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Phil wrote:That's a lot of time in the saddle. More like a mission than a vacation. Why 108 and coming in from the east when you're already west?
ergalthema wrote:Phil wrote:That's a lot of time in the saddle. More like a mission than a vacation. Why 108 and coming in from the east when you're already west?
Because I'm trying to see as much of the park as I can, considering I might never be back. I've driven across the country like six times. I'll drive four hours to see a band and come back the same night. I like driving. I also like hiking, and would like to work in a little. But it seems like I'd be missing a lot if I just hiked one area the whole time.
AlmostThere wrote:ergalthema wrote:Phil wrote:That's a lot of time in the saddle. More like a mission than a vacation. Why 108 and coming in from the east when you're already west?
Because I'm trying to see as much of the park as I can, considering I might never be back. I've driven across the country like six times. I'll drive four hours to see a band and come back the same night. I like driving. I also like hiking, and would like to work in a little. But it seems like I'd be missing a lot if I just hiked one area the whole time.
You'll be missing a lot by driving all that time. People try to see too much too fast like that all the time. Pick a park and stay. You won't regret it.
AlmostThere wrote:You will barely touch Sequoia - the best parts are a day or more of walking from the road. It's a backpacking park. Yosemite has more to offer than lines of tourists as well. Have fun...
Phil wrote:It's nice to be able to know a place, not just say, "Oh yeah, I've been there." It's like having a 2 hour layover in Shanghai and saying you've experienced China.
AlmostThere wrote:"See the big trees."
OH BOY. There is so much more out there than big trees.... The people you talk to are ignorant. You literally do not know what you are missing... but that's okay. I'm sure you'll do fine.
Just a taste of what you're missing before you drive. Things nowhere near a road...
https://flic.kr/s/aHsm3BV1Pt
Phil wrote:The gates are entrances to the lands of the National Park. Also called entrance stations. There are four of them, El Portal, Wawona, Tioga Pass, Big Oak Flat, basically located at the cardinal directions. Yes, they can close the road with physical "gates", if need be. They're usually staffed by rangers most hours of the day. You pay your entrance fees or show your pass, drive through, Voila, you're in the park.
You're presenting a conundrum. The reason the crowds you don't like (none of us do) are present is because the hikes/destinations are either very close and easy, or they're so spectacular, in most people's opinions, that they put it the extra effort to get there. That's the nature of the beast. Sorry. Stay close, deal with crowds. Go far, sometimes see nobody for days. Unfortunately, with all the driving you'll be doing, the majority of the time you'll spend will be fighting with people on the road that are flustered and already wishing there were somewhere else. But the thing is, a lot of them will be going to exactly where you are. They see what you enjoy as nothing more than a necessary evil...a means to an end.
If you want a quintessential day hike that should be about within your 5 hour limit, go up to Upper Cathedral Lake just outside of Tuolumne Meadows. Enjoy it for an hour or so, move on, sit behind a few RVs for 40 miles, then get to your campground at Crane Flat and deal with more crowds. Try to remember that, even with having just hiked to a lovely spot, you barely scratched the surface, and you aint seen nothing yet. To be fair, in addition to trees, there are rocks...lots of rocks.
Phil wrote:the majority of the time you'll spend will be fighting with people on the road that are flustered and already wishing there were somewhere else.
Phil wrote:From Point A, is Point B the destination, or merely a stop along the way to Points C and D? I hate old idioms, but "take the time to smell the roses".
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