Yosemite National Park - 1975 to 1976

This is a must see national park.  I categorize the national parks as top tier and second tier.  Since I have never been to, nor expect to go to, a park that I regretted visiting, I do not feel like calling any park a bottom tier park.  But there are parks that you could spend weeks in but never see everything and there are parks that one day there is probably enough especially for us old timers.  One reason would be trails that are too strenuous and another reason is that road may not be suitable.   Many of the first formed national parks are top tier while others were national monuments for years but have recently been elevated to a national park status.   Some of these recent NP's show that in the absence of lodging or dining in the park.  Yosemite is a top tier park without a doubt.  I am sure  Chester Martin agrees. For the ones that I have seen, other top tier parks are Yellowstone/Grand Teton, Grand Canyon, Glacier, Sequoia, Olympic, Mt. Rainier.  I don't list Denali and other outstanding Alaska parks (or Hawaii parks) here because I have never been to Alaska much less their national parks.  I have been to Hawaii but not to any of their outstanding parks.  My current count of national parks is 20 which I hope to up to 25 after this summmer (Utah here I come).  Surely other classmates have been to as many.

Now Yosemite:

This will really tax my memory.  In 1975 we lived in Lemoore, CA about 30 miles south of Fresno having arrived in California in June . That summer we went to Yosemite to see the waterfalls in Yosemite Valley stopping first at the Mariposa Grove.  The giant sequoias are unbelieveable as are the redwoods.  These are must see trees.  As we entered the Valley (I think at Tunnel View), I remember the incredible sense of awe for the vista before me.  The feeling was unlike any that I've had before but this feeling continued with other incredible views as drove through the park.   As we went from waterfall to waterfall I kept seeing vehicles with Hollywood or L.A. on them.  There were so many of them parked all day, sometimes in the way,  that I asked about them.  I found out that these were photographer vehicles where they setup at various points taking still pictures (all during the day) and/or taping the falls/views so that if some movie director in the future need such a backdrop, they could sell their images to the studios. While in the Valley be sure to take the hiking trail to Vernal/Nevada Falls.  The Ahwahnee Hotel is also a must. El Capitan and Half Dome were spectacular from many views.  If you feel especially spry while there you could hike up to the top of Half Dome - allow one or more days or perhaps weeks to scale this one.

When the relatives started arriving to visit us in Californa, we just had to take them to Yosemite or to Sequoia NP.  So we saw Yosemite in the summer, fall, winter and spring in addition to the first time we went for a total of five times.  Every season was an adventure but, of course, many roads were closed because of snow in the cold times.  One sight that is not too well known is that in certain times during the winter, Lower Yosemite Falls has an "inverted cone" formed by the spray being frozen at the bottom as temperatures plummet in the winter.  If you Bing on-line you might be able to find pictures of it.  I know I found some years ago but haven't tried lately.  On one of our trips we drove to Glacier Point which was harrowing ( I understand there now may be a shuttle that will take you there).  At this vista one can look approximately 3000 feet straight down, watching the cars driving on the Valley roads below or see Half Dome and other well-known views.  The view is spectacular but do not get too close to the edge.   A three thousand foot fall might be a new experience but certainly a last one.

As far as trails, there are over 800 miles of them.  Most are for ardent hikers, not for old family or very young family groups.  There are about 2.5 million people each year that visit the park - most of them touch the Valley at least once.  I read Chester's account of his recent park experience.  My experience is so old, that I am sure things have changed radically - after all this is CA.  At one time I think that there were restricting the number of visitors in the Valley on a given day in the summer season.  I am sure there are other classmates besides Chester that could post some recent Yosemite experiences.  Will you post them for the enjoyment of the rest of us?  A reply to a post with more info would also be nice.