A Century of Road Trips on the Tioga Road

[@jeanettewaverly2590]

One of my earliest memories is going over Tioga Pass in the 50s, with my folks in our '49 Chevy. One unpaved lane -- the car going uphill had to back into a wide spot to let the other one pass. I miss that old, windy road!

[@gryhze]

This episode brings back fond memories of my encounters with Seasonal Ranger Ferdinand Castillo at the Tioga Pass Gate. Even years after his passing, his fellow rangers posted reminders of his dedication inside the Tioga Pass gate house. With permission of the on-duty ranger, I pat the window ledge and acknowledge his ever presence at the Pass.

[@UniversalProductionMusicUS]

Such cool footage! Great work! Yes, we have 100% jumped in the car and driven Tioga Pass. Tuolumne Meadows, Cathedral Peaks, Cathedral Lakes, JMT, Clouds Rest, some of the best places on earth.

[@TheRadioAteMyTV]

Parking is best at Grand Canyon where they have oodles and oodles of shuttles going everywhere all the time. Yosemite is a long way behind them on this, but it looks like they are trying to catch up.

[@inyobill]

Good point. I note that the area near Yosemite has limited availability of good sites for massive parking lots.

[@nickn2334]

I first crossed Tioga Pass in 1959. My mother drove me to from San Mateo to June Lake loop to go fishing. It was quite a thrilling experience at that time. It looks like I am going to miss that experience this year. Since YNP is currently closed and there are still park employees in the park, would you please post some new videos of the now nearly deserted park?? I think many YNP fans would like to see the park through this media. Thanks.

[@Mrkozak710]

Neat video!

[@Seanonflo]

It would be a good idea to build a railway lines, so visitors could go by train. In Switzerland, where I am from, I can step on a train at the border of Switzerland and go to the mountains in a few hours. The Alps are full of railway lines and it is very good connected. And if you are at a mountain and you don't want to hike all the way up, you can take a cog railroad (rack and pinion railway) or a gondola lift (cable car). Because of these railway lines, we have a lot of tunnels. It would be anyway a good Idea, if the US would have more electric Trains instead of cars. For a nice video about a Swiss Railway Line search on youtube this "World's Most Beautiful Railway - Bernina Express "

[@dudeonbike800]

In 'Murica, we call that "commie socialism!" Americans would prefer to die in a car wreck 20 times over before giving in to some "Euro-trash, latte-sipping, Birkenstock-wearin', socialist train idea" from Switzerland! Trust me, we need this more than ever. Driving from the Bay Area to Tahoe is now almost unbearable. Interstate 80 is a line of non-stop lights heading up and down every weekend, summer and winter. One used to be able to avoid the traffic by traveling on Saturday or Thursday. Nope; those days are over. And when it snows? Gridlock hell! Six hours to make a 2 1/2 hour trip. All so we can enjoy our "jacked up, kick-ass, 4X4 monster trucks" in the snow! This is how one justifies driving a six ton behemoth getting 8 mpg to work every day! Imagine instead a 3 hour ride in comfort. Hanging out with friends, enjoying the scenery with a fine glass of wine or beer, or whatever, as the Sierra countryside passes by. Relaxing while someone else does the driving. No bumper-to-bumper traffic. No collisions. No drunk drivers. No chain controls. No gas stations. No fighting kids in the back. No sliding out in Blue Canyon, wishing you HAD gotten that new set of snow tires! We could have a high-speed main line serving various Sierra locations. Then local streetcars & trams moving people between the popular destinations like Truckee, Squaw Valley, Northstar, Heavenly, South Shore, etc. You wouldn't have to worry about the back-up on 267 or 89 getting in and out of the resorts. But wait a second... this is commie socialism type stuff!!! Never fly in 'Murica!

[@inyobill]

Given the mandate for easing environmental impacts in the area, this should be prioritized. It should be a public-funded project, that should not be expected to "turn a profit". I love driving the area )or would, if the roads weren't so congested_, I would pay a surcharge to help cover such a project.

