De De and Pop Pop started the day at our hotel, which is at 2,000 feet elevation. We drove to the Yosemite Valley at 4,000' and took a left turn up Big Oak Flat Road - but it wasn't flat. At the turn to Tioga Road we were at 6,000' high, and we drove across Yosemite to Tuolumne Meadows at 8,600' and on to Tioga Pass at 10,000 feet elevation. The day was cloudy, misty, foggy, or rainy until we hit the pass, when blue skies and white clouds replaced the weather west of the Sierra peaks. From up on top, pictures today include flowers along the roadside ...
At Tuolumne Meadows we took a mile long walk (remember, at 8,600' so we were happy to make the grade).
Then, east of the pass, we could look out over the Great Basin of Nevada toward the Rockies to the east.
As we descended, we could again look up the Valley.
Closing out the day, we met our niece, Jessie, and her husband, Chris, for a dinner at the Ahwahnee (I think this is the correct spelling - I know my last attempt was not).
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All in all a beautiful day, even in the mists and clouds.
We then drove to the Mariposa Grove, a stand of over 200 giant sequoias. The walk was less than two miles, but fairly steep. One of the giant trees was over 96' in circumfrance and 1,800 years old, and another you could walk right through. They are huge.
We then drove to Glacier Point - 3,500' above the Valley floor. What views!
As we were driving down the mountain from the Point, we were reminded that this is still a wilderness area.
Further down the Glacier Point road we had one last chance to see up the Valley, but this time in full daylight.
And finally, as we turned into the Valley for the last time to head back to our hotel, we could see the sheer 3,500' vertical face of El Capitan one last time, but this time in the sun.
What a privilege it is to have the National Park System. This trip has been long, and we are ready to return home, but we are full of wonder and awe at what we have seen.
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