Yosemite

ROUTE 66 Road Trip
By Kimber Williams
The Quiet Side of
YOSEMITE
At 8,842 feet high, Half Dome
is easily Yosemite National
Park’s most distinctive feature,
dominating most valley views.
Portions of its wide granite
face are thought to have
fallen away through rockfalls
and glacial action.
8
Scenic Route
Vol. 3 / No. 1
Yosemite
National Park is
famous for its summer face. Here, rock
climbers scale some
of the world’s tallest granite chunks.
Hikers explore
sun-warmed alpine
meadows. Waterfalls
tumble the span of
a 62-story building,
roaring with late
spring run-off.
But winter
offers a different
face, a slower pace.
Crowds thin dramatically, trails
open wide. Wildlife
emerges. One day,
the valley basks in
mild weather. The
next, snow frosts
famous rock formations and creates a
dazzling playground
for winter sport.
In fact, to
experience the
silent grandeur of
Yosemite in the
winter is to visit a
side of the park
you never knew.
Winter is the season of solitude at Yosemite,
as crowds clear and the park reawakens
Y
osemite National
Park is known
for its breathtaking vistas, powerful
waterfalls, magnificent
granite rock formations — and
suffocating crowds.
One of America’s most popular national parks, the high Sierra
Nevada destination attracts upward
of 3.4 million visitors annually.
Yet, a vast majority of those
people — over 80 percent — show
up between April and September.
And if you’ve ever been among
those crowds, you know the frustrations — no parking, clogged traffic
through Yosemite Valley, and elbowto-elbow congestion at the park’s
most popular sites.
By contrast, a trip to Yosemite
in the winter months is almost
shocking. Summer’s crowds fall
away to almost nothing. No parking headaches. No waiting for anything. It’s almost as if you have the
park to yourself.
For RVers, a trip to Yosemite is
a treat year-round. But a winter visit
definitely has its merits. Securing
reservations is much easier — most
campgrounds are virtually empty.
Temperatures on the valley floor
warm nicely through the day. And
recreational opportunities open up in
fun, new directions.
Sure, you can still hike to see
favorite attractions. But what about
snowshoeing to bask in the glory of
ancient Sequoias? Care for a little
outdoor ice skating? And low-angle
winter light can create some splendid moments for photographers.
Winter is when you can really see
the wildlife. On our visit, mule deer
roamed everywhere, boldly curling
up to rest right beside hiking trails.
With leaves off the trees, it’s easier
to spot coyotes, raccoon and even
an occasional bear, plus an abundant
array of bird life.
Although weather can vary wildly, the park receives most of its
heaviest moisture January through
March, leaving beloved rock formations dazzling with a fresh, crystalline coating. Then again, you can
always get lucky. The first week of
January this year, forecasts called
for highs in the 50s and lows in the
upper 30s and 40s.
In early December, we caught
up with Dan and Tomi Mason, of
Laguna Beach, Calif., enjoying an
easy hike to Lower Yosemite falls
in their shirtsleeves and relishing the
sunny 65-degree day — even though
a warm, dry fall had reduced many
of the park’s normally raging waterfalls to distant trickles.
Fully accessible trails make it easy to
take a quiet hike along the trail to
Lower Yosemite Falls.
Bridalveil Fall takes a dramatic
620-foot plunge toward the floor of
Yosemite Valley.
This is the third year the Masons
have visited Yosemite in the winter,
a season that has proved to be a
pleasant surprise.
“We come here in the winter
because we just love the atmosphere,” Tomi said. “You’re not
crowded, and it’s not packed, which
makes it so much more enjoyable.
You greet people on the trails and
they seem happy to see you.”
Yosemite National Park has
much to offer, but America’s oldest national park is known for its
spectacular waterfalls. So if viewing
or photographing those falls at peak
flow is a major goal, winter may not
be for you. Water levels tend to run
low by year’s end, until snow and
rain boost output.
To catch peak waterfall action,
consider an early spring visit, when
even hiking on trails that flank
waterfalls can require a good layer
of Goretex.
9
Scenic Route
Vol. 3 / No. 1
(left to right) Designated as a National Historic Landmark, the famed Ahwahnee Hotel sits nestled among the pines in the heart of Yosemite Valley. The granite
face of El Capitan overlooks Yosemite National Park like a grand sentinel. Winter is a great time for exploring Yosemite’s many hiking trails, as normal crowds
seem to evaporate.
