During this event you will:
- Tour America's 2nd and 3rd National Parks
- Spend a day exploring among the largest trees on Earth
- Experience unmatched views of the Sierra-Nevada Mountain Range
- Stand below (and above) the highest waterfall in North America
- Humbly revere El Capitan
This is a short trip with a ginormous payout. You'll see all the premium points of interest in both Sequoia and Yosemite National Parks. We'll spend a full day touring Sequoia N.P., home to the largest trees (by volume) in the world, then have nearly three days to hike, bike, and gape at the towering landscape and sky-high waterfalls of Yosemite National Park. Mid-May is the optimum time to see the falls, and this year we can expect decent flow and good falls energy.
We'll spend our first two nights in Visalia and the following three nights right in Yosemite Valley, with optional extension of 2 nights in Sonoma.
Accommodations
May 9 & 10 (Sat & Sun) - Comfort Suites Visalia Convention Center
May 11 - 13 (Mon - Wed) - Yosemite Valley Lodge
May 14 & 15 (Thu & Fri - wine people) - The Inn at Sonoma
Suggested Itinerary *meal reservations are firm*
Saturday May 9
5:00 Check into Comfort Suites Visalia
6:30 Dinner at Fugazzis — 5 min walk - *res for 15 ppl*
Sunday May 10
7:00 Depart for Sequoia
8:00 Tunnel Rock — 5 min
8:45 Beetle Rock + Sentinel Tree Giant Forest Museum — .4 mi / 40 mins
9:30 Moro Rock + Hanging Rock — 0.8 mi. / 1.5 hrs
11:00 Tunnel Log — 10 min
11:15 Crescent Meadow Trail to Chimney Tree + Tharp's Log — 1.7 mi / 1.5 hrs
1:00 Lunch at Lodgepole Visitors Center
2:00 General Sherman & Congress Trail — 2.7 mi / 2 hrs
4:00 Depart Sequoia
Optional extension: Grant Grove — adds 1.5 to 2 hours
5:45 Back in Visalia
Visalia dinner suggestions — easy walk: Brewbakers, Crawdaddy’s, Tavern on Main, Hungry Elephant, Pita Kabob, El Tarasco, Elderwood (upscale)
Monday May 11
8:30 Depart Visalia
11:00 Arrive at Tunnel View
11:30 Check-in at the Lodge (if timely)
12:00 Lunch at Base Camp Eatery
1:00 Lower Yosemite Falls - walk from the Lodge
2:00 Drive Valley Floor Loop - visit Cooks Meadow/Sentinel Bridge/Bridal Veil Fall
Or: Valley Floor Tour - narrated shuttle - excellent introduction - $41/2hrs
Tickets: reservations.ahlsmsworld.com/Yosemite
6:00 Dinner/drinks at The Mountain Room - *res for 13 ppl*
7:30 Sunset in the Valley
8:30 Mountain Room Lounge — Anyone?
Tuesday May 12
7:30 Hop shuttle for Mist Trail — Ride Valleywide or East Valley Shuttle to stop #15 — Walk to Vernal Fall Footbridge (moderate ~1.6 miles) — hike to top of Vernal Fall (strenuous ~2.4 miles) — Nevada Fall (hard ~6 mi / 2100 ft) - Full hike ~5-6 hours
2:00 Mist Trail hikers return - explore the floor
6:00 Dinner/drinks at The Mountain Room - *res for 13 ppl*
7:30 Sunset in the Valley
8:30 Mountain Room Lounge — Anyone? Anyone?
Wednesday May 13
9:00 Rent bikes and ride Valley Loop Trail (counterclockwise)
11:45 Return bikes (or park at Ahwahnee for lunch)
12:30 Lunch at Ahwahnee (res for 14 ppl)
1:30 Wildcard — Glacier Point + Sentinel Dome — if open — 70% chance
6:00 The Mountain Room - *res for 13 ppl*
7:30 Sunset in the Valley
8:30 Mountain Room Lounge — Anyone? Anyone? Bueller?
Thursday May 14
8:00 Jeff’s ppl depart for wine country
Suggested relevant film: Free Solo
