Yosemite Part 3 - Giant Sequoias

I ran into a serious dilemma when we tried to go see the Giant Sequoias at Mariposa Grove. After our waterfall hike I wasn't exhausted (it was pretty short) but I also wasn't ready for a 6 mile hike. And due to the time of day, we wouldn't have finished that much even if I had been all fired up to do it. Physically I could have done 6 miles but I didn't want to push myself on day 1 and be tired the next day. So we had planned to take the tram through the famous trees and then hike at the top of the grove. But when we got there and found out it would be over $30 to take the tram/tour? No way in hell.

And hence my dilemma.

See, I'm all for large costs for such things in that 1) A high price may keep some people away, thus lessening crowds and making nature experiences much better and 2) The money goes to the park's preservation. How can I be unhappy about paying for keeping the park maintained when I want to enjoy it and have others in the future enjoy it? While the money would have been well used I could not make myself pay even more money for something that was merely a convenience. I had 2 working legs and could see the Sequoias without paying for the tram.

So then I was all fired up and suggesting that the tram not exist at all. Truly if it had never existed I would have simply done as much of the grove hike as I could before sunset and been quite happy with whatever I saw. Instead I was a little upset that I couldn't just drive up to my desired trailhead. There are no roads to the upper groves and thus you can either hike or take the tram. I got angry with myself over wanting a free gold cart ride to the upper groves. Again, I had 2 legs and would use them as far as they would take me. So why was I being such an annoying lazy bum? Hated myself!

Of course what ended up happening was that we hiked as much as we physically could before sunset and saw an amazing amount of trees. Tram free! And I'm so happy about that. And therefore I can say I really do wish there was no tram at all through the groves.

Yosemite is overcrowded. If you take away conveniences such as this tram you will have less people in the park. Then those of us who want to enjoy the natural world can do it peacefully. This trail is easy for the first mile or 2 so it will be crowded but at least you won't have the added convenience of riding through the grove which adds a lot of people!

But yes, a small part of me still wanted a convenient way to get to the upper groves. Even if I had to drive myself. Which is really annoying as I love when there aren't a ton of roads through parks. Makes them more natural. Obviously I am very conflicted on this.

*You will here much more ranting about how convenient and thus overcrowded Yosemite is in future posts.

Anyway, we did hike about 4 miles (I think) and saw quite a few of the famous tress and some others that are probably jealous of all the attention the others get. We found giant pinecones and a deer who was in an abusive domestic situation (but was not a bear). We climbed on a fallen tree and on some rocks. We got back to our car and the sun was setting. Thus began a long dark drive back to our campsite where we ate clif bars and passed out.