What a difference a day makes!

Monday, October 28, 2013

The elevation change had done us some good. We were about 2500 feet lower than in Sequoia, and the precipitation on the campers overnight was rain. We were in a spot under the trees, and it dripped kind of heavy on the roofs overnight, but we were cozy. We always feel bad for the tenters in that kind of weather.

After some breakfast, we went back up the road about a mile to the Wawona VC where we got a couple of stamps in our books. The ranger there was less than encouraging! To go on into the Yosemite valley we had to go up a couple thousand feet, and it was snowing and the road was narrow with sheer drop offs. Chains or 4 wheel drive were required. Not a problem since we both have 4 wheel drive, but it did not sound inviting. To go back out the way we came in would only be about a thousand foot climb, but he had come in that way with 4 wheel drive and still spun out along the way.

We decided not to just stay put, but to back track and get out of this mess as soon as we could. We took it very slow, and passed several busy chain up areas for those going the opposite direction. The snow plows were busy on the park roads, and at the last chain up area we saw chains were required, with several state troopers to enforce them. It must have been getting a lot worse behind us, and we were happy to get out of it.

Back down in the valley, the sun was shining and it was warm, but we didn’t waste any time in shooting through the area and up over Donner pass. It was snowing there as well, and the sanding trucks were out spitting little rocks at us, but were keeping the roads cleared.

We at last stopped on the other side for something to eat, and then went on to the first rest area we found, but it was another 80 miles. Again driving after dark, but at least we knew where we were going, and it wasn’t snowing any more.