Yosemite National Park-Summer 2018

We are headed for another camping trip to Yosemite National  Park!!  Yosemite is one of the most beautiful places in the world and we are so lucky to be able to visit each year since our first time in 2015.  That first trip is when we decided to get ready to hike Half Dome!!  And 7 months later we found ourselves at the top!!  Now we get to take Ashlyn for her 2nd trip to the park & we dream about the day she will be able to hike to the top of Half Dome with us!! 

We are so excited to get started on our next journey!!  Let me share with you all about how it our love for Yosemite National Park began, with our hike to the top of Half Dome!  Then, in case anyone is thinking about heading to the park or has had trouble getting in, i'll give some pointers & advice to help you have an adventure of your own!

For us, it all started in Feb 2015, when we took our first drive through the park.  It was a spur of the moment day trip with our good friends!  The road in (hwy 41) is...lets just say, not that great if you have a fear of heights like me! lol!  But the views were incredible!  Then we drove through the Tuolomne Meadows Tunnel and came out to the view of the valley.  El Capitan!  Rainbow Falls!  Half Dome!  It took my breath away!  We had so much fun exploring the valley that entire day but we couldn't stop staring at the incredible site of Half Dome.  Its so unique and towering above you in the sky!  My husband said " we are going to hike that!".  Yeah right!!!  But he was serious and went straight home to do his research and started planning our trip right then and there!  And I lost my first nights sleep worrying about everything that could go wrong! lol

But, we did it!!  With 2 other couples, including the one that took us in the first place!  We trained and planned and 7 months later found ourselves sitting at the top of half dome!!  And I have to say, i am terrified of heights but I was never once scared while climbing the cables!  (Sub-dome is a totally different story though...yikes!!!)  (If you are thinking about doing the hike, comment or send me a message if you have any questions!!)

After this trip we've gone back one other time, for Ashlyn's first birthday.  We stayed at one of the lodges in the Valley (we didn't have our motorhome yet).  That was a nice trip but it was late in the season so almost everything was closed.  So we are so ​EXCITED to camp this time and enjoy all of the shops, museums & restaurants!!  But I'll tell ya it was no easy feat to get a camping site!

Here's the lowdown on getting a camping site:

• You can only book 6 months in advance.  And by 6 months, I mean, literally to the second! The park service opens the booking for certain dates and you get on your computer at the crack of dawn, have your sites all picked out, enter your dates and have your finger on the ENTER button so you can submit your request as soon as the dates release......then the dates release and within a split second you submit your request and...WHAT THE...They are all full.  Every single site.  Every single date.  How the heck did that happen?
• I have a theory on why that happens.  I am convinced there are computer systems that book up a huge # sites immediately then try to sell them or pick the ones they are going to keep then "release" sites.  (More on that later)  
• We thought we were super smart and my husband, a friend that is joining us & myself all got on our computers and thought at least one of us would get in fast enough to book.  NOPE!  BIG OLD NOPE!  
• But there IS STILL HOPE!  When the "computers" or whoever instantly booked THE ENTIRE PARK, they are  actually just holding the sites for 15 minutes until they have to pay for them or release them.   So, if you don't get in initially, wait for the 15 minute holding time & a bunch of sites start opening up.  We had to be somewhat flexible on our travel dates but were ultimately able to get 2 sites (one for us, one for our friends) right next to each other!! SCORE!!  
• If you are heading to the park & planning a camping trip, try these tips on getting your spot.  Fee free to comment with any questions and GOOD LUCK!! 

I can't wait to share with you all about our trip!  This time we are doing some real camping (none of this fancy "water & electricity hook ups" kinda camping)!  So, I will try to update you throughout the trip but internet will be spotty.  SO if you don't hear from me in awhile, i'll be back in a few days!  

​CHEERS!!