Where did we hike?

We like to avoid the worst of the crowds on our hiking adventures, so we tend to go most places in what should be the off season. That's a luxury we have as retirees.

But sometimes we have no option. We just spent four days in Yosemite without being overwhelmed by the masses. How did we do it?

1. We went on a Sunday, avoiding the big weekend crush. Lots of cars leaving the park, but almost no traffic going in.

2. We hiked less famous trails: Gaylor Lakes, where we met a total of six hikers, Yosemite Creek, where we met no other hikers, and a scramble up the granite dome across the road behind Olmsted Point. We were the only ones there.

3. And we even went into Yosemite Valley, arriving about 4 pm. It was hot. The crowds had definitely thinned out, and we had no trouble finding parking spaces at Bridalveil Falls, Cathedral picnic area, the base of Yosemite Falls or the visitors center. Easy peasy.

   
   

Oh yeah. Yosemite is stunning. Don't let the fear of crowds keep you away!