Shivering in Bear Valley

Following a second evening in Vegas, we had a late start for the next stage in our journey, to Yosemite National Park. We had been told that this little road trip of ours was ambitious, and it was, but we were rewarded richly for our efforts, although it didn't feel like it when we finally arrived at the park a little shy of midnight having been on the road for over ten hours, the last two on pitch back windy roads. After checking in and signing all sorts of forms agreeing that we would put all food, drink, rubbish and toiletries in the bear boxes outside the tents, we then had to rummage around sorting these out in the howling wind, before trying to find our tent in a dark sea of tents by a small beam of light from a torch.

It was chilly outside but nothing compared to how cold our tent was. It was a canvas structure with a proper door and camp beds insides, so luxury compared to our usual camping escapades; except it was damp and the temperature was about minus 3 or 4 degrees inside the tent. We each made up our beds using 5 or 6 blankets each and headed out in numbers for safety into the bear infested woods hunting for the toilet block.


I woke up in the night shivering and try as I might could not get warm, despite having put on my thick hoodie and my coat to bed. I decided to visit the facilities again and bravely grabbed the torch and headed out alone, not having the heart to disturb my usual protector. It was actually warmer outside and by now I was so sleep deprived that I was willing to take on any bear that dared to appear before me. Luckily, I spotted no bears, and headed back to continue to shiver under my blankets until morning, being oddly comforted by the snoring this time. I got up early and went for a quick shower before the others were up, and overheard some girls in the tent behind us say that they had been visited by a bear in the night who had tried to break into their food box and left scratch marks down it in frustration; the same bear box I had passed in the middle of the night. Gulp.

When I emerged from the tent in the daylight, the view which greeted me was spectacular. We were staying in a deep valley surrounded by enormous rock faced mountains with waterfalls caressing down them. Despite the lack of sleep, it was rejuvenating and warm, so wonderfully warm, after I feared I would never be hot again.

A big breakfast and a big walk in the forests to see Mirror Lake, so called as it is so still it reflects the mountain views, and we were on the road again, having been privileged enough to see more natural awe inspiring beauty in five days than in some people's lifetimes.