Big Sur, Yosemite and Eastern Sierra Road Trip from Southern California ( part 2 of 2)

Before I proceed to Day 5, let me share first the summary of days 1- 4 of our Big Sur, Yosemite and Eastern Sierra Road Trip from San Diego, which I shared in part 1 of this series.
Day 1- drove from San Diego to Big Sur
Day 2- explored Big Sur, with hikes at Point Lobos State Park, Garappata State Park, and Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park. We also revisited Pfeiffer Beach.
Day 3 - sightseeing drive from Big Sur to San Mateo via coastal highway, with stops at Moss Landing and Santa Cruz. We did very little hiking and sightseeing this day because of very heavy rain.
Day 4- From San Francisco International Airport, we drove to Yosemite National Park and explored some parts of the Valley.

Now, moving to Days 5- 9.

Day 5: Explored some parts of Yosemite Valley, then, hiked to Vernal and Nevada Falls.

El Capitan @ Yosemite Valley

hike to Vernal and Nevada Fall via John Muir Trail

Vernal and Nevada Fall is considered to be the signature hike in Yosemite National Park. The Park ranger said that if we only have time for one hike, then, Vernal and Nevada Fall must it be, especially that these two waterfalls can't be seen at all from the Valley Floor. I've done this hike before, but it was summer 2008. The trail climbs 2000 ft in 3.5 miles. I believe the early summer hike was a lot better than our hike this year, which was in between periods of snow. I was counting how many times I was hit by a snowball that were falling from trees. But it is not the rough, icy and slippery conditions that made me think the summer hike to Vernal and Nevada Falls was a lot better, it was the closure of Mist Trail. The mist from waterfalls that still turns to snow because of freezing temperatures makes the Mist trail not safe this time of the year. I was a bit disappointed not to see the beauty of Vernal Fall face to face, but only from the footbridge.

A few days before our trip, the weather forecast does not look nice in Yosemite, however, when I called for a change of date, I could not change dates without paying for 2 nights lodging, because of 7-days cancellation policy in Yosemite. We did not want to pay for something without us enjoying it, thus, we just came prepared. We brought with us tire chains ( required in California for mountainous icy driving ), ice trekkers for icy hiking and hiking poles.  The ice trekkers and hiking poles really helped us a lot since the trails past Vernal Fall footbridge started to become snow covered, some parts very icy, and getting icier to the top. 

Please visit my previous post about hiking Vernal and Nevada Fall if you want to learn more details of this hike. Though I may write about this trail again, for a spring or icy hike, since the last time we hiked this trail was summer 2008. 

Day 6: Hike Upper Yosemite Falls Trail, then, drove to Bakersfield after.

 Yosemite Falls from the Valley

More than 90% of the tourists in Yosemite see Yosemite Falls from the Valley floor only. A small portion of the visitors would take the hike up Upper Yosemite Falls trail to be up close with the falls. Upper Yosemite Falls hike is a giant stairmaster, the trail climbs 2600 ft in 3.8 miles. It is like climbing to the top of Empire State building via stairs not just once but more than twice. But unlike climbing stairs in a building, the hike up is surrounded by gorgeous scenery around. 

Like our hike in Vernal and Nevada Falls, the trail was getting icier and icier towards the top. Getting up close to the thundering power of Yosemite Falls and seeing the Valley below instead of looking up high from the Valley is worth the climb.

Upper Yosemite Falls Trail

More about Upper Yosemite Falls in my later post.

Day 7: From Bakersfield, we drove to Lone Pine, in the Eastern Sierra ( Yosemite Valley is in the Western Sierra). Explored Alabama Hills and Manzanar National Historical Site.

 Fun At Alabama Hills

This was a fun day. More of fun and relaxing hikes rather than challenging hikes. Alabama Hills is perfect place to just have fun! And the contrast of snow capped mountain peaks and desert valley in the Eastern Sierra is something that really amazes me. 

revisiting history at Manzanar National Historical Site

Please visit my previous post on Remembering Manzanar, to learn more about this historical site.

Day 8: Explored a little bit f Bishop Creek Canyon, Mammoth Lakes, Hot Creek Geological Site in Mammoth Lakes, and Mono Lake.

Eastern Sierra Nevada Mountain @ sunrise, Bishop Creek Canyon, Twin Lakes @ Mammoth Lakes and Hot Creek Geological Site

For this day, I guess we were tired of hiking in uncertainty coz snow was heavily falling again in the trail we were supposed to take at North Lake in Bishop Creek Canyon. We had enough of icy hikes in Yosemite that we decided to focus more on the desert side of Eastern Sierra. 

Mono Lake

Day 9: Hiked Panum Crater in Mono Lake, then, drove back to San Diego. 

Panum Crater Hike

 roadside beauty in the Eastern Sierra, Hwy 395

 roadside beauty in the Eastern Sierra, June Lake Loop

We had so much fun in this trip, now, we are back to home sweet San Diego. 

♥♥