A trip to Wawona . . .

I’m having some issues with internet access so I’m doing a second post this week.  Hoping this improves but since I’m borrowing services from the locals I have nothing to complain about.  I’m grateful for what I can get.

This past Sunday Mary (a Michigander who received her bachelors from Northern Michigan in Marquette) and I were off again to visit Wawona.  Our first stop was Mariposa Grove, the home of the large sequoia trees and the famous Grizzly Giant Sequoia.

Now I must admit that I did not make it all the way up the trail to Grizzly Giant.  I sure felt like a real wimp.  The altitude adjustment is a real kicker for me.  It was only a 1/2 mile trail but a quarter of the way up I saw the remaining 1/4 was going up on a pretty steep grade.  Even if I forced my way up it Mary would have had to lay me on my side and just roll me down and pray I stayed on trail!  So, I chose not to continue on up and pick up a postcard for the memory book!  Just in case you were curious, the Grizzly Giant Tree in Mariposa Grove stands at a solid 209 feet (63.7 m) it is the second largest tree in the Yosemite, and one of the most photographed.   

After Mariposa Grove we headed to the Wawona Hotel, a favorite location for many who come to Yosemite.  In fact, it is scheduled for major remodeling this coming year and will close permanently on December 2.  Here are some pictures of the Hotel and other buildings around it.  The golf course is located across the street and sits at 10,000 feet elevation.  I didn’t get pictures of the golf course but my golfer friends should consider playing a round here!  I think this would put new meaning on an “unrecoverable” ball.  I’m visualizing a long ball going way out into the abyss.  Or what about a meet and greet on the course with one of the bears!  Definitely not on my bucket list of things to do!

As we walked this area today it really felt like we were back in the early 1900s.  I could just close my eyes and see the ladies in their glorious dresses with the big skirts lounging on the lawns drinking mint julips.  What a gorgeous area.  When I return with the kids and grandkids one day we will definitely be guests at Wawona!  Loved it.

These are just a few of the guest houses surrounding the hotel.  They are more beautiful in person I guarantee you!

From here we moved on for a stop at the History Museum nearby.  Now that was a find! Meet stagecoach driver Ranger Burrel “Buckshot” Maier, the only stagecoach driver / Ranger in the National Park Service who just happened to mark his 50th year of service in June 2023.  

We met up with Buckshot in the stagecoach barn where he is quick to engage with visitors, telling them the stories of days past when the only way from Wawona to the Valley was via stagecoach.  They had over 700 horses and I cannot remember how many stagecoaches.  It took 8-10 hours to ride the stagecoach from Wawona to the Yosemite Valley.  That was in the late 1800’s/early 1900’s.  Now those were the days.  “Buckshot” is the only National Park Service stagecoach driver/ranger in the park service and retired after 50 years of service in June of 2023.  You can read more about him at https://www.mariposagazette.com/articles/a-living-legend/

Here are a couple pictures we took with him:  

From here it was on to the Pioneer Yosemite History Center where we learned more about the village of Wawona in the early days.  We learned about Degnan’s Bakery which began with Bridget Degnan.  Ms. Degnan was an early Yosemite entrepreneur who set the standard for visitor services in Yosemite Valley.  To support her growing family she began making as many as 50 loaves of bread a day in her small household oven.  Her story is a good one if you want to read more about the Degnan family.  You should know though that the cafe in the Yosemite Valley is Degnan’s Cafe.  How about that!

And I couldn’t leave without a picture of the beautiful covered bridge.   

 

It was a great day in Wawona and we topped it off with a view of Bridal Veil falls.  Compared to its spring flow it is just a trickle these days.  But it is still beautiful.  

Now that’s Wawona folks!  Thanks to Mary for a great day.  I couldn’t have navigated this one without you.  Life is truly so much better with friends.

As always, forgive the errors.  Take care, stay safe and be well.

Hugs to all,

Mara