Today by the Numbers:
Miles driven off road: 24.6
Types of precipitation experienced: 3
Muddy Jeeps: 3
Rainy Morning...
Rain during the night continued into the morning. A mimosa bar and Mickey waffles helped get the day off to a good start despite the weather. The mimosa bar included a choice of seven different types of juice and several fruit and gummy bear garnishes. Mickey waffles were made on the legitimate waffle makers and used the same batter mix used in Disney restaurants. Toppings included butter, maple syrup, butter syrup, lemon curd, whipped cream, and sprinkles. YUM! đ
After breakfast and clean up, some of us left on what is the second annual Jeep trip during the Yosemite camping trip. This yearâs adventure was the Old Coulterville Road. The starting point is just east of the community of Greely Hill and the road continues east into Yosemite NP entering at the community of Foresta. Old Coulterville Road was the original road leading into Yosemite Valley and originally opened in 1874. It was a toll road that was primarily used by stagecoaches and was popular until about 1915 when other free roads into Yosemite Valley opened. It is now a reasonably well maintained Forest Service Road.
The drive started out easy albeit we made one wrong turn that took us a mile or so down a less well maintained road. After getting back on the correct route, we broke out of the forest and enjoyed some spectacular views that were partly obscured by clouds and fog. Still a spectacular vista. A bonus was the wildflowers that were in bloom.
One brief steeper section was a bit difficult to climb up due to deep ruts and very slick muddy clay. Successfully completing that section called for a celebratory beer at a nice open spot near the Pilot Peak Lookout Tower (closed for the winter).
We continued along the Old Coulterville Road past the âFive Cornersâ intersection for a few miles before opting to turn around. The gate at Yosemite Park is likely locked and thus we wouldnât be able to continue that way and would have to turn around and backtrack anyway. From the âFive Cornersâ intersection we proceeded north to Harden Flat Road and back to camp. All-in-all a good time. True to last yearâs experience, we had brief sun, rain, hail, and snow while on the drive.
Saturday is the large group barbeque potluck. A group of over 50 attended this year! Good to see old friends and make new ones.
Tomorrow most folks will be packing up and leaving. We will stay another night and enjoy a quiet day in campâŚ
Fun day! Took me hours to clean the Jeep afterwards.