However, there is so much more
to see beyond waterfalls in this
1,200-square-mile park — 95 percent of which is officially designated as wilderness. From its deep
valley floor sculpted by centuries
of water and grinding glacial ice
to sweeping alpine summits, from
grand meadows to ancient forests
and world-famous rock monuments, there is much to relish about
a visit to observe the “Quiet Side”
to this very busy national park.
The heart
of the park
With its massive, muscular granite formations, Yosemite National
Park is a place that simply demands
to be noticed.
Located
in
east-central
California south of Lake Tahoe
and east of the San Francisco Bay
area, this granddaddy of all national
parks seems to do everything on a
large scale.
It doesn’t just offer waterfalls;
it offers some of the world’s tallest
— Yosemite Falls, at 2,425 feet,
and Sentinel Falls, 2,000 feet.
It doesn’t merely feature big
rocks; El Capitan stands 3,593 feet
from its base to summit, said to be
the world’s largest single monolith
of granite.
And if the park itself isn’t
enough, it’s surrounded by sce10
Scenic Route
Vol. 3 / No. 1
nic state and national forest lands,
lakes and rivers.
To get there requires a little
effort; it’s not exactly along the
beaten path. The park has two major
entrances along its west flank: Big
Oak Flat, off California Highway
120 and Arch Rock, off California
Highway 140. To the south, enter
the park off California Highway 41
near Mariposa Grove. To the east,
enter at Tioga Pass off California
Highway 120. Most routes into the
park are scenic, but can be steep
and winding; slow down, drive
with care and enjoy the views.
Winter weather will affect roads
and access. Tioga Road (Highway
120 through the park) to Tuolumne
Meadow is generally closed from
late November through late May
or June, so if you visit during
winter, rethink your entrance
point. Mariposa Grove Road is
usually closed from November or
December until April, though visitors may still hike, ski or snowshoe
in. Glacier Point Road is typically
closed November through late
May, however the first five miles
are open to Badger Pass ski area.
Be advised: Winter weather
requires you to carry tire chains,
even if you’ll never use them. Don’t
get stuck without them, as it can be
a condition of entrance to the park.
You can rent or purchase chains
in nearby communities, but you’ll
suffer a price mark-up. Inside the
park, they are only available for
purchase. Play it smart. Invest in
chains, watch the forecasts, and call
the park to check on road conditions (209) 372-0200.
Entrance to the park costs $20,
which is pricey by national park
standards. But that fee is good for
seven days.
Though Yosemite National Park
is huge, public roads take you only
to select areas. Yosemite Valley
is the picturesque seven-mile corridor that plunges from west to east
—
What You Should Know:
CAMPING IN YOSEMITE
Bears are a big deal, no joke. About 300 to 500 American
black bears live in the park and are known for voracious appetites
and their incredible sense of smell. Food — actually anything
with a scent, including toothpaste — must be properly stored 24
hours a day. Food may be stored out-of-sight in hard-sided trailers or RVs, as long as windows, doors and vents are closed when
you’re not there. Food may not be stored in pop-up tents, tent
trailers or other soft-sided campers.
Don’t leave food in trucks and tow vehicles. Even canned food
and beverages should be removed, as well as crumbs in infant
car seats, baby wipes and food wrappers.
Rangers recommend using bear boxes and food lockers. Metal
food lockers are available in every campsite, most trailhead parking areas and other lodging areas.
To conserve energy, most bears hibernate in the winter. But
they may awaken and leave their dens in search of food, so yearround precautions are important. If you see a bear in a campground or parking lot, make as much noise as possible, yelling or
banging on pots. If you spot a bear in the wild, keep at least 50
to 100 yards away. Dispose of trash in bear-proof dumpsters.
Campsites can hold a maximum of six people and two vehicles.
Pets are permitted in all campgrounds except Camp 4,
Tamarack Flat, Porcupine Flat and all group campsites. However,
they should be kept on a leash and not left unattended.
Generators may be used sparingly from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.
No reservations or cancellations will be possible from January
24, 2007, through February 7, 2007, as the park is updating its
reservations service. The new National Recreation Reservation
Service will begin February 15, 2007. You can then make reservations through www.recreation.gov or by calling (877) 444-6777.
