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Driving Tour, December 2000

One of my old friend from Ohio visited me for the Christmas vacation. We had about 6 days to explore the best of California; we drove 1750 miles and visited Yosemite and Death Valley National Parks, and drove along Highway 1 between Santa Barbara and San Francisco.

Day 1-2
We visited the Yosemite NP in winter. Hiking to Vernal and Nevada Fall.

Day 3-4
Death Valley was filled with colors and complex patterns.

Day 5-6
After a brief visit to Mt. Whitney, we concluded our trip by driving the Pacific Coast.

Day 1 (12/25 Monday, Yosemite NP)

Merced River in winter. The white snow on the peaks, red bushes, white trees... we knew it was a winter.

At around 10:00am, we left San Francisco Bay Area. Took about 4 hours to get to a town of Mariposa where we made a reservation for a night. On a Christmas eve, the town was deserted. Quickly settled in a motel, we headed to the Yosemite National Park. It took another 1 hour to get to the park from the Mariposa. Just after the park's gateway, we encountered a family of deers. We walked slowly to a deer next to the road. But he kept eating grasses. Pretty courageous, or too accustomed to human beings? Anyway, we took several photos, slowly left the scene. Next, Merced River appeared on our right hand side. Pulled our car to a small parking lot. The air was cold. It was definitely winter. And we enjoyed the winter scenery along the Merced River.

It is almost guranteed to take a great photo at the Tunnel View point. This popular spot, I think, offers the 2nd best view next to the Glacier Point.

I always wanted to visit the Yosemite National Park in winter. I saw many beautiful photographs of snow covered Yosemite. However, there were little snow this winter. The last snow storm was November. But still this place is magnificant regardless of snow. The first place we visited was the Tunnel View point near on Highway 41. Compare this senery to Ohio! He said there was nothing like this anywhere in the east. In the valley, there were a small skating rink. Only $5.00 for skating and $2.00 for renting a skate boots. Families, group of friends, couples, were skating under the Half Dome and other castle of granite rocks.

(above) Viewing the Half Dome from the skate rink.

(left) These photographers must be waiting for this moment for days. I think they were professional (or pro-sumer?); their equipments were huge compared to my small digital camera... I think I need a tripod.

After we checked our trailhead for tomorrow, the time was just right for the photograph. Sunset was illuminating the Half Dome. I saw 4 people already waiting in the cold for this moment. So, I decided to join them for the photo shoot.According to them, the sunset was more bright yesterday. The sky was slightly crowdy today. To me, it was enough. They say, winter sunset is better in Yosemite. The sun can directly hit the Half Dome in winter. We stayed there for about 30 mintues. I took 10 of the photos and left the scene.

Preparation is important. We did check the trailhead. Next was to buy lunch for tomorrow. Conveniently the Yosemite Valley has a grocery store. We got some lunches and tons of beer to sleep fast.

Day 2 (12/26 Tuesday, Nevada Fall Trail at Yosemite NP)

Woke up in 6:00 am for the hiking. I was surprised myself that I could wake up so early. Packed up luggages, checked out the motel, and headed for the Vernal and Nevada Falls trail. This is said to be the most popular trail in the Yosemite National Park. But at 7:30 on the Christmas day, there were only 2 other cars in the parking lot at the trailhead near Curry Village. It was a little chilly (as expected) but the weather was gorgeous. Amazingly, none of us ever really hiked in the Yosemite. I always swing by this valley whenever I use Highway 120 to get to the other side of the Sierra; hence not leaving enough time for a long hike.

I have finally walked the part of the John Muir Trail. I never heard of his name until June 1999 when I first hiked into the John Muir wilderness. More I learn about him, I appreciate what he has done and left for all of us. The trail sign proudly displayes "211 miles" to Mt. Whitney via John Muir Trail. At that time we had no idea that we would be staring at the peak only 3 days later.

The hike was wonderful as we expected. It was a little more streneous than we thought; climbing about 1500 feet in 3 miles one way can never be easy. Unfortunately, the Mist Trail and most of the John Muir Trail were closed for the winter. My favorite view was at the Clark Point where the trail bifurcates towards Nevada Fall and Mt Whitney. We could see the Nevada Fall, back of the Half Dome, and 2 other high granite peaks, all at one point. Unfortunately, the entire view was just too large for my camera. It was even nicer because there were nobody; it was very quiet.

The next highlight was the Vernal and Nevada Falls. During the summer time, the Mist Trail probably is the better and more fun trail to get to this fall if you do not mind getting wet. The top of the fall gave us the view of the Mist Trail and the entire valley. Quite impressive. The Emerald Pool next to the Vernal Fall was half frozen. I guess it would be a beautiful emerald during the summer time.

(left) Viewing the back of the Half Dome from Clark Point. Somewhere there is a trail to the top of the Half Dome.

(right) There is a viewpoint along the trail where you can look down the Vernal Fall. The trail leads to the right next to the top of the fall. Then continues further into the Little Yosemite Valley.

This is the view we had our lunch with: Nevada Fall.

My knee was almost at the peak of pain when we finaly reached the foot of the Nevada Fall. So, this was the end of our hike. On the way down, we finally came across with people for the first time in this hike. At the Vernal Fall Bridge, probably the most popular destination was crowded with people. Most of them will head back to the parking lot after this bridge. At least they had some view of the Vernal Fall from this bridge.

Both of us were very happy with the hike. Before we leave Yosemite, we visited the Tunnel View one more time. Then we headed to our next destination: Death Valley National Park.

Along the CA Highway 41, we saw a gorgeous sunset. It confirmed my theory that Central Valley is a good place to watch sunset and sunrise. We did not take any photos. Instead we drove in a hurry to the next convenient place for a night. We settled into a motel in a town called Mojave, at a cross between CA Highway 14 and 58.