California Road Trip - Day Seven

April 17, 2016

What a day!  We began our full day tour with Discover Yosemite picking us up at our hotel at 8:05 AM.  After a few more pickups, our tour only had 16 people with our naturalist, Glenn, we drove past fish camp, which really wasn't a fish camp, but back in the day, it was a logging camp. We entered Yosemite National Park and drove past several "prescribed fires" which actually are fires set up to help the park.  Along the way, we also saw "Bear Clover" a ground covering that the deer and bear roll in because it deters fleas and ticks.  We drove past the Merced River, named by the Spanish as Lady of Mercy on our way to Wawona Lodge, the oldest lodge in the park.  We also drove past a golf course, over 100 years old, in the park.  Everyone remarked about all of the dead trees.  Unfortunately, 80% of the trees, mainly Ponderosa Pines,  will be lost due to the recent drought AND the pine beetles. Years ago, when the Native Americans lived on this land, there was a ratio of 20% trees and 80% valley.  Now, it is 80% trees and 20% valley. We stopped to cross a beautiful covered bridge that is over 160 years old!

   Glenn gave us a few history lessons about CPT Wood, the first military superintendent, and Chief Tenaya.  These two leaders compromised while attempting to reposition the Native Americans to the reservation in Oakhurst.  While driving, we saw blue flowers called Lupines, dogwood trees, and forget-me-knots, as well as metal "Bear Boxes" for storing excess human food.  A Mule Deer raced across the road which was our first animal sighting. Several ravens were spotted along the way.
   The name Yosemite is believed to be a combination of the  Native American name for Grisly Bears and Yosemotos (bad guys) who savaged the early settlers.
    We drove through the Wawona tunnel to be greated by El Capitan, Half Dome Rock, and the Bridal Veil waterfall.

We traveled closer to Bridal Veil waterfall and then hiked even closer.  We opted to stop when the spray was beginning to threaten Rob's hearing aids.  The scenery was amazing.

Next, we traveled over to Yosemite Falls where we watched someone attempt to cross a slack line high above the waterfall.  It made me a total nervous wreck!

From there, we ventured over to the former Ahwahnee Lodge, currently known as the Majestic Lodge while a battle is going on over the copyright for the name.  Whatever the name, the lodge is gorgeous and we enjoyed lunch in a fabulous setting.

We traveled around the park, admiring various gorgeous scenes, when Glen brought us to an area where rock climbers were scaling incredible heights.  Even with my binoculars, these people looked like ants on the rock!

On the average, it takes rock climbers three days to scale these rocks!

It was an amazing day, and we must agree with John Muir, who said, The grandest of all the special temples of Nature is Yosemite."

    We ended our wonderful day with an awesome dinner at Crab Cakes in Oakhurst.