For Your Ultimate Towing Experience
Safety, Comfort, and Peace of Mind for 5th Wheel or Travel Trailer Owners
Hensley Arrow
TM
www.NoSway.com
Advanced Towing System Stops Trailer Sway
The secret of the Hensley Arrow™ rests in its patented converging linkage design which allows movement on the ball in every direction, except side to side.
• Distributes weight evenly to all wheels to optimize traction and stopping power
• Provides predictable behavior regardless of weather or road conditions
TrailerSaver
TM
Stop fishtailing!
The Hensley Arrow
is engineered to
keep tow vehicles
and trailers straight
as an arrow.
www.TrailerSaver.com
Cushion the ride with a TrailerSaver™ Air Ride Suspension Hitch
• Less shock compared to solid hitch connections
• Less jarring and bouncing of the fifth wheel and its contents
• Easy installation – fits into standard rails
• True vertical motion eliminates for and aft push and pull
TruControl
TM
www.UltimateBrakeController.com
A complete trailer system controller from the company that revolutionized trailer towing.
• Proportionately controls brakes based on the amount of force used in the
tow vehicle
• Automatically compensates for electric brake fade
• Easy to install
McKesh Mirror
TM
www.McKeshMirrors.com
With Hensley’s McKesh™ portable rearview mirrors, RVers have every visual
angle covered for optimal towing safety.
• Widely adjustable, easy to install
• 6-by-9-inch mirror with optional 5-inch convex spotting mirror
• Fits firmly on all vehicles
• Extends out 20 inches for full view around trailer
• Meets all state requirements for towing mirrors
Call or go Online Today for a FREE Video!
Hensley Mfg. Inc. • (800) 410-6580 • Since 1993
Yosemite
time to walk through, or enjoy a
beverage in the bar, with views of
the hotel’s landscaped grounds.
Visitors enjoy the petting farm at Yosemite Pines RV Resort and Family
Lodging, located west of Yosemite National Park in Groveland.
through the heart of the park. It is
here that you’ll find the best maintained roads and some of the park’s
most famous attractions, including
El Capitan, Half Dome, Cathedral
Rock, Sentinel Rock and Yosemite,
Bridalveil, Vernal and Nevada Falls.
If you are short on time, this is your
don’t-miss stop, easily the most
visited section of the park.
Consider getting your bearings
with an in-depth valley orientation. Two-hour bus tours will take
you to the most scenic attractions,
with plenty of photo-ops. Tours
are $17.50 and depart every day
at 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. from Curry
Village, Yosemite Lodge, Yosemite
Village and the elegant Ahwahnee
Hotel. Make tour reservations in
advance by calling (209) 372-1240.
Or just hop aboard the free shuttle
bus, which will take you to 21 stops
throughout the valley.
The 8.7-mile Yosemite Valley
bike path can also provide a good
overview, weather permitting.
The path loops around the eastern
end of the valley out to Mirror
12
Scenic Route
Vol. 3 / No. 1
Lake. Bike rentals are available at
Yosemite Lodge ($5.25 an hour or
$20 a day).
During high summer season,
visitors are advised to arrive in
Yosemite Village as early as possible to secure parking. Winter visits don’t pose a problem.
Yosemite Valley doesn’t boast a
real town, more a congregation of
shops, so be sure and gas up before
you hit the park. There are no gas
pumps in the valley itself, only at
Crane Flat and Wawona. You will
find a decent collection of stores,
restaurants and services — including a post office, general store,
emergency medical and dental care
— in Yosemite Village, which lies
at the eastern end of the valley
roadway.
The valley is also a trailhead
to some great hiking routes, from
easy to difficult. Here, you’ll find a
place to stock up on provisions, buy
a hot cup of coffee and a sandwich,
or sit down to a fancy dinner at the
Ahwahnee Hotel, an architectural
gem in itself that you should make
Winter camping
Yosemite National Park hosts 13
campgrounds, nine of which accept
RVs. Some can accommodate RVs
with a maximum length of 40 feet;
a few sites can hold trailers up to 35
feet. Daily fees run about $20 a site.
Though you won’t find hookups in Yosemite campgrounds, you
can run generators (sparingly) from
7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Dump stations
are available in Yosemite Valley,
Wawona and Tuolumne Meadows
campgrounds. Showers and other
facilities are offered in the Valley.
Though winter reduces the
number of available campgrounds
within the park, a handful remain
open to RVs year-round, including
Upper Pines (in Yosemite Valley),
Wawona and Hodgdon Meadow.
Camping isn’t permitted outside of
registered campsites.
Reservations are required for
Yosemite Valley’s car campgrounds
and may be made up to five months
in advance through the National
Recreation Reservation Service (as
of February 15, 2007) by calling
(877) 444-6777 or by going to
www.recreation.gov.
Nearly all reservations during
summer months are filled the first
day they become available, and
often within a few hours. Winter
Don’t Forget:
• Good hiking shoes
• Pretend you’re Ansel Adams;
bring your favorite camera
• Layers of warm clothes and
Goretex; weather changes quickly
• Gloves or mittens for
chilly mornings
• You’re required to carry
tire chains
• Gas up before you enter the park
Learn about the cultural history of the Miwok and Paiute people at the Indian
Cultural Exhibit in the Yosemite Museum.
Customer Care You Can Depend On
mer Care You Can Depend On
w Bars
Tow Bars
Freedom of the road, convenience of a car.
™
®
®
• Aventa LX of•aAladdin
Freedom of the road, convenience
car. ™ • Aventa II ™
™
• Acclaim
• Adventurer
• Ambassador
™
®
®
• Aventa LX • Aladdin • Aventa
II
Class III™and IV
™
™
• Acclaim • Adventurer • Ambassador
Class III and IV
Braking Systems
• Apollo • ToadStop
king Systems
• BrakeSafe • AutoStop
™
®
™
®
Apollo™ • ToadStop®
™ security of®knowing that when you stop,
The
akeSafe
• AutoStop
your tow car will too.
of knowing that when you stop,
our tow car will too.
Steering Controls
Roam the country, not the road.
Steering Controls
you safe
from
the unexpected.
Roam To
thekeep
country,
not the
road.
High winds, tire blow outs, TruCenter keeps you centered.
To keep you safe from the unexpected.
High winds, tire blow outs, TruCenter
keeps you centered.
™
®
®
SwayPro
SwayPro
Weight Distributing
Hitch with built in sway control
™
ng Hitch
with
built
in sway
control
The
most
user
friendly
hitch on the market.
er friendly hitch on the market.
Multi-purpose Lifts
• MotorcyclesLifts
• Golf Carts • ATV’s • And more
Multi-purpose
needs a ride.”
• Motorcycles • Golf Carts “When
• ATV’s your
• Andride
more
“When your ride needs a ride.”
040105
Call 1-800-336-4336 and
askand
for Bryce or visit
Call 1-800-336-4336
www.blueox.us
for more info.
ask for Bryce
or visit
The quest for parking in Yosemite Valley is made easier during a winter visit,
when even larger motorhomes can usually find space.
reservations are much easier to
secure — another bonus.
If you’re smart, you’ll buy supplies before you hit the park. In a
pinch, you can also pick up what
you need at the Wawona Grocery
Store (at the south entrance) and
the Yosemite Village Store, where
you can park free for 30 minutes.
Both are open all year.
One park ranger told us that winter is a time of solitude at Yosemite,
jokingly calling it “the season for
newlyweds and nearly-deads.” But
if solitude and serenity are what
you’re after, it’s hard to beat.
However, if dry camping in the
park isn’t your cup of tea, you’ll find
some great alternatives at a variety
of private campgrounds outside the
park in almost any direction.
The strategy of setting up an
outside base camp and journeying into the park for visits has its
advantages and disadvantages. The
private campgrounds we saw were
uniformly attractive, tidy and had
1
Scenic Route
Vol. 3 / No. 1
good amenities, from full hookups
to swimming pools, miniature golf,
and even a petting zoo.
Most were within a 30- to 40minute drive of the park, an easy
trek with a tow car or truck. If
you’re hauling much more than
that, the curvy, steep roads into
Yosemite might be a headache to
tackle every day.
One of our top picks was
Yosemite Pines RV Resort and
Family Lodging, located about 22
miles west of the big Oak Flat
entrance to the park off California
Highway 120 outside of Groveland.
