Las Vegas Kacti & Cockapoo: Tim & David Starting the John Muir Trail

JMT passing through Tuolumne Wilderness Permit/Bear Box Area

Half Dome from Yosemite Valley

Granite Cliffs above Yosemite Village Visitor Center

Passing Mono Lake first Day

On Sunday, Tim, David and their "support team," Kay and John, set out early from Las Vegas to drive to Yosemite National Park. It was a beautiful 7 hour drive with great weather. After eating lunch at the Mobil gas station at the corner of 395 & 120 (Tioga Road), we headed up to Tioga Pass. High cliffs bordered the side of the road as we neared the 9000 foot high pass. Around half a mile before we reached the Yosemite NP gate, traffic stopped. When we finally caught up to the ranger standing in the road, he allowed us through since we already had a national parks pass.

Climbing Tioga Pass on approach to Yosemite NP

Smooth sailing to the Tuolumne Wilderness Permit building at the Tuolumne Lodge area. Here, Tim and David stashed their resupply of food for the trail. They would be hiking through here three days from now. (First, and hopefully the only thing forgotten, were the sharpies to be used to write names on bags. Got home and there they were on the table!)

Tuolumne Wilderness Permit/Bear Box Area

We drove the long Tioga Road smoothly until we started our major descent into the valley. Traffic stopped and inched slowly forward until we were able to turn left onto the valley loop road. But, the reprieve didn't last long.

North Dome from Valley

"The Talk" before getting the JMT Permits

Two hours in traffic later (inching forward) we finally reached the Upper Pines Campground, the very last campground in the valley on the very last loop! We spent our time in traffic jumping out of the car to get photos of the afternoon views. Before the car was able to inch forward another car length, we jumped back in. Interesting strategy for a national park visit, don't you think? Anyway, John and Kay got the guys unloaded into their campsite and inched their way out of the park.

Yosemite Village Visitor Center

Another two hours and we were twenty miles down the road at our hotel in El Portal. Should've just brought our tent and camped with Tim & David. Live and learn. Did I mention that it was Labor Day weekend and the Centennial celebration of America's National Parks?

Trail to Lower Yosemite Falls

So, early the next morning, after a sleepless night of listening to inconsiderate next door hotel guests loudly giggle continuously, John and Kay drove into the park at a much faster speed. We arrived at the campsite and picked up Tim and David's belongings from the bear box then drove over to the Yosemite Village Visitor Center where the guys were listening to "The Talk" from the ranger about the rules and regs of the JMT.

Lower Yosemite Falls (Teeny Waterslide Today)

Valley Loop Trail

John and Kay arrived in time to hear most of the talk. A lot of the talk was about pooping and bears! Yep. Very important stuff. Lots of rules. Good rules. Made a lot of sense. In fact, I think the ranger even settled my nerves about the black bears in the park who were characterized as annoying goofy creatures that were a little smarter than dogs and just wanted a free meal from anything they could get their paws on without going too near a human. The rule was to try any way you can to scare off a black bear with loud noises and waving hands so that they learn that they are not wanted around humans. The rangers only want to know if you happen to have that small chance of a negative bear encounter.

Stock Horses with Half Dome in Background

This discussion also resulted in a change in trailhead start for the two backpackers. Instead of having to shuttle up to the planned trailhead of Glacier Point, they got the go ahead to begin their trek at Happy Isle and enjoy the Mist Trail up past Vernal and Nevada Falls.

Picking Up the JMT Permits

After the talk, the four of us took a short stroll over to the Lower Yosemite Falls to view the waterslide dribble coming down from the cliffs above. We returned via the Valley Loop Trail back to the village area.

Sending Tim & David off at the Backpackers' Camp

And, Away they Go!

We grabbed a little bit of food at the nearby deli (another fiasco - ran out of food, registers broke down, etc.) then Tim & David returned to the permit office for their hard copy of the permit. Others were waiting in line for the few next day permits that are offered on a walk up basis. Note: Half Dome permits have to be obtained online. These are not given out as a next day permit. Luckily, Tim & David had that taken care of, too. They will be climbing Half Dome on their first day out.

Labor Day Traffic getting out of Park

We returned to the car that was parked in the Visitor Center parking lot. (You can't get close to the visitor center without parking and taking the shuttle or walking a half mile.) Camera and phones were started charging.

View Across Yosemite Valley

Back in the traffic that was not as bad as the day before ... yet ..., we drove back to the campground area. Tim and David would be staying in the backpackers' campground for the second night. This is somewhat of a queue for backpackers with permits for next day starts.

Tioga Road View of Yosemite Valley & Merced River

Olmsted Point Overlook on Tioga Road

Found on the back side of the North Pines Campground, cars can only park to unload. From there, the backpackers hike into the woods, cross a footbridge and place their $6 per person in an iron ranger and set up camp. It took a few minutes for Tim and David to reorganize for the night. Some items were placed back in the car since they were not needed for the hike such as yesterday's clothes, etc. And, a couple of items were set aside for Dennis to pack in at Bishop Pass. (Don't worry Dennis. Very lightweight.)

Distant View of Tenaya Lake from Tioga Road

Hugs. Then, into the woods, they went. John and Kay were no longer needed at Yosemite so they began their trip back to Las Vegas.

Tuolumne River at Lembert Dome

Kay left Tim and David with two of her favorite rules. 1) Stay on the trail and don't fall off of it. 2) Make every step count. No twisted ankles.

Lembert Dome

Tuolumne River at Lembert Dome & Meadows

The trip home was beautiful. After getting out of the traffic of the valley, Tioga Road wasn't too bad. We stopped for several photos, ate at the same lunch place as the day before, then retraced our roads past Mono Lake and Boundary Peak to I-95. The roads were full of Burning Man refugees. How can you tell? Well, you can tell .... And, this concludes the first installment of Tim's, David's and Dennis' JMT adventure.