by momonthego » Wed Sep 03, 2008 11:29 pm
We had a wonderful time during our trip to Yosemite. I'm not sure I agree with some of the signs with the miles on them - they were very confusing on some of the trails. We managed to hike part of the Lakes Trail in Sequoia, couldn't go past the first lake due to lots of snow. We also hiked Moro Rock, and Little Baldy - which was totally fogged in.
In Yosemite, we hiked the Pohono Trail (this is the main mileage issue we had - very, very confusing), Chilnualna Falls, Mirror Lake, Lukens Lake Trail (lots of snow), and the ultimate goal - Half Dome. It took us 16 hours from start to finish. Of which, 35 minutes was spent trying to figure out where the trailhead was (it wasn't just us, about 20 other people were on the same hunt) and 45 minutes to figure out where we had parked when we were done. It didn't help that we were in the dark by the end of the 45-minute search for the parking lot, but the thought of pizza kept us going. But, considering we were hiking with a 30 year old asthmatic, a 70 year old man and 65 year old woman, plus my husband and I who are in our mid 40's from flat TN and AL, we were very pleased with our day. Oh, my husband's mom made it to the base of the steps, and his dad to the base of the cables before they threw in the tile. My assthmatic brother made it half way up the cables before breathing became a bigger goal than the top of the cables. My husband and I made it to the top!
We stayed in a cabin in Yosemite West - great value - $150/night for up to 10 people. Not the Ritz, but had everything we needed, and not to bad on the driving times. Staying in the valley would have been more convenient , but we are cheap travelers, and besides, there were way to many people there for us. Plus, we had a very own private coyote that visited us several times.
We would loved to go back and hike in the high country. Decided that would need to be in July to make sure the trails are passable. On the "I want list" - Clouds Rest, Cathedral Lake, Elizabeth Lake, Lembert Dome, Mono Pass, and Alta Peak in Sequoia, just to mention a few.