Adventures in Yosemite

We just returned from a short getaway to Yosemite. Our first family vacation. It took several days of combined Daniel and Claudia brainpower to decide where to go. Granted our brainpower is diminished from 8 weeks of limited sleeping. I like getaways that include an outdoor adventure- cycling, bouldering, all day hiking. These activities don't really mesh well with an infant. What could I do with an infant that would be fun for me? A friend recommended cross country skiing on a flat groomed track. Since Joaquin loves to be worn in a baby carrier and Yosemite is beautiful and has lots of cross country ski ing near Wawona, at the south entrance.

After serious consideration winter camping was out, including the heated platform tents at Curry Village. So we decided to spend our vacation kitty on the Tenaya Lodge. Reviews read that the Tenaya Lodge is family friendly and comfortable.

We headed east to the mountains on Sunday as the rest of the Bay Area was driving back to start a new year of school and work. I was unsure of how the baby would like the drive. We have a plug-in electric Toyota Prius hybrid and the extra quiet drive lacks the baby lulling element. But Baby J was a great passenger, he slept, he cooed at his crinkly frog and he enjoyed our two pitstops at roadside Starbucks.

Our hotel room was a pleasant surprise. Luxury by my standards. Oh, the california-king sized bed! Joaquin sleeps with Daniel and I so the extra mattress space was phenomenal. Check out baby J on the big bed.

So Monday morning, we got a late start and headed out to Badger Pass to do some snowshoeing. Cross country skiing was determined too ambitious for our first snow outing with baby. A light snow was falling. We opted for a short 3 mile walk to the Badger Pass overlook where the weather obscured all views.

Joaquin was snuggled in a snow suit inside a front chest carrier and covered with a down jacket so he slept peacefully through the whole hike.
After the hike, we decided to make the hour drive to Yosemite Valley to see the grandeous sights.

Here is our family at Yosemite Falls.


On Tuesday, the sun was shining making the snow glitter all around. We drove the few miles to the park's south entrance and parked at the beginning of the two mile road to the famous Mariposa Grove of Giant Sequoias. In the winter the road to the grove is not plowed so to visit the grove you have to walk up the gentle grade.

Snow cave on the road to the grove

As always giant sequioas astound me. Sequoias are a marvel of the world. They are named redwoods for their cinnamon colored bark. Somehow, that cinnamon bark seems to radiant light and each giant sequioa looks as if it is pertually framed in a beam of sunshine. The other species of tree literally pale in comparison.

Also sweet was the juxtaposition of our bitty baby and the giant, ancient trees.

Joaquin cozy in a snowsuit from Grandma Susie.

The getaway was a long time coming. Something I have wanted to do since I had to cancel my week of Burning Man partying in the desert due to pregnancy. Honestly, I gave attending Burning Man 7 and a half months pregnant serious thought. I would take good care of myself, go to bed early, sleep in a RV. But then I considered the odor of the port-a-potties and realized I would never make it through one day. A snow trip to Yosemite with luxe accommodations and my new family was a nice treat. I definitely appreciated the clean mountain air.