Hiking Yosemite

The next day we were free to explore Yosemite and do whatever activities we liked. Isa, Emma and I chose to hike the Upper Yosemite Falls trail, taking us to the top of the highest waterfall in North America (and 6th highest in the world). It would be a 9 mile round trip, with a 823m elevation gain.


Waking up at 6:30, we drove into the central Yosemite Valley, then got a shuttle bus to the trailhead. We started the hike at 10, but took 3 hours to get to the top. Needless to say, it was a steep trail! We wound our way up the hillside next to the waterfall, climbing switchback after switchback. Half of the time we were in the shade, but even with that it definitely lived up to the National Park Service's description of it: "very strenuous".


What greeted us at the top made it all worthwhile though. The views from the overlook were simply stunning, showcasing the entire valley below. The sheer cliff dropped away immediately below, adding to the effect.


We stopped for lunch at the stream at the top, which was beautiful enough in its own right, then continued an extra mile to an even higher vantage point. This one was even windier than the first and presented an even more dramatic view.


We took our time climbing down, arriving back at the valley floor at about 5. The rest of our group who had been doing various other hikes met us at a pizza place, where we all had dinner. Sadly, it was our last night together as a group on TrekAmerica.

TrekAmerica day five - on to Yosemite

On June 22nd, we left the campsite at Benton Hot Springs and started the short drive to Yosemite National Park. We got to the World Heritage Site at about 1pm, after stopping at Mono Lake for lunch.


We drove across the park to a grove of Giant Sequoias, where we went for a short walk which lasted about an hour. Yosemite reminded me of New Zealand a bit, with its steep sided glacial valleys, forests and lakes. It doesn't seem really that imposing, but we would find out the next day what it was really about.


After the walk, we drove on to a campsite at Indian Flats, where we would be spending the next two nights.

Las Vegas to Benton Hot Springs

Our fourth day on the TrekAmerica tour from Los Angeles to San Francisco took us from Las Vegas to Benton Hot Springs. We had an unusual lie-in in the morning, then left the motel in Vegas, heading up Highway 95. It was a day that involved driving for the most part, so it was largely uneventful.

We stopped in Tonopah for lunch, then arrived at Benton at around 5. The campsite was fairly basic, but it had two hot springs, which were great to take a dip in and relax after a hard day's drive. That evening we celebrated one of our number's 25th birthday, so it was another day of 'merriment' following our night out in Vegas.

From the Grand Canyon to Las Vegas

The next day was our third on the TrekAmerica tour and one which would take us from one of the great natural wonders of the world to one of the most spectacular cities on earth.

We woke up early at our camp site in Tasayan and headed for a number of trails which went around the Grand Canyon. A number of us chose to do the rim trail, taking us along the very edge of the massive gorge. Starting at a place called Hermit's Rest, we walked for three hours along the track, taking in the views and enjoying the early morning sun.



We headed back to our camp site for lunch, then started our 5 hour drive towards Las Vegas. Going through the deserts of Arizona and into Nevada, you always wonder why people live there. The land can't be farmed and it's too remote for many, so maybe there's mining out there. We drove on and on, finally arriving in Las Vegas at 6:30.

So a few quick facts. Las Vegas is the fastest growing city in the USA and is home to 14 of the world's 15 largest hotels. This includes the biggest of them all, the MGM Grand, which has an incredible 6,276 rooms. It didn't even exist until 1905 but is now home to around 2 million people.

We pulled in at the Super 8 Motel in Vegas right when a film was being shot outside. They were only filming one scene and left shortly after, but it was cool to see. The film was The Return, which is due out later this year. Tim Robbins (of Shawshank Redemption fame) walked past our driver in the lobby, but I wasn't there at the time.



The motel was surprisingly comfortable and luxurious by the standards that we'd been used to whilst camping. We went out to dinner at the Hard Rock Cafe, then went for a 2 hour limo ride around Vegas, which was really cool because it was included in the cost of our trip. Driving around (or being driven around) Vegas really gives you a sense of the scale of the madness that is The Strip. Casino after casino line the main boulevard, which is complete with model versions of Venice, Paris, Mote Carlo, New York to name a few.

Our limo ride ended at the Bellagio, where the four of us who were under age (gambling only allowed for those over 21) stayed together and decided to look around. We went into the Bellagio and tried one of the slot machines. Within four spins, we were $65 up and quickly cashed out. A second later, the three other people with me - Dane, Isa and Emma - were asked for ID and we left, but more importantly, with a coupon for the winnings in my hand. I came straight back into the Bellagio and got another person from our group to cash the voucher and then left. We proceeded to Ceaser's Palace and Paris before heading back to the motel in the early hours. It turned out that we were the only ones to come out ahead by the end of the night!

TrekAmerica day two - to the Grand Canyon

On Tuesday 19th June, we woke up early and set off for the Grand Canyon. It was a fairly sizable drive through the desert to the campsite at Tasayan where we were staying, but it wasn't as hot as it had been the previous day. When we got there, I went and checked my exam results on the Internet and found out that I had got 73% average, which I was very pleased about!

A few people in the group went off on an optional helicopter ride and after that, we made our way to the Canyon. Our guide and driver, Lori, bought a bunch of paper bags to cover our heads with so that the surprise of seeing the Canyon would be even better. We shuffled in a line, up to the canyon rim (don't worry, there was a guard rail!) and took off the bags.



The sight that greeted us was incredible. The sense of scale is something that photos can't really do justice. I guess it's obvious, but the gorge is just massive!



We walked around a small section of the rim as the sun set and then drove back to the campsite for a well earned rest.

Going off to TrekAmerica

On Monday 18th June, I had a bus to catch. TrekAmerica are a tour company primarily aimed at backpackers and I was doing the Los Angeles to San Francisco 7 day trip, taking me to the Grand Canyon, Las Vegas and Yosemite on the way.

I woke up at 5:30 am and was out the door of the hostel at 6. I had an hour and a half to get to the pickup point near LAX airport on the other side of town, so I got on the Metro rail system and began my journey. On and on it went, as I travelled with all the early morning workers. It seemed a bit slow though. I changed lines and headed towards LAX, but by 7:15, I decided to abandon the Metro and get a taxi.

In a lot of countries, there are usually taxis near stations, but not where I was. I had gotten off in the middle of Los Angeles, or in effect, the middle of nowhere. No-one knew where to get a taxi and I was panicking a bit. I phoned up TrekAmerica and told them where I was and asked them to tell the tour leader. It was 7:30 - when I was meant to be leaving - so I phoned again. They said that the leader knew and that they would wait.

So back on the Metro system and off to LAX. I got there and jumped in a taxi to the Hacienda Hotel, where I finally arrived at 8:30, two and a half hours after leaving my hostel! I apologised profusely, but everyone seemed fine with it. The group was 15 strong and came from a range of countries, much like the other backpacker tours I had been on before.

We left at 9, driving to Hollywood Boulevard, where I had been staying the previous two nights and left 3 hours earlier. The irony was not lost on me!

After a quick look around, we began to drive out of L.A. and head East to the Colorado River. On the way out, we got stopped by the police for being in the wrong lane, an experience in itself! At about midday, we stopped for lunch, before moving on. It was a hot day too; we got out in the desert at one stop and after taking the temperature, realised that it was 42C!


We camped right on the banks of the Colorado River that night and got to know each other over dinner. It had been a hectic start to a day that turned out to be very relaxing in the end.