Yosemite Trekker @ thecityedition.com ----- Post #18 - June 15, 2010
Secret rendezvous. This quiet, undisturbed spot is located on a dirt rode running east-west between the bike path behind the Ahwahnee and the walking bridge that accesses the North Pines campground.
Bike Trek 2 - East Side of Yosemite Valley
Since the journey we're about to take nearly traces a circle, you can start at one of two points. Either Curry Village or the Ahwahnee Hotel - take your pick. Although it's basically flat terrain we're crossing here, the wind and steep grades are not too much of a consideration. However, the easier route leaves from Curry. It's probably a little faster, too, but a fast finish time is might be a disadvantage in a place like this.
----- 
On the road to Happly Isles. Southside Drive gets a lot of foot traffic in summer since it leads to the the Half Dome trailhead. It's also adjacent to two of the Pines campgrounds.
This dispatch starts from Curry Village along Southside Drive, heading east. On most days you'll find a lot of walkers headed up Southside Drive towards Happy Isles and the Half Dome trail, especially early in the morning. This road also takes hikers and the shuttle up to Mirror Lake. Fortunately, cars get detoured north before the trailhead parking lot, so pretty soon you and the bipeds will have the road all to yourself.
There's a paved path running parallel to the road, I should note, and a few crotchety shuttle bus drivers are known for pointing out this fact on their loudspeaker as they navigate past you. but, hey, it's a bumpy ride due to years of frost heave. Depending on the foot traffic and other factors, I tend to weave between the two routes. And I'm not the only one making these strategic decisions, either.
- 
Right of way. After so many generations, the mild-mannered mule deer of Yosemite are more or less habituated to the presence of humans. Once I rode right into four deer on a narrow stretch and we all stopped within a few feet of each other. They moved to their right and passed single file. I moved to their left and went on my way. Just another day in a national park.
No matter how many times you ride down the road towards the east end of the valley, some things you will almost always see and eventually take for granted. That includes the Big Pine campground, all the little bits of color rising out of the ground and the occasional furry rodent.
----- 
-------- 
Cruisin' by. Top left photo shows the Lower Pines campground from Southside Drive. (Sometimes I get confused about the three campgrounds, since they're all adjacent to one another.) If you want privacy and quiet at night, try one of the campgrounds outside the valley.
And then there are the things you don't expect to see...
Continued on Page 2
Return to Yosemite Trekker main menu.
Copyright 2010 TheCityEdition.com.