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Touring in Yosemite
By Russ | November 13, 2009
Through a good deal of luck and serendipity, Laura and I were passing close to Yosemite just as our friend Chris and his friends were planning to ride into Yosemite. We connected on the phone a few days before, looked at some maps and found that we would be able to rendezvous together and ride into Yosemite valley. We met at the Yosemite Bug Hostel, a great rustic hostel/lodge/B&B about 30 miles from the park and enjoyed a great meal with some craft beer (they have good beer on tap there, as if the scenery were not enough reason to go!)
The next morning, we hopped on our bikes, descended from Midpines to meet the Merced river and rode that to the park. We rode in with Chris and his longtime touring partners and friends Rick and Elmer. They have toured together several times over the last 30 years and it was a treat to ride with them and form an intergenerational touring cadre.
Laura had never been to Yosemite. I remember going as a child, but this trip was really unique and particularly spectacular. Everything seemed grander and larger than life without the frame of a car window. Even more beautiful, were the changing fall colors. I had always gone during the summer when everything was green, but to see the brightly colored leaves set against the grey immortal walls of the valley was sublime.
We entered the park by riding on the 140, a two lane meandering road that follows the Merced. The first 15 miles were a gentle grade that you hardly noticed. After the small blip of a town El Portal, the real work began and the road climbs at 8% for the next 12 miles. The road has no shoulder and hugs the cliff walls. There is a small stone retaining wall that keeps you and cars from the edge. The traffic was fairly light and you could hear the cars approach from a fair distance. During the summer months, the road would be a nightmare to ride, but sine it was getting cooler there were fewer people visiting the park, it was beautiful ride.
On a bike, the climb is a slow reveal. Views of the valley would be blocked by the tight turns then suddenly, you’d be bombarded by a vista that would stop you in mid pedal (as if the 8% wasn’t enough).
Once we entered the park proper, the grade mellowed and we rode on Yosemite’s series of one way streets and bike paths. It was beautiful riding and you felt infinitesimally small when you looked up the walls of the valley.
We rode around the park and tried to take in as many of the sites as we could before it got too dark like Bridal Falls, Half Dome and El Capitan.
It was getting late so we rode to Curry Village and rented a tent cabin. There was a long list of things that we weren’t allowed to bring in the tent because of bears (food, cosmetics, lip balm, water bottles, etc.,). We had planned on cooking, but it was such a hassle because we had to prepare the food far away and it was getting dark and cold so we opted for a meal at Yosemite Lodge.
That night we waited for the rain that was suppose to come, with the hopes that it would bring snow in the morning, but it never came. Nevertheless, it was an amazing experience and we plan to return to Yosemite another time to really explore the park.
Topics: Riding Days, Route |
November 13th, 2009 at 10:46 am
Beautiful!
November 13th, 2009 at 12:03 pm
Great post!! Lots of great Yosemite information and great images! Never can get enough Yosemite - I shoot there as often as possible. Keep riding! John
November 13th, 2009 at 1:35 pm
That picture of Laura in front of Half Dome is fantastic!
November 13th, 2009 at 2:34 pm
Gorgeous shots?
November 13th, 2009 at 4:40 pm
[...] UCLA Bicycle Coalition. SoCal’s wayfaring bike couple pedal through Yosemite — and they have the breathtaking photos to prove it. Speaking of photos, who knew a Missouri sky could look so good? Now that the Gold Line [...]
November 14th, 2009 at 12:34 am
I like the photo of Laura in front of El-Cap. Just the right look of smugness on her face.
November 14th, 2009 at 7:59 am
I, too, particularly like the one of Laura looking tough AND serene.
November 14th, 2009 at 9:55 am
Beautiful pictures!
November 15th, 2009 at 8:30 am
Love, love, love the photos and can’t wait to ride up that way someday! Thanks for posting!
November 16th, 2009 at 6:43 am
[...] Touring in Yosemite [...]
November 18th, 2009 at 2:14 pm
We were in Yosemite when you were (part of the 12th, all of the 13th and part of the 14th)… by automobile. It was our first chance to go there.
I kept saying that I would love to see a touring cyclist, but thought that it was perhaps too late with the snow beginning. It’s nice to know, that even though we missed you, you were there!
It truly was beautiful with the fall colors amid the “usual” grandeur. From the fog/snow of Thursday, to the clear blue of Friday and Saturday it was a wonder. I think that I filled a good portion of a SD chip taking images!
While time was limited, and my bike far away this time, I hope to someday get back and bike or bike tour in that area.