THE START OF OUR TRIP
Even though we would be starting our trip with a slight detour, we’d wanted to explore Yosemite since moving to San Francisco, but never found enough time. It turned out to be the perfect time of year to go, with the weather clearing up just as we arrived and the snowmelt allowing us to see the waterfalls at their full potential.
Our first day in the park we hiked the 4 mile trail, which had beautiful views of Yosemite Falls and Half Dome.
The next day we hiked the Upper Yosemite Falls trail, a full day hike that rewarded us with views across the valley.
HEADING OUT OF THE VALLEY
To escape the crowds, we headed out of the valley and into Stanislaus National Forest, to begin our return to the coast.
We drove down a winding dirt road to Lumsden Campground, a free campground in the Stanislaus National Forest.
Some of my best memories are from spending my summers in Yosemite. At the age of 10, I hiked to the top of El Capitan, which ended up being a ~20 mile loop ALL IN ONE DAY (thanks, Dad, for the stellar planning and detours).
the view was worth it.