Amazing Yosemite National Park!!. Review on Nevada

YOSEMITE NATIONAL PARK

While reading this review please open this link.

https://photos.yahoo.com/nanduchitnis

and look into photoalbum Yosemite, to which I hve added some more pics.

Yosemite National Park is co-located within the borders of the State of California, Nevada and Utah. So it is a biggest National Park in USA.

From the city of San Francisco it is about 7 hours drive.

Brief History

In the late 19th century, hordes of Europeans were attracted to Yosemite by the crazy Gold Rush. But most times they were driven away by the ferocious Indian tribes who lived in this vast area. Finally, the Federal Govt. formed a Battalion of Soldiers to subdue the Native Americans. Having done so, the European Americans started massive logging operations and cut down millions of acres of forestland and turned them into cattle ranches and farms.

John Muir is considered the foremost conservationist in the American History. He lobbied hard with Congress, President Roosevelt and the States of California. In the year 1903, he invited President Roosevelt to Yosemite and pressed home the point to preserve this most magnificent gift of nature for future generations to come.

John Muir succeeded and The National Parks Act was passed. See the first picture on Yahoo! Photos.

All rapacious logging operations were stopped, cattle ranchers were forced out and the entire area was handed back to the Native Americans and the Yosemite National Park Authority rejuvenated the forests and future damage to the Park was stopped.

That was some 100 years ago. I went to Yossie 25 and 26 July 2004.

WHY YOSEMITIE

I have traversed many countries during the course of my career, I have traveled to some magnificent places of Natural beauty in India and abroad. I have no hesitation in ranking Yossie in the top 5! This place looks unreal, like some Hollywood special effects man has done some wonders. Blink 10 times and it dawns on me ………this is for real.

THE NEVADA WATERFALLS AND THE HALF DOME GLACIER

By far the greatest sight in the Park is the Half Dome Glacier and the Nevada Waterfalls, located in the Clarks Ranges. The Glacier is actually a huge Rock, reduced to half its original size by glaciers that sliced away a major chunk of the rock, some millions of years ago. The sight is awesome, magnificent. The ROCK is located at a height of 8000 feet above mean sea level.

There is also a picture of a MAN IN RED. This man climbs the Rock once every year. The way to get to the Rock is to park your car near the Nevada Waterfall and trek to the Rock, some 24 miles. Then from the rear side of the Rock, you can start your mountaineering adventure and climb this Rock! Sounds so easy.

TAFT POINT

The Taft Point is easily reachable because it is located just 2 miles from the car park. Once you get there, the sights are magnifique. The pictures tell the full story. The crevices and ledges are frightfully steep. On a windy day you could get blown away, 8000 feet free fall.

THE LAKE

There is a fresh water lake with a beach located at a height of 5000 feet. The water was not so cold and people were swimming and fishing out there.

THE FORESTS

Most of the drive through the Park is through densely forested area. Some trees are 150 feet tall. Wild life, bears in plenty, fully protected. The Bear can kill you but it is an offence to kill a bear. The forests are a paradise for bird waters, biologists and the rocks of great interest to Geologists.

My Recommendations

Get to San Francisco by Cathay Pacific, Mumbai to SF return costs only Rs 56,000/-. At SF, hire a Harley Davidson or a Dodge pick up truck or any SUV.

Hire camping and trekking gear. Tents, camping bags, Gas, stoves, provisions, water, wines soft drinks. At Yosie there are plenty of camping grounds, available at cheap rates. Plan to stay for not less than a week.

If you travel by car, you need to stay in motels. Cheapest ones cost some $ 100/- per day. Much cheaper to camp than to stay in motels.

Road Map

Go to Yahoo! Maps. Enter your present location, enter your destination….lo behold, you get your route map from SF to Yosie.

There is plenty else to see along the route from SF to Yosie.

QED

Once you have done Yosie, cut your expenses, wish USA good bye and return to Mumbai. Do not waste money and time on silly places like Disney World or Universal Studios.

I plan to do Yosie once again, next year, all alone, my way. My plan is to camp for 4 weeks at Yosie.