The campground provides 200
sites (back-in or pull-through/full
or partial hookups), with water,
20/30/50-amp electric, sewer, bathrooms/showers, a camp store, and
oodles of activities for kids, from
playgrounds to gold panning, and a
petting farm.
Off-season, campsites run about
$17 a night on weekdays, $20 on
Friday and Saturday.
“People who’ve stayed in
Yosemite tell us they wind up coming back here,” said Jessie, a campground manager. “The weather is
generally good, so we can do pretty
much anything all year. Plus, it’s
only a mile into town for shopping
and restaurants.”
Indian Flat RV Park will
put you close to the park. This
smaller campground is located
off California Highway 140 at El
Portal near Yosemite’s Arch Rock
Entrance. Indian Flat offers 25 RV
sites with water, electric and some
sewer. Off-season rates run about
$30 a night for full hookups, $25
for water and electric. No generators are allowed.
If entering Yosemite from the
south, check out the High Sierra RV
and Mobile Park, located about 20
miles south of the park on California
Highway 41, north of Oakhurst.
Rates range from about $24 to $30
a night during the week, depending
on the level of services you choose,
a bit more on weekends.
The campground can even
accommodate “land yachts,” with
full hookups, including 20/30-amp
ROUTE 66
Regional ROUTE 66
RV Network® Dealers
All Seasons RV
3300 Colusa Hwy.
Yuba City, CA 95993
(530) 671-9070
Pan Pacific RV Centers
252 W. Yettner Rd.
French Camp, CA 95231
(209) 234-2000
Pan Pacific RV Centers
2020 Taylor Rd.
Roseville, CA 95678
(916) 782-3178
Pan Pacific RV Centers
1104 El Camino Ave.
Sacramento, CA 95815
(916) 927-1853
Sierra RV Sales & Rentals
9125 S. Virginia St.
Reno, NV 89511
(775) 324-0522
electric, water and sewer. Cable TV
and phone hookups are available at
all campsites.
Also, don’t overlook the KOAMariposa RV Park, off Highway 140
about 5.5 miles east of Mariposa.
You’ll find standard KOA facilities,
hiking trails, a chance to pan for
gold, and — best of all — shuttle
bus service into Yosemite.
Land of
natural wonders
Up until about 250,000 years
ago, glaciers filled Yosemite Valley,
gradually chiseling land and granite
into its classic shape, and leaving
spectacular rock formations and
towering cliffs for today’s waterfalls to dazzle us.
Only 15,000 years ago, the
Valley floor was a broad lake.
Yosemite
Sediment filled in to create the
flat valley floor of today. Water
and gravity continue to shape the
landscape here, with dramatic rock
slides, seasonal flooding and highcountry avalanches.
All the geologic activity left the
landmarks we now enjoy, so make
the most of your time at the park
with this sightseeing checklist:
Bridalveil
Fall:
The
Ahwahneechee Indians dubbed it
“Pohono,” or “Spirit of the Puffing
Wind.” Today, you can still observe
winds sending this lacy ribbon
of water swaying against canyon
walls, as it plunges 620 feet to the
valley floor. A short hike from a
parking lot on a paved trail gives a
great view.
Yosemite Falls: This famous
landmark is actually a series of
three connected waterfalls: the
upper falls, the lower falls and
a middle series of intermediate
drops. Together, they cascade
2,425 feet down granite cliffs,
making this the tallest waterfall in
North America and the sixth largest in the world. It’s also one of
the park’s most easily accessible
sites, with a new trail system that
takes you on an easy walk to a
great viewpoint of the lower falls.
Tougher hiking trails lead to the
upper falls.
El Capitan: Easily recognized,
this smooth, granite monolith towers 3,593 vertical feet above the
Yosemite Valley floor, a favorite
with rock climbers spring through
fall — now considered a global
standard for big-wall climbers. It
is thought to be the largest single
Introducing Gold, Platinum and
Platinum Plus Memberships
NEW CONCIERGE
AND TRAVEL BENEFITS!
We’re raising the bar again to give road service
a whole new meaning. We’ll help you find campsites,
historical sites, restaurants, RV storage facilities, golf
courses and tee times. We’ll even give you
turn-by-turn directions to the lowest priced gas
station...and more! Whether you’re in your RV or
car, consider Coach-Net your own personal assistant,
guiding you to the best places in your travels.
