Varied Skies

Early in our trip, “Yosemite” somehow morphed into “Yomesite” for the kids. Though clearly one of the biggies when it comes to National Parks, whether we would actually make it to Yomesite has been in question from day one. For the most part, our plan to travel with the good weather has worked well. Needing to travel up the Sierras during November has always been an obvious flaw in that plan. We managed to sneak into Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks after snow thwarted our first attempt. Would venturing further north to Yomesite be our downfall? Not quite.

We cruised into our campsite at Yosemite Pines just outside of Groveland, CA, under sunny skies. Bathed in sunlight, granite features like Half Dome and El Capitan towered majestically above Yosemite Valley.

Magnificent waterfalls, cascading thousands of feet into the valley, distinguish Yosemite from other National Parks we have visited.

L climbed the boulders to the base of the Lower Yosemite Falls.

Even in the midst of this awe-inspiring beauty, at least one future Junior Ranger tasked with trash pick-up managed a frown.

I’ll admit to being relieved that we had at least one terrific day in the park, especially since the forecast did not bode well for most of the rest of our stay. Thunderstorms and hail marked our second full day in Groveland. When the storm passed, three inches of hail covered the town and snow blanketed the mountain pass into Yosemite Valley. We waited for two days for the storm and roads to clear. But when our last full day in the area came, the roads were not clear and authorities still required chains when driving through the mountains to Yosemite Valley. With “Donner Family” echoing in my head, we headed out for the long drive to the park.

We did not have to chain up until just past the park entrance. But that still left 25 miles to the Valley. Turns out only a few miles had enough snow to warrant chains. We banged along the rest on mostly drive pavement, teeth rattling uncontrollably. I found myself hoping for more snow on the roads. Eventually, we made it. Though the Valley did not have nearly as much snow as the mountain pass, it was enough to give the Valley a classic winter wonderland feel.

A quick snowman build on the way home capped a memorable visit to Yomesite.