A Trip to Yosemite – California’s Picturesque National Park

YosemiteI hadn’t been in San Francisco a whole week before I decided to go on a 4 day excursion to Yosemite National Park. Situated about a 5 hour drive outside of San Francisco city, it is a vast landscape of picturesque and breath-taking natural beauty.

My adventure started on the Green Tortoise Campervan Bus (run by the Green Tortoise Hostel Tours) which picked us up on a Monday evening around 8:30pm in downtown. What looked like a transportation vehicle from the outside, quickly transformed into one giant bed on the inside, allowing us to sleep through the night (and the 5 hour drive!) and eventually waking up amongst the vast mountains and green landscape of Yosemite.

Every day was kicked off with an early morning breakfast call, around 7:30am, but what a sight it was to wake up to. Warm tea and coffee, followed by a table lined with an array of hearty, home-cooked food that varied every morning; from oatmeal, to scrambled-nachos-eggs, to fruit salad and yoghurt, the early rises were quickly cushioned with delicious food ready to fuel a hard day of hiking.

The trip in total was three days and four nights, meaning each day the walking intensity was varied, with a route for all different fitness and interest levels. The first day started the trip with the longest hike with the highest climb. All in all it was around 3 hours up and 2 and a half hours back down, broken up with a lunch break and a quick swim at the very top of your day 1 hiking destination – Nevada Falls. The priceless views and crisp lake water swim of what is probably the most popular hiking path in Yosemite made every minute of the sweaty incline worth it!

Then we returned to camp which was a short drive away, where we set up sleeping arrangements both on the bus and off (for those who wish to camp in a tent or under the stars) and prepared dinner which required everyone to get involved. The menu for the whole trip was vegetarian and incredibly inventive and delicious. From burritos to pasta and homemade garlic bread, our energy levels were quickly restored after a long day of walking.

The days and evenings that followed consisted of swimming in lakes, visiting waterfalls, making s’mores and singing round campfires – the true American experience.

It wasn’t long before we had to head back to the city, but not before one last get together in one of California’s oldest saloon bars which involved $2 pints and some painful karaoke.

All in all it was an incredible trip and I would highly recommend it to all International Students who are studying in San Francisco this year.

Isabella Lyons
bella-lyons28@live.com
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