“ . . . Every peak and dome, every
niche and tablet had their share
of snow. And blessed are the eyes
that beheld morning open the
glory of that one dead storm . . .
the glorious sediment of crystal
was everywhere . . . from meadow
to sky was one finished unit of
beauty, one star of equal ray,
one glowing sun, weighed
in the celestial balances and
found perfect . . . ”
— John Muir (1838-1914)
Famed naturalist, Yosemite in Winter
Carved by centuries of ice and water, Yosemite Valley cuts through scenic
mountains, distinctive rock formations and alpine forests.
Select from Gold, Platinum and Platinum Plus
memberships, each including technical support from
our Master Certified Technicians and comprehensive
24/7 emergency roadside assistance.
• Gold offers a long list of concierge services for
use both on, and off, the road.
• Platinum expands Gold services with air, hotel,
and baggage travel assistance.
• Platinum Plus maximizes Gold and Platinum
benefits with worldwide travel assistance and
medical assistance.
Call us today or visit our Web site to learn more, and
begin enjoying conveniences designed just for you.
1.877.801.0333
www.coach-net.com
1
Scenic Route
Vol.1 / No. 5
Yosemite
Where to Stay:
• KOA-Yosemite/Mariposa RV Park, 6323 Hwy. 140, Midpines,
(800) KOA-9391 or (209) 966-2201
• Pine Mountain Lake Campground, Ferretti Rd., Groveland, (209) 962-8625
• High Sierra RV & Mobile Park, 40389 Hwy. 41, Oakhurst, (877) 314-7662
• Indian Flat RV Park, 9988 Hwy. 140, El Portal, (209) 379-2339
• Yosemite Pines RV Resort & Family Lodging, 20450 Old Hwy. 120,
Groveland, (877) 962-5042
• Yosemite Lakes Campground, 31383 Hwy. 120, Groveland, (209) 962-0121
• Yosemite National Park campgrounds, (800) 436-7275.
Good Eats, Great Sites:
• Park your rig and take the shuttle bus to view popular destinations
throughout Yosemite Valley — it’s free!
• Try breakfast or lunch at the magnificent Ahwahnee Hotel Dining
Room; dress is more casual and prices more affordable vs. dinner.
• Catch a free showing of the inspirational film, “Spirit of Yosemite,” in the Valley
Visitor Center Theater and linger to visit the nearby Yosemite Museum.
• Sign up for an adventure —Yosemite Mountaineering School offers
classes, courses and guided adventures in rock climbing, hiking,
backpacking and cross-country skiing. Call (209) 372-8344 (winter)
or (209) 372-8435 (summer).
• Let the kids burn off steam exploring the Indian Village of the
Ahwahnee and Indian Cultural Exhibit, located at the Yosemite
Museum in the Valley.
• Hit the slopes! Ski, snowboard, snowtube or snowshoe at Yosemite’s
Badger Pass. You can catch a shuttle bus in the Valley.
• Ice skate at Curry Village from November through March, on a large
outdoor rink — weather permitting. Rental skates are available.
• Take an easy hike to see the base of Yosemite Falls; the path is paved
and completely accessible to strollers and wheelchairs.
• Drop by the Ansel Adams gallery, in Yosemite Village, to pick up film,
rent a camera, get help with some photographic troubleshooting or
just view some stunning Ansel Adams photographs.
• Ski, snowshoe or hike the two-mile access road to the Mariposa Grove
of giant Sequoias, near the park’s south entrance.
• Grab groceries, a fast lunch, a pair of gloves, or postcards at the
Yosemite Village Store.
• The 13-mile Valley Floor Loop Trail is actually an old bridle path, but
a hidden treasure. Pick up the trail behind Yosemite Lodge or Camp 4
and head west.
• Enjoy an impressive view of Yosemite Falls from the dining room at
Yosemite Lodge’s Mountain Room Restaurant, where you’ll want to
try the chef’s specialty: smoked trout cakes.
• Take the short hike to view Bridalveil Fall, which drops the height of a
62-story building.
• As you leave Yosemite Valley to the west, pull over at Valley View turnout
and pull out the camera to capture a famous view of El Capitan and
Bridalveil Fall.
granite monolith in the world.
