"There is no hardship, risk or danger in any part of the Yosemite trip. Many old people and children visit the Valley without difficulty . . . The most timid people make the trips with enjoyment. Some of the finest views can only be obtained in this way."
Galen Clark, Original Yosemite "Guardian." Quote from Yosemite Valley: Its history, characteristic features, and theories about its origin (1910) page 107
Yosemite’s shuttle buses, lined up and ready to go near the Curry Village ice-skating-rink site, await the “start-your-engines!” command. They have been shuttered since March 20, 2020, when the California governor established shelter-in-place orders due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Things have changed drastically since the governor issued those emergency orders.
Yosemite itself closed down to “all Park visitors” for three months to limit overwhelming the rural health care system. Reservation holders received notification from the Park’s concessionaire that reservations were canceled until further notice. When the Park re-opened on June 11, 2020, officials imposed a 50% reduction in daily vehicle access. Additionally, most campgrounds remained closed and Upper Pines campground operated at about 50% capacity as did other lodging places.
The Park closure seemed to be recognized even by wildlife. Reports by National Park Service employees indicated that bear and deer roamed about more freely. Even a coyote, resting in the Yosemite Valley Lodge parking lot, came to be viewed as relaxing while enjoying nearby Yosemite Falls.
The closure also impacted how Yosemite carried out its daily business of serving its visitors. Most noticeably, the whirring engines of its fleet of shuttle buses, which provide convenient access to Yosemite’s scenic viewpoints, went silent. A notice on the Yosemite National Park website states that “the shuttle is not operating in 2021.” So far, that remains true. How are visitors responding? Based on a recent visit to the Park during the first week of June 2021, visitors seem to be adjusting more than adequately.
For example, the hike to the Vernal Fall footbridge, just less than a mile with a 400-foot elevation gain on a paved path, requires starting at the ‘Mist Trail’ trailhead. The trailhead can only be reached by shuttle bus, bicycle, or by walking. A trailhead parking lot about a half-mile away provides some convenience for automobiles, but it fills quickly by mid-morning usually by permit holders hiking to the top of Half Dome (300 permits per day are issued).
Overall, most visitors, including those staying at the Pines campgrounds will, at minimum, make about a three-mile round trip hike if they go to the Vernal Fall bridge viewpoint and back. For those staying at Curry Village, the walk may be longer, depending on where their rental unit is located. For those staying at Yosemite Valley Lodge, the walk adds about four miles to the round-trip hike.
Nevertheless, the lack of transportation to the trailhead did not prevent Park visitors from hiking the Vernal Fall trail on June 5, 2021. By early afternoon, the trail filled with hikers who appeared intent on hiking not only to the footbridge but also to the top of Vernal Falls. Although this portion of the trails adds only a third of a mile to the trip, one must traverse a grand staircase of stone blocks to get to the top of Vernal Fall. The hike can be strenuous at times, although the view is definitely worth the effort!
People of all shapes and sizes, cultures and languages, and ages and genders, could be seen challenging themselves on this popular hike. Infants rode in backpacks on a parent’s back, children scampered ahead of their guardians, and several physically disabled adults braved the thigh-busting steps. The spray from the Fall made the rocky steps slick, adding a measure of danger to the trail. It is no wonder that the Yosemite Search and Rescue Team finds itself responding most frequently to distress calls on this portion of the Mist Trail for leg and ankle injuries due to the slippery rocks.
slicked
All of this activity and hiking enthusiasm on the Mist Trail transpired without a single shuttle bus in operation. Not one. I could not help but ask myself, “Who needs a shuttle system in Yosemite Valley?” It’s only about a mile wide and seven miles in length. That’s more than manageable by using human power to bicycle and/or walk. It may require a little resilience, adaptability, and determination to get around, but the hordes who hiked to the top of Vernal Fall on June 5th gave clear evidence they had it in them.
Seeing those qualities displayed by so many got me thinking about the day the command is given to ‘start the engines’ of the shuttle fleet in Yosemite Valley. Can we skip that day and consider other options, such as biking or walking? (There may be a few exceptions such as the Mariposa Grove of Redwoods shuttles and a few others).
Over the past 15 months, people have demonstrated an ability to adapt and adjust to the change in unexpected circumstances. Why not skimp on shuttle buses and go heavy on bicycles and walking, especially during the summer months? Although automobile traffic will continue to be a problem, give the shuttle roads over to bicyclists and walkers. Expand on the Yosemite Conservancy’s Bike Share program, using savings from bus maintenance and purchases (e.g., according to one resource, one bus costs upwards of $250,000 to $300,000!). Disney World offers its visitors four-wheeled surrey bicycles that can transport entire families! Battery-operated “E-bikes” (available in surrey models) can assist those who may find it physically difficult to pedal a bike of some kind.
Instead of giving the command for the shuttles to “start their engines”, keep them shuttered and have each visitor start their own “engine” and get motivated to see Yosemite’s sights by pedaling around the Valley in a bike of their choosing. They can even use their own two feet to transport themselves through the Valley. As Galen Clark said, “Some of the finest views can only be seen in this way.”
(Photo Below: A Park visitor getting around just fine in
Yosemite Valley near Curry Village without the shuttles in service!)
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