Tioga Pass Road is Open - Finally

Did we mention that Yosemite has water?

A lake with no name

Wednesday, June 22 – Back to Yosemite National Park, this time to take the Tioga Road. We had learned the Tioga Pass was finally open, after a near record winter snowpack. That was where we wanted to go. Our trip took us up to Tenaya Lake, where we ate our picnic lunch in the car. After lunch we traveled just a little further east, then turned around to see the country from the other direction. And it was just as splendid coming back!

Water! Here’s the South Fork of the Tuolumne River (the same river that flows past our Thousand Trails Park) crashing down the mountain to the road, then under and beyond.

All along the road we found impromptu waterfalls, cascades, rivulets, trickles and seeps. There must be thousands of them everywhere in the mountains, and we saw plenty along the Tioga Road!

This is Yosemite Creek.

At a stop at Olmstead Point, we first took the standard picture.

Then, looking to the west, saw the “other side” of Half Dome off in the distance.

Looking east, we spied Tenaya Lake, deep blue and beckoning.

Years ago, with small children, we camped near the shores of this pristine lake. The high country campgrounds haven’t yet been opened for the summer, so we didn’t get to revisit the spot.



This was the only boater we saw at Tenaya.

Tenaya Lake still has some ice floating near the shore.

We sat in the car with our picnic lunch and with this view.

Right next door, this hiker and his two companions set up a lunch break.

Suzy's point of view has her own style:



A self-portait?

Toward the end of the day, we stopped to refill our gas tank, and met up with these other travelers.

Our friend and reader Carol K commented last time "We want Yosemite!" Now you have Yosemite, Carol, and we're going back again tomorrow for more.

And for those who want more pictures, there are lots of them on our Yosemite web album.

And that's it for one more day in ... Our Life on Wheels.