Half Dome: If Yosemite
National Park has an icon, it
would surely be this famed monument. Located at the eastern end
of Yosemite Valley, Half Dome
soars to an elevation of 8,842 feet
and, oddly, constitutes some of the
youngest Plutonic rock in the valley. It is a popular, though rigorous,
climb for summer hikers, and can
16
Scenic Route
Vol. 3 / No. 1
be seen from nearly anywhere in
Yosemite Valley.
Vernal Falls Trail: One of
the shortest trails in the park, it’s
usually clogged with hikers during summer months. From Curry
Village, it’s only a 1.3-mile hike
to the Vernal Falls Bridge, an
excellent viewpoint. Ambitious
hikers can continue to the top of
the falls, a 2.4-mile trek, or on
(left to right) Campers at Yosemite Pines RV Park, located just outside
Yosemite National Park. In winter, Yosemite is a collection of microclimates, from an icy, shaded creek to sunny, dry meadows. Open
mid-December through March, Badger Pass is a popular destination for
winter sports enthusiasts.
to Emerald Pool, a 2.6-mile trip.
When water flow is high, expect
to get drenched with mist and
watch for slippery footing on the
rock stairs. Weather permitting,
you can continue to the top of
Nevada Falls, a 5.5-mile trip.
Mariposa Grove: If you can
get there, don’t miss Yosemite’s
largest stand of giant Sequoias,
among three grand groves that
thrive within the park. In the winter, this stand of about 500 trees is
most accessible. Weather permitting, hike, ski or snowshoe up the
two-mile access road to meet the
Grizzly Giant, thought to be the
fifth-largest tree in the world. At
100 feet around at its base and 209
feet tall, it’s estimated to be about
2,700 years old.
Badger Pass Ski Area: Located
on Glacier Point Road, this facility
was the first ski resort to open in
the west, originally built to attract
the 1932 Winter Olympics. When
snows fall, this is a great place to
sign up for ski or snowboarding
lessons, as 85% of the slopes are
devoted to beginning or intermediate levels. The season generally
runs from mid-December to lateMarch or early-April. Visitors will
find downhill and cross-country
skiing, snowtubing, snowboarding, and snowshoeing, with rental
equipment available.
The Ahwahnee Hotel: It’s
hardly a natural attraction, but
this grand hotel, built in 1927, is
a national historic landmark and
not to be missed. Free history
tours are available, but feel free to
wander the grounds on your own.
Native American Miwok designs
and patterns have been used to
decorate this classic American
resort hotel, noted for its great
granite facade, walk-in fireplace,
and immense, cavern-like dining
room, where jackets are required
for dinner and entrees can run
about $25 and up. 
(For more information about Yosemite National Park, check www. nps.gov/yose or www.yosemitepark.com.
Check weather conditions and live webcams at www.yosemite.org.)
Photo courtesy of the National Parks Service.
ALWAYS ASK FOR MOR.
MOR/ryde Pin Box
®
Provides more “travel”
resulting in a smoother,
nearly jerk-free towing
experience.
MOR/ryde RE System
®
MORE RVS FEATURE MOR/RYDE®
THAN ANY OTHER TOW-SYSTEM ON THE ROAD…
BECAUSE PEOPLE DEMAND PERFORMANCE.
But don’t just take our word for it. Take it from one of the thousands of RV
owners who make MOR/ryde the most requested system on the market …
MOR/ryde®
4
EquaFlex®
E-Z Flex®
Stock
3
2
1
1
“We had tried the TrailAir® Center Point and TrailAir® Pin Box but had both a rough ride in
the truck and in the 5VER. We sought out help with little resolve. Now we are very happy and
have a smooth ride in both the truck and the 5VER with the MOR/ryde package. In the future
we will go MOR/ryde all the way!”
1.5
2
FORCE (G)
MOR IS BETTER.
-N. Crenshaw
TO REQUEST A FREE BROCHURE, VISIT US AT WWW.MORRYDE.COM.
SUSPENSION TRAVEL (Inches)
Offers 30% improvement
in dampening road shock,
providing smoother towing
and better trailer protection.
SMOOTHING OUT THE ROUGH SPOTS.
Studies show that MOR/ryde products
consistently outperform competing products,
offering more “travel” (non-impact movement)
than other tow-systems.