Solo Backpacking in Yosemite

In 1993, I was traveling all over the country teaching Windows programming to corporate mainframe programmers. I taught several times at the headquarters of Kaiser Permanente in Oakland, California; at the conclusion of a particularly tough class (one of the programmers was blind, which doesn't really lend itself to programming in a visual medium) I decided I needed some time and space to myself. Luckily I had brought my backpacking gear with me; so I decided I would head out to Yosemite National Park, which I had visited just once before with friends.

I headed out the moment class let out Thursday afternoon; but of course it's about a 6-hour drive. So I stayed at a campground outside the park; and in the morning drove into it. I asked a ranger for recommendations, and he suggested Dickey Point, an extrusion over the great valley which would provide an awesome view—all night long, since the moon was full.

Yosemite National Park

Here's the classic view of Half Dome (center, distant).

The road along Yosemite's southern border includes a tunnel.

The Tuolumne River

Bridalveil Falls

I set out on the short hike (about a quarter mile) from the road to Dickey Point. This was definitely intended to be Backpacking Lite, as I didn't even bring food, other than a lot of water and trail mix. So...no fire, no cooking!

Approaching Dickey Point where I decided to pitch camp. Which was a simple task, because I didn't bother setting up my tent at all.

Dickey Point was awesome. I slept at the edge, without a tent, so I could look into the canyon during the night.

Sunset from Dickey Point

In the morning, breaking "camp" was a cinch since all I had to do was roll up my sleeping bag. I didn't have to return to San Francisco until that evening, so I decided to visit the giant sequoias, which I had missed on my previous visit. They are also in Yosemite National Park, in a spot called Mariposa Grove. (Mariposa is Spanish for "butterfly". I didn't see any, but I didn't really expect to in early October.)

I gotta tell you, those sequoias are tough.

A sequoia split in half some centuries ago, still thrives.

The view from INSIDE the split sequoia.