Monday, June 4, 2012

Tioga Pass & Upper Yosemite Nat'l Park

From Mono Lake and the town of Lee Vining, the eastern entrance to Yosemite Nat'l Park is by way of Tioga Pass, CA highway 120,  a cliff-hanger and steep climb up 3000' in 12 miles to the summit just shy of 10,000' at the park's entrance.  I would not recommend this route in larger RVs, especially if you like to pull over, as we do frequently, for photos and short hikes.






Up we go

Well yes, there's always one or two!

We were checking places off our "to-see" list as the departure day from June Lake base-camp approached.  We could not leave without seeing the upper Yosemite which was closed on our last attempt due to snow over Memorial weekend.


Use a bit of imagination and you can see a waterfall!


Smooth granite domes, craggy peaks, alpine lakes, and spacious meadows embody the character of this High Sierra.


Ellery Lake

Tuolumne Meadows will be in full bloom this summer

Pristine Tenaya Lake

Smooth granite domes provide fun hikes

....both up and down!

Half Dome from Tioga Pass..the 'other' side


If you read our previous entry on Mono Lake you know this day (not really today's day, since I'm way behind) started at 4 a.m., so by the time we traveled from east to west on Tioga Pass, with a lot of stops along the way, then returned the same way, with more stops to catch different light and views, it was another very long, but amazingly beautiful day along our way!


But it's time to move on.....

4 comments:

Gaelyn said...

Gorgeous! But certainly not a place I'd want to tow my big 5er.

Bob and Kathie said...

Thanks for the visual reminders of one of our past trips. What a beautiful place to be.

Bob and Kathie said...

Your photos are such a delight to see. Looking forward to the next bunch down the road.

Donna K said...

Great post...loved all the photos. It's been many years since we have been on Tioga Pass and in the high country of Yosemite. I'd like to do it again someday.