How the day started: COLD. It turns out mY new new definition of cold is 49°F for that is what it was when I got up this morning. At 3am I awoke and reached for my extra blanket. At 3:30am I awoke and did a yoga/Houdini maneuver to fall into the front seat so I could turn on the ignition to close the windows. Too much frigid air!

Coffee and breakfast were once again partook of in my front seat and by 7am I was on my way into Yosemite. I hadn’t planned where to go until I drove there = Glacier Point. It was going on 9am by the time I took all my photos and therefore a bit late to start a long hike so I backtracked a couple of miles to Sentinel Dome to do the Sentinel/Taft Point Loop.

This is a decent hike that takes you up the top of Sentinel Dome (8122’) for some amazing 360° panoramic views of….everything! Half Dome, El Capitan, the Valley, waterfalls for which I don’t know the name of. Incredible. Must be one of the best views in Yosemite.

Next I hiked a good trail through the trees on my way to Taft Point and saw a little side trail and look at the view I found! This produced an audible “Wow”!

Taft Point is a semi-barren outcropping with a sheer drop of 1000’s of feet to the valley floor. Luckily there’s a tiny area with a iron fence that is the selfie spot. Not quite as awe inspiring as earlier but definitely vertigo inducing!

I stopped at Taft Point (well in from the ledge, I might add) to have a rest and some lunch. Just as I was opening my pack someone called: Bear! Bear! Do bears like quinoa & black bean salad? I better have a look. Luckily he was across a crevasse from my picnic spot so I feasted without fear of having to share.

It was too early to go “home” yet sonI stopped in at the Mariposa Grove of sequoias. This area has been closed for a couple of years for a big overhaul and I wanted to check it out. It was already 3:30pm and the sky was overcast and a bit dim so I thought I could do the “loop” if I put a wiggle on, as mum would say. Because of Covid the shuttle isn’t running so you have to walk 2 miles (or race-walk, in my case) just to get to the grove, then walk whatever distance you want while there, then the 2 miles back.

They’re all caged in, like a theme park for trees! I suppose with the zillions of tourists that normally frequent the park they had to do something to protect them. It turned out to be very informative, as I whip-scanned the info boards and a few of the trees made the effort well worth while.

In spite of my best efforts I didn’t get back to the car until 6pm, far too late to go for a refreshing soak in the creek at my campsite. But I had a better idea anyway- the restrooms at the Mariposa Grove parking lot have lovely warm running water! I grabbed my washcloth, soap, cup and took my collapsible bucket full of water into the large end stall and had a wonderful bird bath. I washed my hair for the first time in 2 days too! I feel like a new person. I can’t say the same about the poor washcloth though, I had to throw it away as it was so filthy. The trails here are so dusty that wearing a face mask is actually a good idea.

Interestingly, my first hike clocked in at 6.31 miles, and my second 6.30 miles. Add in 1 mile phaffing about at Glacier Point, I’d call this a good day!

Tomorrow’s plan: if the body feels good in the morning I’ll make an early start and tackle the Panorama Trail, then hit my favorite restroom on the way home to do some hand-laundry so I’m back in time for things so dry. I like this campground so much I’ve booked a 4th night (not the same site, unfortunately); there’s plenty to see and do here in the south part of Yosemite!