Reno, over 350 miles away (?cause the Tioga Pass was close). It?s was already 1PM.
Although it wasn?t the shorter route, it was probably the easier route. I left Yosemite National Park by the south exit and ended out of the mountains. I didn?t want to be zigzagging road following Winabego(?) and VW 60?s mini-van for hours. I headed straight toward Merced and the valley to hit some major highways. Highway 99 to Sacramento then I-80 toward Reno. I noticed the climate was hot, the temps were around 96F. I didn?t know there were palm trees around here. I timed it right so I got stuck in Sacramento at 4:30PM in time for the rush hour. Once on the interstate, the road started climbing slowing and turning, which reminded me a bit of the Laurentians autoroute near Ste. Agathe. Got off at Soda Springs to drive into Donner Pass and a few old ski areas (Soda Springs, Sugarbowl, etc) not to far from Lake Tahoe. I saw ski trails far in the distance once I got back on I-80, was it Northstar?
The closer I got to Reno, the more the scenery reminded me as the mental image I had of the Far West (tumbled webs, rolling hills, etc). After 7 hours of driving, I was back in Reno. Driving down this street, there seem to be only three type of businesses; Motels, Casinos and Bars (closing at 6AM ? which is the time I wanted to return my rental), Once again, I haven?t eaten supper, so I asked the staff at my Motel where was there a place to eat close by? Across the street, she said. The only thing across the street was the Rail City Casino, however there was a dinner inside this Casino. It?s was the first time where I eat somewhere where they had Keno cards and calls inside a restaurant, I guess that what Nevada doesn?t only mean ?Snow?, but Casino as well. :mrgreen:
