Take the High Road

Today we leave Yosemite by travelling through the park and exiting via the Tioga Pass, the highest pass in the Sierra's at 3050m above sea level. We were on the road a little after 8-30am and headed back towards Yosemite Valley, but then turned up the hill towards the Tioga Pass Road. We stopped at a couple of view points to look down the valley, with the sun behind us.

Our first real stop was the Tuolumne Grove, one of the three Sequoia groves in the park. It was just over a mile to walk down the hill, the temperature was just right for walking, but we only went about half way before returning to the car.

Alpine Lake

Soon we were driving between tall trees and large expanses of granite. We stopped briefly at a small lake to take photographs and drove on enjoying the view. As we drove we always watched, in vain, for a bear to walk out through the trees. It was a very beautiful road.

At Olmsted Point we stopped for the view back across to Half Dome and the top of Yosemite Valley. There was a large granite dome over the road and we climbed much of the way up for a better view. It was also interesting to see the trees which grew in the cracks in the granite. These are really hardy trees, and some very very old as these surfaces can be covered in snow up to 9 months of the year.

Half Dome

We had lunch on the shore of Tenya Lake just a few kilometres further on. It was a great place to stop. A bit further we stopped for Tuolumne Meadow and walked around the end of the Meadow. David climbed halfway up Pot Hole Dome which gave excellent views. Rain was threatening and we could hear thunder so we didn't hang around too long. It had rained at the Visitor Centre and shop a little further on. We didn't get rain until we were on our way out of the park. There was still some snow / ice on the mountains visible from Tioga Pass, but not much.

Meadow

We descended to between 5 and 6000 feet and joined the road heading north to Carson City and Reno. We went over a couple of passes, but mostly stayed at this elevation. Much of the countryside was dry and desert-like, but we also crossed several large plains with lots of green grass and happy cattle.

Just below Tioga Pass

As we approached Carson City we could see a road climbing the steep slope in front of us. This turned out to be the road to Lake Tahoe. Like most of the road we have been on this was an excellent road allowing is to go up a very significant mountain at almost 50 mph.

We had no trouble finding the motel and checking in. After a short rest we drove a couple of minutes to the Mall and shopping area to find some where for Dinner. We chose a Mexican Place and it was good food. After a brief wander around some of the shops we retired for the night.

Descending Tioga Pass

Half Dome. Zoom in and you can see the climbers

 

Wildlife

Trees on Granite slope