Yosemite

Half Dome, one of Yosemite's symbols. It can be clmbed, but a permit is required (in addition to a seriously underdeveloped self-preservation instinct, if you ask me).

Yosemite National Park in Sierra Nevada, California is the second oldest National Park in the USA and one of the most popular tourist destinations in the country. It's easy to see why, the landscape is breathtaking.

As one would expect in United States, facilities in Yosemite are more than adequate and everything is made easy for the visitors. The flip side is that at least the most popular areas of Yosemite Valley are flooded with a mass of humanity and there is no trace of peace of nature. Apparently there are some less visited areas within the park.

From the top of Vernal Falls.

Being middle-aged couch potatoes, we didn't even try to hike to, say, the famous vantage point of Glacier Point, not to mention Half Dome. Climbing to the top of the beautiful Vernal Falls was strenuous enough for us in the scorching (on Finnish standards) heat. The pictures do no justice to the magnificent views.

We spent two days in Yosemite. On the second day we didn't climb anywhere from the bottom of Yosemite Valley, due to our muscles still aching because of Vernal Falls. Mirror Lake trail is very nice too, even if the lake itself was almost dry because of the drought that has plagued California for years.

Vernal Falls and a rainbow, or should it be calle "waterfallbow"?

A wet squirrel doused by the mist from Vernal Falls.

This is why it's called Mirror Lake.

There's also a small museum presenting, among other things, the histories of Native American Miwok and Paiute peoples who have inhabited the area since time immemorial. The exhibitions are good and informative, but the outdoor exhibitions could do with some maintenance. I found it a bit tragicomic that in the 20th century some local Miwoks and Paiutes started to wear "indian costumes" modeled after Hollywood westerns when they performed for the tourists, even though their traditional dress was very different. We had the good fortune to meet a Miwok employee of the Museum. His explanation of his people's past and present was very interesting to hear.

Lower Yosemite Fall is the easiest to reach of the parks many waterfalls: the path is wheelchair accesible.

Yosemite exemplifies the conflict of the National Park system's objectives: on the other hand it should protect natural environments, on the other enable as many people as possible to enjoy and appreciate them. Enormous hordes of barbarians tourists wander the paved roads and paths. Their chatter silences even the roar of waterfalls. Of course, I am in no way entitled to complain, I was one the tourists. The overwhelming majority of visitors conduct themselves well and respect the natural wonders they have come to see. Unfortunately, there always are some nincompoops who leave their trash in the forest or feed the wild animals.

A rattlesnake by the Vernal Falls trail. It was only after taking this picture when it occurred to me to question my own decision-making in deliberately getting within three feet of a venomous snake. Well, at least I didn't try to pick it up for a snake selfie.

Advice for hikers of Mirror Lake trail - if a mountain lion attacks, fight back!

The audministration of Yosemite has made an effort to limit the stress that the visitors cause to the environment. Visitors arriving with their own or rental car are asked to leave it on a parking lot and use free shuttle buses in Yosemite Valley instead. This is a very easy and practical way to reach many of the most popular sights and trailheads.

Yosemite National Park, unlike many other National Parks, can quite practically be visited with public transpotation. We took a train from San Francisco to Merced, California (consult Amtrak for fares and timetables), where we took a  Yarts bus for Yosemite Bug resort. It's situated in Midpines, CA outside the national park itself, but buses provide a convenient transfer. We wouldn't mind a little more frequent schedule, though.

We are happy to recommend Yosemite Bug for everyone planning a trip to Yosemite. There are a number of places to stay in the National Park itself, but they are often fully booked well in advance and  prices are rather steep. The Bug offers different levels of accomodation, we stayed in a two-person tent cabin, which was nice enough. There's a guest kitchen, reasonably priced restaurant and even a spa. A 15% discount is offered for everyone who arrivs on public transportation.

We visited Yosemite on June  8th and 9th 2015.