Located three-and-a-half hours south east of Yosemite, Kings Canyon is another natural wonder. I consoled myself with the thought that more adventure awaited I was on my way to Kings Canyon National Park. I also took a detour to experience the human-made grandeur or the Ahwahnee Hotel, designed by architect Gilbert Underwood in the 1920’s and considered a masterpiece of “parkatecture.” The building does not disappoint with its rustic elegance and charm.Īfter three days in Yosemite Valley, it was time to move on. Like most good landscape architectural design, the experience is of nature with the “hand” of man being hidden. To me, this is a perfect example of man and nature working together. The ultimate view, framed by huge incense Cedar and Ponderosa Pine trees cannot be adequately described. Approaching from the west, the lower and upper falls slowly reveal themselves as you traverse the accessible trail. Designed by landscape architect Lawrence Halprin, it is a masterpiece of site design. My third day in Yosemite was spent exploring the valley, with a highlight being the approach and trail to Yosemite Falls. The celebrated El Capitan and much-photographed waterfalls are just the beginning. They realized that it was a unique landscape and a national treasure. I wonder how he was able to accomplish so much in one lifetime. Yosemite National Park is protected today through the work of John Muir (who would trek through the area for weeks carrying less than what we carry in a day), Theodore Roosevelt, and wait for it…Frederick Law Olmsted. This is not maintainable… Email your congressperson. At a time when National Park funding is being slashed, the parks are experiencing record visitation. In the summer months, it can take hours just to traverse the drive into the valley. I was told by a ranger that this was the off season. Campgrounds were full, and numerous schools and camp groups came and went. Visiting the park in October, I expected to have it to myself, but that was not the case. It didn’t help that our guide decided that I should be first on the cables! But it was a blast and a success. I would be lying if I didn’t admit to a bit of “what the hell am I doing” thinking, but that goes with the territory. The big, bad, and bald face of Half Dome mocked us as we climbed nearer and nearer.įinally, we arrived at the false summit with the iconic view of the cables ascending the rock face. The morning continued past Upper Yosemite Valley, which as the name implies is a high mountain valley. The first hours of the trek were by headlamp and moonlight, but the Vernal and Nevada Falls were still spectacular as we passed. Monday was summit day, and I awoke at 4:30 a.m. After the obligatory photos of Half Dome and El Capitan, I drove into the park with an overwhelming sense of anticipation. The valley is a relatively small part of the park, but it is where 90% of park visitors spend their time, including me. The first glimpse of Yosemite Valley occurs with the famous tunnel. And then, suddenly you find yourself ascending into the mountains on California highway 120, a ridiculously narrow, steep, and winding strip of asphalt. Eventually, you make your way to the almond groves and open landscape that the state is famous for. Yosemite is about a four-hour drive from the city, and the first half is a soul-killing expanse of bleak and littered California highway. The ASLA annual meeting was not until the 23 rd, so Yosemite would be my first stop.įlying into San Francisco, I took an Uber to pick up the van and was off on my adventure. The sequence of the trip was set when I discovered that the last day to summit was Columbus Day, October 9. Eureka!Ī bucket list item for me has always been climbing the Half Dome in Yosemite National Park via the celebrated cables. It ended up being minivan camping as there are many outfitters in the west that will rent an outfitted van to unsuspecting tourists like me. A twist to the trip was that I decided to “car camp” - a first for me. In the months prior, I lined things out, just as I would a major office project. Half the fun of a trip is planning it, and this was no exception. This Fall, I had the good fortune to experience first-hand three iconic California national parks over a two-week period. Under the pretext of being required to attend the ASLA annual meeting as our chapters trustee, I somehow “sold” the trip to my family and staff.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |