2024 Pashnit Touring on a Hayabusa

[pashnit]

South entrance of Yosemite NP involves getting 11 bikes past the guard shack

Few minutes later we're all in & on our way to Glacier Point - always best to get here as early as possible.

Sometimes the wait to get into the park can be an hour just sitting in line stuck in your car.

 

[CBXRider]

Thanks Tim, a shot from a ‘real’ camera is bound to be better. What’s also cool about Glacier Pt. is that during the Ice Age right where you’re standing was under 1,000’ of ice. Nearly a quarter of a mile above you was the top of the glacier. Probably my favorite spot inside the Park. I’ve got some great shots from the viewpoints up there.

 

[pashnit]

Glacier Point has been closed the last few years, while the park service repaved the 16 miles to the point. The new pavement is pure delight.

 

[pashnit]

The ride up to Glacier Point - it's a dead end road - is well worth the detour when you're in the park.

First glimpse of Half Dome

From this angle, it really is half of a massive <granite> dome.

 

[pashnit]

But this is just an overlook before Glacier Point, We're not even there yet.

Best hairpin in the Sierra Range? What a view!

 

[pashnit]

 

[pashnit]

Mike is so proud of his well-used V-Strom, he's got over 100,000 miles on it & it's still going strong.

Comon Kids, let's head over to the viewpoint. Follow the leader.

View of Half Dome from Glacier Point - the top of Half Dome is 8839 ft. The valley floor below is 3966.

Same spot, but earlier in the year, with the waterfalls visible from Glacier Point.

 

[pashnit]

As Terry mentioned a few posts back, a few years back, this valley was entirely filled with ice.

 

[pashnit]

This is what Glacier Point is all about. Such a cool spot in the Sierra Nevada Range.

The sense of scale defies your brain's ability to process what it's seeing.

What looking straight down 4000 ft looks like - the cars down there look like little dots.

 

[pashnit]

No waterfalls this late in the season, those are all fed by snow melt & all the snow has melted.

The highest waterfall in Yosemite Valley is Yosemite Falls directly across from where we're standing - one of the tallest waterfalls in the world, dropping 4,425 feet - it is the highest waterfall in North America.

But in case you were wondering....

People used to walk out to this perch and dangle their feet off. Yah, no.

Rob & Mark - Mark peered over the edge a few visits back and got a sudden case of vertigo - he doesn't do that anymore and prefers to stand a foot away from the retaining wall.

You can’t take a bad picture here.
Just point the camera and click away. Glacier Point in Yosemite NP gives you a bird’s eye view of Yosemite Valley far below us. The best part is peering over the edge at the valley floor. You can look 3200 feet straight down. If vertigo is your thing, not recommended. Views of Half Dome, El Capitan, the Ahwahnee Hotel far below us all visible from one spot.
Ever get the chance to head into Yosemite NP, take the ride.

 

[pashnit]

Straight down - such a cool view up here

Half Dome

 

[Dnyce]

Finally a real update on a thread that’s also awesome to look at.

Rojo has been on a roll necroposting

 

[CBXRider]

But this is just an overlook before Glacier Point, We're not even there yet.

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Best hairpin in the Sierra Range? What a view!

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There’s a couple more too. Watching a tour bus negotiate these turns is very entertaining. They take up all the pavement, like a giant breadbox on wheels.

 

[pashnit]

Been there done that, checked out Glacier Point, we're ready to drop down several thousand feet into the valley.

Last time we had a Triumph Rocket on a Pashnit Tour - can't recall - the motor is 2500 cc, larger than some small car engines

 

[pashnit]

Dropping into Yosemite Valley

This tunnel through the mountain into the valley is nearly a mile long

 

[pashnit]

 

[pashnit]

As you emerge out of the tunnel - you get this crazy stunning view of Yosemite Valley - rightly know as Tunnel View. It's a quick touristy stop for the tour group. If you come in the south entrance (of three), you have to do a quick stop here to take in this view.

El Captain - The granite monolith is about 3,000 feet from base to summit along its tallest face

Just reminds me of Captain Kirk climbing it & Spock floating up beside him. Yep, that scene was here.

 

[pashnit]

Always somebody running around in a wedding dress. Quite normal in Yosemite.

Priorities.

 

[pashnit]

Just point the camera. Every direction is amazing.

Same spot, but in spring. That waterfall is amazing.

 

[pashnit]

Riding through the valley is a 7-mile loop, ride in, ride out. Lot of stops along the way if you have the time.

If you stare at the rock face long enough - any of them- you'll see little tiny dots moving.

Then you realize those are people.