Thursday we drove from Lake Tahoe to Yosemite National Park. It was about a 5 hour drive- not too bad. As soon as we arrived, we took a 2 hour tram tour through the park. We learned many interesting facts about the park and its history. We were all fascinated that one of the largest peaks has been climbed by a 9 year old, an 81 year old, a parapalegic, and a woman with NO GEAR!!!! We also learned about firefalls, controlled forest fires, and about stage coaches being robbed as they ventured through the park. Later, we walked to the largest falling waterfall in North America- Yosemite Falls. It was beautiful and we were interested to learn that the waterfalls in Yosemite only fall for part of the year- late winter through the beginning of summer. After that point- they dry up completely!!! As the sun set we went to a Ranger Talk about the Yosemite waterfalls and the Half Dome- the most recognized and well known symbol of Yosemite. That night, the men (Pop, Jimmy, Dino, and Dino Michael) slept in a framed tent on one side of the park and the women and children (Grammy, Kathryn, Logan, Kelly, Cece, and Dom) slept snug in a cozy cabin with a bathroom and electricity on the other side of the park!! Of course the men crew came to the woman cabin to test the plumbing! During the night, 2 tents down from the men, a forest ranger had to shoot a bear with a paintball gun to shoo it away---the men slept through it, but heard all about it the next morning. Dino Michael was the first to appear at our cabin door to report the news! Friday morning we enjoyed a breakfast buffet before heading out of the park. As we left Yosemite National Park, we (except for Grammy who stayed in the car with the sleeping Leader Logan) stopped to climb the Olmstead Rocks and to wade in the lakes. We could not take in enough of the beauty- mountains, trees, lakes, rivers, wildlife....everything!! Then we headed out of the park for the long...long...long...drive to Death Valley National Park.
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