Bob & Cindy's 2015 Travel Web Site
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Lassen Volcanic National Park & First Part of Yosemite NP
We enjoyed our time at our camping spot on the Oregon coast but it was time to start heading back to Texas. Our plan from the start was when we did come back we would stop at Lassen Peak and Yosemite National Parks. After all, we are starting to get to the age where we'd better see it now, who knows if we would get another chance?? Earlier in the trip, we found out that Lassen does not usually open until early June and sometimes later so we had kind of written that off. But due to the extreme drought in California, they opened it up around May 1st. We made a last minute reservation outside the park and headed there from Brookings, Oregon ... stopping in Redding, California to get the oil changed in the coach.
This is Mount Shasta, picture taken from about 40 miles away when we were driving down to Redding, California. Shasta Lake, California's largest reservoir, is about 50% full when it should be at 100%. The drought goes on.
Like many areas of California, the drought has prompted many fires in many areas, this was inside the National Park of Lassen.
On the park road going to the observation point and trail heads at the high point of the road, weather is foggy and light rain.
Supposedly, this is a great view of the devastation caused by the largest eruption in 1915. At the time of this picture, it was 32 degrees and snowing like hell, beautiful view of snow along the road and white-out condiditons!
So we didn't get any great views of Mount Lassen but we did have a full day driving through the park, walking around the observation points, learning some of the history of the area and seeing the effects of the volcanic activity over many decades. On to Yosemite ...
Just outside our campground on the way to Yosemite are the visible effects of the so called Rim Fire which devastated over 400 square miles of forest and got into portions of Yosmeite N.P. Incredible, started by a hunter cooking lunch.
On a cloudy day, even this looks perfect. Bridal Veil Falls. Even a light breeze moves the water around in whispy waves.
Cindy and me at Lower Yosemite Falls. We felt lucky that the water was flowing over the cliffs. It won't be lasting long this year with the drought.
Upper Yosemite Falls, total drop is about 3000 feet. It's running about 1/2 of what it normally is but no one was complaining. I should also add that the Park was very crowded with tourists from all over the world, even with that, it's worth putting up with, nothing else is like it in the world. Having said that, I'd hate to be there in the summer when the crowds get even heavier.
Half Dome view by the Merced River.
This is Pacific Dogwood, grows more like a bush instead of a tree like the Dogwood trees in the South. All over the place.
This is the back of the Ahwahnee Lodge, a true luxury hotel in the back of Yosemite Valley. Rooms start at about $500 a night (it's just a room) but the place is top flight all the way. Nice to prowl around the shops and lobby area.
Peaceful walking in the valley floor and along the Merced River through the park. Surprising that few people walk off the major roads.
Valley view as we were leaving with Bridal Veil Falls on the right.
Valley view with El Capitan and the Merced River. At this point the weather forecast did not look good for us getting any more good pictures, but we got lucky a couple of days later.
