Slightly more than a week ago a few friends and I went camping at the Yosemite National Park and it was quite possibly the best, most incredible but arduous road trip I’ve gone on this entire exchange program. (2021: lol weak) I saw my first ever natural snow a few weeks ago on the Castle Rock Trail of Big Bear Lake but it was here in Yosemite where I saw my first ever falling snow and it was beyond spectacular! (2021: haha i still remember my excitement; snow has fallen a few times in CPH now; still pretty 🤩)
We arrived at Yosemite Valley on a Sunday morning and left on the following Tuesday morning. Because we slept in the car for two nights and camped outdoors (atop the Upper Yosemite Falls) for one, we spent money only on petrol, water, food, renting camping gears from UCR and other miscellaneous items like snow chains, souvenirs and coffee.
When we first arrived, Yosemite Valley was looking slightly grey, gloomy and foggy but those conditions weren’t unexpected. We read that it was going to rain and even snow. The greyness didn’t bother me too much because I was too preoccupied with anticipating falling snow (2021: yuh me as a tropical climate noob).
Because it gets dark by 5pm, we went on the Vernal Fall trail, which was one of the easier, shorter trails in Yosemite. We didn’t complete it because the later part of it was closed probably because of ice and snow. But it was along this trail where I witness my first ever falling snow!! (2021: yee-yeet) One big thing off my bucket list.
It got colder in the night after we did the trail and it began to snow harder than it did in the day.
Then in the following morning, this magic happened:
The sky cleared up and I was so incredibly awed by this white, winter wonderland. The view was absolutely breathtaking! We really couldn’t have chosen a better date to go to Yosemite. First the falling snow and then its aftermath. Few things could make me happier. For our final day in Yosemite, we hiked up to Upper Yosemite Fall and camped overnight there. Not going to lie, the hike up was really tough. I lagged pretty badly behind my friends and I couldn’t have completed (or even done) the hike without them. (2021: haha ya still love them.)
Our night up at the Upper Yosemite Fall wasn’t easy either. It was around -10°c to -15°c and I was so inept and unprepared at dealing with that coldness (2021: now I know all it takes is a good down jacket and some fleece 😇). I’m still suffering from frostnip in my fingers and toes even after more than a week.
I was really disinclined to move once we got up there because it was so cold and I was so exhausted and hungry from the hike. I am very ashamed to say that my friends did all the work of setting up tent before sunset (2021: still useless; current friends can attest 🥲), after which it got colder and windier.
Thank you Pontus, Paula and Andreas for this invaluable trip up north to Yosemite, for all your advice and help with camping gears, the hike, the cold and the drive!
I had such an awesome, awesome time up there and if you ever visit California, Yosemite National Park is a definite must-see. (2021: will pay top dollar to go back)
bohsupremo 