Yosemite Hike, Don't Feed the Squirrels

It’s not hard to think of a way to write a post about Yosemite and tie it into gardening. After all, it is one big garden that a fortunate few get to play in for a few days a year.

In my opinion, there is only one other place that compares with the beauty of this place and that’s Yellowstone National Park. I have not been to the Grand Canyon yet, but I hear that it’s close.

Our first stop was the grassy meadow that lies beneath El Capitan, the largest piece of exposed granite in the world. I took a few shots here of the wildflowers and El Cap.

Soon I stopped snapping pictures. Why? Because my husband is the all-time obnoxious tourist and he takes enough pictures for the both of us. But I guess if he didn’t take pictures and make sure the cameras had batteries—we wouldn’t have any pictures.

I wanted to do something other than take pictures. I wanted to climb Half Dome, the landmark that Ansel Adams made famous through his amazing black-and-white portraits of Yosemite.

We were only staying in Yosemite for two days. So the first morning my ten-year-old son and I started the ascent up Half Dome. My husband and eight-year-old son accompanied us to the top of Vernal falls.

My family stopped at Vernal Falls for a foot soaking in Emerald Pool at the top of the falls. We ate some dried fruit and drank some water.

There were signs posted telling hikers not to feed the ground squirrels because they may exhibit unnatural behavior. And the type of food that people fed them may not be part of their natural diet. My family and I heeded the warning even though it was hard to keep from feeding those charming little animals.

My ten-year-old and I left my husband and younger son behind. We hiked another mile and a half up to the top of Nevada falls. Anyone who has done this hike, or made it all the way to Half Dome will tell you that this is a difficult hike. It is almost straight up—on steep, uneven granite steps. After 4 miles my ten-year-old and I were weary and giddy and we sat down for another snack of trail mix and water.

I pulled the package of dried nuts and fruit out of my backpack and sat back to survey the breathtaking Yosemite Valley. It seemed the view of my trail mix was equally awe inspiring to my new ground squirrel friends. The cute furry creatures, with big pleading eyes had surrounded us.

Oh, maybe they’re hungry. Maybe they’re starving, I thought, ignoring the fact that they couldn’t keep their humungous bellies from dragging on the ground. I looked at my son and said. “Let’s just give them one nut.” Because that’s what they would eat in the wild and since they were already showing unnatural behavior, hey, why not.

The first squirrel took the nut very politely and then we fed a second and their friends must have heard about it, because they came running from all directions. The squirrels were all around us, some begging, some looking longingly at us. I was starting to feel like Gulliver. There was a commotion in the ranks. The sea of ground squirrels parted and a rather hefty squirrel appeared. I like to refer to him as Sumo Squirrel.

I handed Sumo Squirrel a nut and he jumped right in my lap. He was as big as a cat. He knocked the wind out of me. Sumo stared straight into my eyes. All of a sudden he didn’t look so cute and innocent anymore. I thought he was going to start talking to me like some scary Disney movie. He would say. “Hey sister, got any more of them nuts? I know these seven dwarves, see? And they got this mine see? And it’s loaded with jewels see? Well, maybe I could do ya a favor.” At that little piece of imagining, I jumped to my feet and sent Sumo catapulting into the air. I thought I heard him say, “Hey, you’re not Snow Whiiiiiittttteee.”

I pulled my son up by his arm, knocking some trail mix out of his hand much to the delight of the furry pigs below us.

We turned and walked back toward the trail. Twenty-five ground squirrels were following us. We did the walk of shame past the other hikers who now knew by our vermin escort that we had committed the sin of feeding the wildlife.

I should really thank Sumo, because he was the impetus that started us off again. My son and I ended up hiking another 2.2 miles, bringing our grand total for the day to 10 miles: a very respectable hike for a ten-year-old boy. We never made it to Half Dome. We stopped about three-and-a-half miles short. We'll make it to Half Dome next year.

I hope Sumo will be waiting.

Comments

[misti]

Lovely photos! I have always wanted to visit the big parks out there. Someday hopefully!

[chigiy]

Misti,
It is a spectacular place. There were people from all over the world at our campground. My photo's really don't do it justice. I wasn't in a picture taking mood when I was there.

[Heather's Garden]

Ugh, a squirrel -- in your lap?! Don't you know they're just rats with tails? Okay, maybe not really, but try and get that image out of your head. Those are incredible photos of your son who is very handsome.

[Annie in Austin]

Yosemite's on everyone's wish list, isn't it? I shouldn't complain because we've been to mountain parks in WA, SD, CO, WY, & UT, but we always want one more!

You should have posted a photo of the walk of shame, Chigiy - bet one of the other hikers would have been glad to take one for you ;-]

Annie at the Transplantable Rose

[chigiy]

Heather,
You are so right, they are just rats in cuter outfits. I think it was the views and the mountain air and the fact that the squirrles weren't in my garden that helped my attitude toward them.
Thank you, I think my son is very handsome too.

Annie,
My son and I were giggling so hard I almost spit out my trail mix. The squirrels were following us in single file.
It was hilarious.
I'm bummed that I didn't take more pics. Next time I will. I was attempting to get my son to summit Half Dome and make it a fun experience so I didn't bring my camera all the way.
Next year.

[gw]

OH, I would love to see that place someday. For a while, I was afraid you'd not post any pictures of the squirrel, but you came through with one. :)

[Mike]

Hi,

Hope you do make it up Half Dome. It's quite a sight from the top. I would recommend that you pick your time carefully though. I've seen those cables when it looked like the crowd was more a circus crew than anything. The second time I went up we went up late in the day and spent sunset on top. Just me and the friend I was with. No one else was there. Very nice memory. Oh...get to the Grand Canyon if you can. While Yosemite is marvelous I believe the Canyon is on another scale really.

[chigiy]

Thanks Mike,
I will heed your warning about Half Dome.
I would love to go to the Grand Canyon.
We have a motor home and have been toying with the idea of making the trip for the last year or so.
Maybe we should stop toying and go.
Are there squirrels there?