Another Walk in the Park: Yosemite National Park

"The most beautiful place in the world," said Teddy Roosevelt. And that opinion seems to be shared by the five million annual visitors. All of whom apparently show up on the same day. There are 748,436 acres in the park but 95% of it is designated wilderness where only backpackers and other hardy souls will ever go. Because most visitors never stray far beyond the main attractions, all five million seem crowded into the Valley. Never mind. There are more than enough things to see within that very compact area or along the road up to Glacier Point.

Yosemite is open year round, though in the winter you will be restricted to the Valley. The Tioga Pass Road usually opens by late May or early June, depending on snowfall. We met some RVers who had spent the winter near Brownsville, TX. Come spring, they headed up to Yosemite. But "spring" in the High Sierras does not arrive when it does at the southern tip of Texas.

No matter when you choose to go, Yosemite has to be on everyone's bucket list. Along with Yellowstone, the Grand Canyon, and...well, I could go on and on. Yosemite certainly represents the splendor of the High Sierras at its most spectacular and holds its own in any debate between "beach people" and "mountain people."

We entered via the Tioga Pass at over 9,943 feet. The "mountain people" can win the debate just by challenging the "beach people" to drive from Mono Lake up the sheer side of a cliff face to that entrance. Drivers should pay very strict attention to the road. Passengers should feel free to open their eyes when they finally reach the pass. The debate should be over before you even get into the park itself. But then there is Tuolumne Meadows and down into the Merced Valley where all the places you have heard of are located--Yosemite Falls, Bridalveil Falls, El Capitan, Half Dome.

Speaking of elevation, that is another reason, besides the scenery, that Yosemite can leave you breathless. The Valley is at about 4,000 feet, Tuolumne Meadows is about 8,500 feet, and mountain tops reach above 13,000. So, whether you are a youthful backpacker or a senior with a walker, you should stay well hydrated and take a day or two to acclimate. Symptoms of altitude sickness include headaches, nausea, dizziness, fatigue, and shortness of breath. If you have respiratory or cardiac issues, it is even more important to take it slow and easy. There are social issues as well. People who are normally calm and rational can become irritable and combative. Of course, if you are accompanied by adolescents, it may be hard to distinguish their "normal" behavior from the symptoms of altitude sickness.

The eastern entrance to Yosemite at Tioga Pass. Just getting there is a thrill--if you even dare to look over the edge of the cliff side where the road is carved out.