California Deserts & Anza NHT - Spring 2015

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Monday, March 30, 2015
Start: El Portal, CA
Finish: Hodgdon Meadow Campground (NPS), Yosemite NP


Tuesday, March 31, 2015
Start: Hodgdon Meadow Campground (NPS), Yosemite NP
Finish: Placerville, CA


Click here for this RTA Library Map

Monday
Within a few minutes of leaving the campground we had entered Yosemite National Park on CA 140 and as we were approaching the entrance station around 10 AM traffic was backed up, even before you could see the booth. We thought it was due to Spring Break crowds, but after 15 minutes of stop and go we found out an 18 wheeler was stuck in Arch Rock, just beyond the entrance station. Not stuck because of height, but because of length, couldn't make the small angled turn at the end. Rangers were coordinating one -way traffic on the outbound side. Busy in the valley, but not too busy.


Backup at Arch Rock





After stops at the post office for hand cancellation of postcards and the visitor center for passport stamps and more postcards we headed up to Happy Isles trailhead. I hiked up to the bridge at the base of Vernal Falls. It was predicted to,be 81 degrees in the valley, the warmth was causing rapid snow melt. For the past several days large clouds formed over the top of the Sierras, almost looking like summer storm clouds. We were told the rapid evaporation of the snow was forming these clouds.


Vernal Falls



Driving along the valley floor the only flowers seen were redbuds and dogwood.
Dogwood



As all campgrounds were full on the valley floor, as expected, we head up and out the Northern Yosemite Highway, CA 120, to the last campground, Hodgdon Meadow, at the edge of the park. Lots of sites available, mainly for tent campers, but we found one on the outer edge and enjoyed a relaxing evening.


18 wheeler post-script
As we drove up the road out of the valley we came up behind the same 18-wheeler that had been stuck in Arch Rock at the beginning of the day. He was waiting for road construction crews to move pylons from the middle of the 3 tunnels road construction crews had in place for ongoing work. His trailer was too tall to fit in the right lane only. Looks like he would be waiting a while for this next step, we had to drive around him. I think this defines - a bad day at work, and on a Monday!


Tuesday, March 31


Campground squirrel



We made our hot beverages before leaving camp and stopped at Buck Medows for a tasty breakfast. This was a travel day to our son's place in Placerville on a route we have covered multiple times. At Chinese Camp we turned north on CA 49 and made stops at Columbia State Park, a historic mining district you can walk through ( no fee) and in Jackson for some antiquing. Except for Thursday, when we go into San Francisco to start back in the Anza NHT from the northern terminus, we'll be spending time with family until next Sunday. I'll start posting again, at that time.


Passport Stamps
Yosemite National Park
-125th Anniversary 1890 - 2015
- Yosemite Valley


Bonus
Half Dome pictorial
Columbia State park
- gold panner pictorial


Wildlife Sightings
Mule Deer
Swallowtail butterfly
Rock Squirrel
Fox Squirrel


Common Raven
Black Phoebe
American Robin
Stellar Jay
Turkey Vulture
Wild Turkey
Acorn Woodpecker
House Sparrow