Notice.: Time - includes a short stops for traffic lights, a map´s study ..)
British Airways took my bike like a second luggage for free again. The bike has to be taken in to parts and in paper box or special case.
First of all I have to thanks again. This time to my friends Carol and Sid. My bike-trip was part of more than four months long journey during summer 2001. More about that here
.| Day | 1. |
| Date | 22.9.2001 |
| Distance [miles] | 5,1 |
| Time | 0:30:20 |
| Average speed [miles/hour] | 10,2 |
| Total Distance [miles] | 5,1 |
On 22th September 2001 I am leaving Palo Alto (Silicon Valley) with Carol and Sid to Yosemite National Park. We are passing one of Los Angeles' aqueducts, which supply A.L. of water from Sierra Nevada Range. I have to say, Sid was right, that trip across Central Valley would not be very interesting. Especially in a such hot weather. Sid and Carol save me a couple days and energy. By evening we achieve Glacier Point. Glacier Point is a wonderful overlook across Yosemite Valley. Mainly with a sunset you can see A Half Dome in beautiful red sunlights.
Unlucky I am under time press. I prefer to build my camp before sunset and when I get back to the lookout is too late. Colorful show is over. At least I have a quit night near Sentinel Dome (8 740ft) summit.
I am traveling on a TREKKING FOX - HOT SHOT again and also equipment of the bike is almost the same. Because I didn't use the flashlight in "New England" , I didn't bring it with me this time. But fortunately, before I left Palo Alto, I borrowed one from Carol. This time it was really necessary. The conditions under which I traveled this time were completely different - poisonous snakes, spiders, heat - I travel at night ....
| Day | 2. |
| Date | 23.9.2001 |
| Distance [miles] | 42.79 |
| Time | 2:33:37 |
| Average speed [miles/hour] | 15.8 |
| Total Distance [miles] | 47.9 |
In the morning after breakfast I am going to check summit of Sentinel Dome. The summit is beautiful and for sure you should visit this place. No so many people are here and the view is similar to from Glacier point one. I am surprised by the warm weather. I guess around 85-90F and I was worry about snow. After seven almost flat miles I have thirty miles long downhill to the bottom of the Yosemite Valley. Because I decided to climb A Half Dome tomorrow and I need a safe place for all my stuff I build a tent in a camp. The camp costs $18/site. This camp is used usually by climbers. For the rest of the day I am wandering around the eastern end of the valley. I met for example "King Snake".
| Day | 3. |
| Date | 24.9.2001 |
| Distance [miles] | |
| Time | |
| Average speed [miles/hour] | |
| Total Distance [miles] | 47.9 |
Around 8 am I am leaving a camp and start my seven miles one-way long trip to the summit of A Half Dome. Trail leads through natural beauty along Merced River. I am choosing steeper and shorter trail which is closer to Vernal Fall
. In short time I am passing second famous fall - Nevada Fall. Both you can see from Glacier point. Merced River leads through Little Yosemite Valley. Next time I would like to build my camp here in an official backpacker's camp. Here you are further from overflowed Yosemite Valley and you can do some hikes to not such popular sites. For hikers climbing A Half Dome it is the last place with running water. Sun is burning. It's pretty hot and it seems to me I will get to the summit just afternoon. I have to save some water.
From rocky "hump" east from A Half Dome is a beautiful view over "Paradise Garden" or how it call Czech girl I met here, "golf filed". At the last section of the trail you have to use two cables to achieve the summit. It looks worse than it is. Actually it easier than walking on in rock-carved steps. It could take me no more than 10 minutes to do it. It depends on how many people are there. By the beginning of cables is a stack of gloves which you can use. I didn't use them because it seemed to be slipping.
| Day | 4. |
| Date | 25.9.2001 |
| Distance [miles] | 16,29 |
| Time | 2:13:59 |
| Average speed [miles/hour] | 7.8 |
| Total Distance [miles] | 64.2 |
It is a wonderful storm during the whole night. I like to listen to thunders that makes many echoes in the Yosemite Valley. Luckily the storm is over with sunrise. I have to stand up early because last night i broke my bike and I have a flat tire. I am in a hurry. I have to repair it and at 9 am meet my a new friend. I met a Czech guy Tomášem with a car during climbing A Half Dome. He is traveling alone by car and he is willing to take me over the mountains. I catch it so we are driving east to Mono Lake and Bodie one of the best-preserved ghost towns in the West. We split in Lee Vining.
