We started a tradition of camping at Yosemite with our honeymoon there in 1956, and continued every summer for the next ten years.
Those were the days of bathing our babies in a dishpan and washing out their (cloth) diapers. We came from southern California, my husband’s parents came from Santa Rosa, and his sister and family came from San Jose. We would find several vacant campsites together, wind a rope around trees at the edge of our campsites, and hang some blankets on the rope. We called it Camp Okie. We’d never get away with that today!
We loved watching the Firefalls every night, floating down the Merced River on our air mattresses, calling “Elmer!” every evening, and going to bed with “bear guns” - pans to bang together if a bear dared to enter our campsite.
Food was central to our camping life, so the women spent a lot of time cooking, but oh! it smelled and tasted so good! We hiked to Vernal Falls, and many other spots. It was a blessed time of relaxation and rest from the daily struggles of life!
I’m glad that so many more people are able to enjoy the majestic sights of Yosemite today, but I miss the old relaxed days back in the 50s and 60s.
We moved to Oahu, Hawaii, after ten years, and it had a charm of its own, but we will never forget our wonderful camping years at Yosemite.
Sincerely,
Yosemite National Park
With its sculpted granite rock formations, towering ancient sequoia trees and spectacular waterfalls, it's no wonder Yosemite is one of the most celebrated national parks in the world.
State(s): California
Established: 1890
“Otherwise, the greedy ones would ruin everything trying to make money however they could, instead of seeing the importance of preserving as much as possible of out beautiful country!”
National parks represent the best of America. Why do you care about protecting and preserving them? Tell us why parks matter to you!
Success! Thanks for sharing your story with us.
You’ll be notified by email when your story is approved and added to the collection on the My Park Story homepage.
In the meantime, you can share your own story page with your family and friends — and help us spread the word about these priceless memories and priceless places!
Here’s your unique story page link:
{{ storyUrl }}-
Greetings from Yosemite National Park
Snow-capped peaks, alpine lakes, and lush meadows. I was surrounded by these stunning views while hiking Gaylor Peak in Yosemite. The peak is accessible via a relatively short but steep hike, offering an exhilarating challenge for hikers like me who seek panoramic vistas of the Sierra Nevada. Higher up the…
-
Greetings from Yosemite National Park
Entering Yosemite National Park, I looked up through the sunroof to see The Nose, a wall climbing route on the world-famous summit El Capitan, and a path once thought impossible to scale, yet conquered since by a select few individuals. At that moment, I recalled Connor Herson, the youngest person…
Preserve Our Parks
Make a tax-deductible gift today to provide a brighter future for our national parks and the millions of Americans who enjoy them.
Donate Now