[@Mike-vt6nc]

As much as I would love to visit Yosemite it just looks unenjoyable with so many people and cars idk just my opinion

[@inyobill]

We have pictures of my grandmother's trip she made with her foster family to Yosemite and Sequoia from El Centro in 1924 and 1925. I believe it was a two-week drive in each direction.

[@inyobill]

At 6:12 you really need a disclaimer regarding close approach of wild animals by visitors. "Need for …, souvenir stores", one questions the need for "souvenir stores."

[@backpacker3421]

Yosemite is my favorite place on the planet, but in my lifetime, it has gone from being merely crowded to being far overcrowded throughout the warmer months. It has gotten to the point where the only way to enjoy it for me is either in the backcountry or in the very off season. I worry that it will eventually become too crowded year-round to enjoy at all. I would encourage Yosemite and other overcrowded parks to carefully limit visitation. I would rather wait a year or two and enjoy a day or week spent in the park than be able to go anytime and not enjoy a second of it. It would also significantly improve the conditions for wildlife and impact to the water and plant life, which is an even bigger reason.

[@stephen9092]

Amen. I wish the NPS and some of the more popular US State Parks would implement this. It would be for sustainability of the natural environment, not necessarily keeping the public out of public places.

[@SinMore]

I never go to Yosemite anymore because it is so crowded and I live so close.

[@swithinbarclay4797]

Can someone please tell me, when the Olmstead-to-Lee Vining stretch was actually, finally paved? And, I think that I read somewhere, that STAGECOACH Service, running Bridgeport-Lee Vining-June Lake--Benton--Bishop finally ceased about 1950! Going West, that first great vault up from Lee Vining Meadows to Ellery Lake, has always looked treacherous, with that huge slopeside looking like it's composed of SOFT slippery soils. And there have been several side-span bridges installed--and re-installed--to take care of avalanche/slide problems throughout that particular stretch.

[@Gregemio]

Do they cap the number of visitors to the park?

[@falcon7350]

I have been full timing in my RV for over 10 years now and i am sad to say Yosemite is NOT in my top 20 parks

[@sal7t5]

thats a shame. may i ask what is your top 20?

[@swithinbarclay4797]

That's fine; one less party of folks visiting, ought to relieve the stress upon YNP--leaves just a little more for the rest of us, who ARE YNP Fans.

[@DavidLynchGraphics]

Could you please list the soundtrack credits for this video?

[@aaronloomis7140]

Yosemite NP should follow suit with what Zion NP did years ago- provide a mandatory shuttle service for all day use visitors going into the valley. The environmental impact from the massive volume of cars in the park is taking its toll. Why park officials haven't moved to prevent more ecological damage is perplexing.

[@aaronloomis7140]

@discorperted Air Pollution (auto and campfires). Its effecting the ecology of the valley.

[@aaronloomis7140]

@discorperted www.npca.org/articles/1640-yosemite-s-dirty-air-secret#:~:text=The%20harmful%20effects%20of%20ozone,air%2C%20particularly%20for%20those%20who

[@aaronloomis7140]

www.sacbee.com/news/local/environment/article230935173.html

[@aaronloomis7140]

@discorperted I've been there in the summer and the air quality in the valley is terrible. I have been told the high amounts of CO2 and other pollutants from vehicles are effecting the trees and making them more susceptible to fires or to just dying.

[@aaronloomis7140]

@discorperted kzbin.info/www/bejne/f4epfGupi8l9hMk

[@gnnascarfan2410]

5:50 Except history has told us that there is a thing called induced demand, widening the road isn't going to solve traffic. All widening the road will do is cause more people to leave YARTS and take their car, worsening traffic.

[@pi.actual]

My first visit to Yosemite was in 1969. Seemed like there were almost as many bears as campers back then. Sigh...

[@outdoorsbeyondnature1980]

Wahtomas Outdoors

[@almeggs3247]

It will change by building a monorail!

[@dilippatel3268]

ban all people from yosemite

[@mountaingrownnomad4212]

Or at least ban everyone from outside of California.