Paul in the Parks

Day 6: Mariposa Grove

We awoke at 6:15 AM on our final day in Yosemite.

Two hammocks and a tent sit among pine trees on a morning in Upper Pines Campground in Yosemite National Park — The larger half of our campsite shortly after I woke up

We spent about 2.5 hours breaking down our tents, organizing food, packing our camping supplies, taking out trash and recycling, counting our gear and belongings, and loading the cars. Our group managed to keep the energy up, despite knowing we were almost finished exploring Yosemite.

Alex, Jack, Phillip, Ian, Cody, Shane, Will, Paul, and Aaron pose for a selfie with their campsite's bear box, which reads "69" — Goodbye to campsite 69

We packed into the cars around 8:45 AM and made a stop at the Yosemite Village shop. Most of us had already bought souvenirs on previous days, but several of us (including me) were ready to buy more. After the stop, I did the math and found out that I’d spent ~$130 on souvenirs during our visit to the park. Whoopsies.

From Yosemite Village, we continued to our next and final stop in the national park: Mariposa Grove. This was another area of the park that I had yet to set foot in, so I was excited to check it out and see some giant sequoias. Plus, I had yet to do a hike during this trip that didn’t require me to carry 50 pounds of gear. My shoulders were looking forward to the relief.

Big Big Trees

We parked at the Mariposa Grove Welcome Plaza around 10:30 AM. Normally, a shuttle takes visitors from the parking lot to the grove, which sits a couple miles down the road. However, the shuttle wasn’t running thanks to COVID restrictions, so we had to hike to the grove via the Washburn Trail.

The trail meandered through the woods for about 2 miles. Our energetic conversations were cut short when we spotted our first sign of the giant sequoias: the largest pine cones any of us had ever seen. Shortly after, we walked into the grove’s arrival area, where we spotted dozens of red-trunked sequoia trees all around us.

Shane holds a massive pine cone up to his face with a look of bewilderment — Shane holding a huge pine cone that we found on the trail

Tall sequoia trees rise above the trail towards a blue sky in Yosemite National Park — Shane holding a huge pine cone that we found on the trail

After arriving at Mariposa Grove, our group embarked on the Grizzly Giant Loop. This trail – in my opinion – is the single “must-do” at the grove, as it winds efficiently through its concentration of sequoia trees. Additionally, it passes some significant and impressive examples of sequoias, like the trail’s namesake Grizzly Giant, the 26th largest giant sequoia in the world.

We meandered through the trail rather quickly, ogling at the massive sequoia trees all around us. As we walked, several of us tested the vertical panoramic capabilities of our phones as we attempted to nab solid photos of the trees. The weather was perfect, creating a beautiful midday stroll through the most impressive forest most of us had ever seen.

Four massive sequoia trees rise towards a blue sky in Yosemite National Park — The Bachelor and Three Graces

A group of hikers poses for a photo in front of the Grizzly Giant, a tall sequoia tree in Yosemite National Park — The Bachelor and Three Graces

Back to Civilization

After getting our fill of Mariposa Grove, the nine of us hiked back to the cars, which we reached by 2 PM. From there, we bid Yosemite farewell. It had been an absolutely wild week, and one that none of us would forget for a long, long time.

As we drove back, the moods in the cars were a mixed bag. I sensed several good things, like satisfaction with the trip, excitement for plans the following day in San Francisco, and contentment to still be together as a group. I sensed a lot of exhaustion: this was the one thing everyone undoubtedly had in common. But, understandably, I sensed some sadness as well. Many of us were not ready to leave Yosemite… aside from my near-death incident, the visit had been a hit with the group. The successful trip surely meant that we would be doing things like this again in the future, a thought that gave me comfort.

In Conclusion…

My visit to Yosemite in 2021 was one of the most fulfilling, jam-packed, and memorable visits I’d ever had to a national park. Highlights like summitting Half Dome, sunset at Glacier Point, swimming in freezing snowmelt, seeing giant sequoias, and enjoying countless goofy moments together as friends defined the week in the park. And – of course – my climbing debacle with Shane midway through the week made the trip even more memorable, but unfortunately for the wrong reasons.

I learned lots during Wednesday’s incident on Matthes Crest. First, I know now not to cram too many physically-draining activities into a trip’s itinerary. Recovery time is very important, and embarking on an adventure while exhausted is a recipe for disaster. Second, I know to avoid mountainous environments during the afternoons of the summer. Afternoon thunderstorms are common in the summer in places like Colorado and Yosemite, which I learned the hard way. Third, I know not to push myself into a situation that spells trouble, and I know the warning signs that should deter me. Hopefully, the incident was a one-time thing, and I’ll keep these lessons I learned close to my heart.

Paul turns his head to show off fresh scars on his face and a black eye — A photo Ian captured of my black eye when we arrived in San Jose

Paul takes a photo of himself in a mirror while showing off numerous cuts, scabs, and bruises on his arms and face — A photo Ian captured of my black eye when we arrived in San Jose

The most important thing I learned in Yosemite, however, was just how much I love the park and how much I adore nature. Yosemite was already my favorite national park before arriving for my second visit, and the week we spent there simply reiterated that fact. I hope the park continues to be the pristine, beautiful nature preserve that it is today. An increased frequency and intensity of wildfires in the area threatens the park almost annually. Climate change continues to affect Yosemite and other beloved national parks around the country, and the only way to fight that change is through collective societal and political action. I try to remain optimistic about our parks’ and planet’s future, but – in the United States’ current political climate – optimism can often be hard to maintain.

The trip also reminded me how blessed and fortunate I am to have the friends I’ve been given. Aaron, Alex, Cody, Ian, Jack, Phillip, Shane, and Will made the trip one for the record books. I couldn’t have asked for a better group to spend time with in the park.