Strong wind is lifting dust so much that is covered the whole eastern horizon. Unfortunately is blowing against me. I am not even sure how much water I should take with me. It will be the first time I will drive in the desert. I am not sure what water resources are along the road. The only reason I'm fine is that I read about cyclists riding this road in the same direction. I am not very willing to start paddling what can I do? I am buying one more bottle of water and heading to the south. The road is slightly uphill but that wind is slowing me down. After 20km uphill I reached Deadman Pass with suitable place for camping.
| Day | 5. |
| Date | 26.9.1999 |
| Distance [miles] | 35 |
| Time | 1:58:19 |
| Average speed [miles/hour] | 13.5 |
| Total Distance [miles] | 99.2 |
Night was cold. Not surprised. I am in 2 600m. But in an hour after sunrise it is already pretty warm. The road is flat or slightly downhill. I am not in hurry. Around noon I am leaving paved road and on dirty one I am arriving to Hot Springs. This hot spring area is situated southeast from famous ski resort Mammoth Lakes. They are about 7km east of road #395. Marked are only closest ones in Hot Creek. You can even fish here but camping is prohibited. Sid and Carol told me about "baths" - which were made by local people. These baths are not marked and are spread in their surroundings. I am asking people here. They told me that the best one is in another 8km. There is camping allowed but is not drinkable water there. So they are giving me two litters and I stay for another night there. It is even better here because close forest and it means shadow...
| Day | 6. |
| Date | 27.9.2001 |
| Distance [miles] | 63.5 |
| Time | 4:46:51 |
| Average speed [miles/hour] | 13,2 |
| Total Distance [miles] | 162.7 |
After another cold night is rapidly getting warm. I am heading still south. Before Bishop I have a nice 17km long downhill. Great. Bishop is far away only one city here so it has even a supermarket, Paiute and Shoshone Museum and cosy park in which I decided to take a rest in tree's shadow during noon hot weather. Afternoon I am taking another bath in Hot Springs south from Bishop.
By this hot spring is camping prohibit. In whole Owen's Valley it is not difficult to find an open place so in a short distance I can put up a tent. Altitude is around 1 300m now and it means that it is hot here even at night. I was told to watch for rattlesnakes, scorpions,.... do I am keeping closed my tent all the time. You never know.
| Day | 7. |
| Date | 28.9.2001 |
| Distance [miles] | 51,14 |
| Time | 3:22:13 |
| Average speed [miles/hour] | 15,1 |
| Total Distance [miles] | 213,8 |
Today I want to get to Lone Pine. in this village is working friend of mine Kevin. I met him in Denali last summer. This time is Kevin working like a Ranger here. In his responsibility is also Mt. Whitney (4 418m) - the highest mountain in "lower 48". and I am here to climb that peak.
But before I get there I have a short stop in Manzanar - National Historic Site. Manzanar - was one of ten war relocation centre at which Japanese American citizens and resident Japanese aliens were interned during World War II. in three months after the attack on Pearl Harbor, approximately 120 000 citizens were routed under military guard to assembly centres and then ten internment camps with no more than what they could carry in two suitcases. They were mostly from western California, Washington and Oregon. Some of them stayed the whole three years here. Manzanar was constructed in March 1942. A total of 11,400 people were processed through this relocation centre. Manzanar was closed in November 1945.