Yosemite 2024

Another year, another Yosemite pilgrimage! This was a pretty good one. I could have worked less (boo!) and planned some bits better, but overall it was the getaway I needed. The soundtrack to this trip was Better Faster Farther: How Running Changed Everything We Know About Women by Maggie Martens – plus the Spooked podcast, for seasonal spirit. See my general guide to visiting Yosemite if you feel inspired!

Day 1, Oct. 16

Drove up from Menlo Park, arrived around 2 p.m. and worked for a couple of hours. By 4:30 I was exhausted, but rallied for a walk up the Big Sandy Road Trail (5.6 miles), which connects to the Tenaya property. It was a forced march at first, very chilly with steady light rain all the way up. “Sandy Road” is accurate, but the last part is a true trail along a stream, with a pretty waterfall and pools at the end. I was rewarded with a full rainbow on the walk back. Settled in by the fireplace with a glass of wine.

Day 2, Oct 17

Full moon day! Up at 4:15 a.m., drove the hour to Glacier Point, stopping for moon pics along the way. The moon was on the other side of the sky from Half Dome (duh) but the view never disappoints. Cruised back down Glacier Point Road to the Sentinel Dome and Taft Point Loop Trail, a must-do on every trip. I was too cold and tired to do the Taft Point leg, shortening the route to about four miles. I was back in my hotel room by 11 a.m. I took a big nap, worked for a while, caught up on some personal to-dos, and lounged around. Let’s call this a rest day.

Day 3, Oct 18

Big hike day. This year’s big hike was Ostrander Lake Trail (12.1 miles). I’ve been curious about this one, hoping for an alternative to the Cathedral Lakes Trail without the ridiculously long drive to Tuolumne Meadows. Five stars! Except for the biting cold which froze my toes so painfully I considered bailing – and which could have been avoided with appropriate footwear. I stuffed some half-used hand warmers into my running shoes and powered through. The hike was long but not too strenuous; I bet it’s glorious in spring. The lake at the top did not disappoint, and the morning eventually warmed to the perfect temperature for my style of speed hiking. I did the whole thing in 5 hours, with 4.5 hours of hiking. I was the only person on the trail, proving again it’s possible to find solitude in Yosemite. I had an amazing deep tissue massage at the Tenaya spa in the afternoon. Did a little work; otherwise it was a near-perfect day.

Day 4, Oct 19

Last morning. I like to squeeze in a final, low-key hike before check-out. I’ve been avoiding the Mariposa Grove of Giant Sequoias because it has all the red flags of a tourist hot spot – including the shuttle service required to reach the trails (no parking at the grove). But even here, there is a way to avoid the crowds! At the crack of dawn I started on the Washburn Trail parallel to the shuttle road; a surprisingly pleasant, quiet and even moderately rigorous hike (3.7 miles round-trip). From the shuttle stop at the top, I did the Grizzly Giant Loop Trail (2 miles). I see redwoods all the time, but these trees are really stunning. By the time the shuttles started running at 8 a.m. I was already headed back. I think this will be my new “last morning” tradition. I showered and checked out at 11 a.m.; I won’t spoil this beautiful memory with a description of what lies between Yosemite and home.

#5Stars #Travel #Yosemite