John Kasaian
16-Apr-2017, 07:37
We took my son and his girlfriend for a day in Yosemite Valley yesterday, a "get in the National Parks free" day as well as during the Easter Break so it was, predictably, crowded. The falls were beautiful and the weather perfect. Spring pollen and mosquitoes weren't causing any problems yet---it was darned near ideal. The Pacific Dogwood were just coming into leaf---no blossoms yet. The biggest issues I saw is traffic and the free trams. The segregated lane for buses puts twice as many cars in one lane than a single lane can handle, add to that the propensity of frequent stops due to all sorts of reasons---wildlife, full parking lots, awe struck tourists, etc... and it's a genuine nightmare. The signage is cryptic so at one point, the one way auto only lane becomes a lane for opposite traffic and the trams and cars share the same lane although the signs say different.
Grid lock in the big city has nothing over Yosemite Valley when it comes to creating stress...errr...Adventure!
Knowing this, our game plan was to grab the first available parking spot, no matter where, and rely on the free shuttle trams.
Bad idea!
With the North side road closed due to construction, the "loop" is more like an "e", so it's quite a bit longer. There is nothing resembling a schedule (this from the Yosemite transportation personnel) so you may have to wait up to 30 minutes (likely) or maybe two trams will show up at the same time and even if they do, it is quite possible there won't be enough vacant seats for everybody in line to board.
The system is overtaxed and terribly run, IMHO. I shudder to think what it will be like during the high summer season!
Also the Degnan's building is closed while undergoing an extensive renovation ---not sure when it will reopen but we sure missed the pizza! I'm sure the park employees miss the fortifying beer at Carabiners
Oh yes, that culvert that washed out during a recent storm closing HWY 41 above Fish Camp has been repaired in both directions.
That's my report.
Grid lock in the big city has nothing over Yosemite Valley when it comes to creating stress...errr...Adventure!
Knowing this, our game plan was to grab the first available parking spot, no matter where, and rely on the free shuttle trams.
Bad idea!
With the North side road closed due to construction, the "loop" is more like an "e", so it's quite a bit longer. There is nothing resembling a schedule (this from the Yosemite transportation personnel) so you may have to wait up to 30 minutes (likely) or maybe two trams will show up at the same time and even if they do, it is quite possible there won't be enough vacant seats for everybody in line to board.
The system is overtaxed and terribly run, IMHO. I shudder to think what it will be like during the high summer season!
Also the Degnan's building is closed while undergoing an extensive renovation ---not sure when it will reopen but we sure missed the pizza! I'm sure the park employees miss the fortifying beer at Carabiners
Oh yes, that culvert that washed out during a recent storm closing HWY 41 above Fish Camp has been repaired in both directions.
That's my report.