Day 99, Tuesday, November 15, Yosemite
Yosemite truly is a spectacular park. The views of El Capitan and Half Dome aren't even the tip of the iceberg. The other soaring granite monuments, the sequoia forests, the steams, lakes, hills, the rocks, flowers, bushes, everything, put you on a natural high as you drive or walk through this sacred place. Not too many animals except birds were seen (in fact, none), but i know they are out there.
The problem with Yosemite is getting around by yourself. The road network is not the best and made complicated by poor signage and road construction detours that change twice a day at least. I probably spent most of the day driving and maybe an hour just admiring the awesome views, and i do mean awesome. I did manage to take in most of what Yosemite offers tourists. I will forever regret bot backcountry hiking here. How absolutely splendid that would have been. At least i know others have the chance to do that. We tourists see a small percent of the park. There is so much more to experience here. The resident animals, of course, get to experience it all.
The logistics of this park are quite different from anything i have seen before. Camps all over, tents, yurts, cabins. lodges, etc. etc. etc. i guess the logistics of getting here are so complex that it has to be set up this way.
I was hoping tomorrow to save a day by cutting across highway 120 through Yosemite into the Nevada desert' but heavy snow is forecast and they may close the road for the winter tomorrow. Just my luck. If that is the case, my plans for tomorrow will change. In any event, I will have to get on the road early. From now on, my single objective each day is to make time in getting home, without pushing it.
Donner, of course, had his usual quota of walks. But as far as he is concerned, Yosemite, Denali, Washington DC, they are all the same.
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