Patagonia's in my backyard

I have already done a post on Yosemite, but it's just that amazing that it deserves another (FYI, there could be more in the future as well). For those who have not been there before, go. I guarantee you have not seen anything like it, unless you have been to somewhere like, say, Patagonia. Yes, I just put Yosemite right up there with Patagonia. Now, I have never been to Patagonia. It is definitely on my bucket list, along with Machu Picchu, Europe, and Antarctica, just to name a few. From the things that I read and hear about Patagonia, it's been made out to be this amazingly remote area of the world that is full of some of the greatest terrain this world has to offer. I think that the appealing thing about it is the lack of people you would find there. If you meet someone that has gone climbing/hiking around there, they mine as well have walked on the moon because those people are of the limited edition genre.

Yosemite has all of the same things that Patagonia has to offer, plus an additional 4 million tourists per year. I'm not saying that's a good thing either. I can't blame them for flooding the valley, it is just that amazing of a place. Despite the crowds, there are moments you can find yourself on a remote trail and not run into anyone for hours. I have had that experience multiple times. The first was last June when we hike the 4-mile trail to Glacier Point, and the Panorama Trail to Nevada Falls, then the Mist trail down into the valley. Sure, we ran into some people at Glacier Point, and at Nevada Falls. In-between these spots? Hardly anybody. Happened again last weekend. Granted, it was the middle of January in Yosemite. Luckily, the 'weather' factor keeps everyone away until spring. We camped at Hogdon Meadows on a Friday night and were THE only one's there. We set out on a XC ski trail at Crane Flat the next morning and ran into two other people the whole time we were on the trail. We were even able to 'choose' a spot at Bridal Veil falls!! Usually people shark those parking lots for 15 minutes waiting for the next vacancy.

I feel that I can visit Yosemite under any circumstance and have a rejuvenating and enjoyable time. Sometimes I can't believe that I live so close to a Patagonia-esque place. People travel thousands of miles just to see what's cooking in my backyard! I have a few more trips planned for this year. Probably another XC trip, hopefully I can do a bike ride from Livermore, CA to Yosemite Valley in April, and a few camping/backpacking trips this summer.