Bass Lake is on the way to Yosemite, and stopping there is certainly worth while. Some of the more long time employees have worked in Yosemite until they could afford to purchase their dreams homes in Bass Lake area or around Oakhurst. It has been rumored that a number of Hollywood movie stars and directors of note have purchased mansions up on the hillsides. How fun that would be! A boat docked at the Pines Resort, and a mansion on the hill.
This year there should be plenty of water in the lake since the snow run off from the Sierras will be strong this year. We are enjoying a high rise on the Merced River and more snow and lots of rain. This year we are 107% of expected snow and rain. We are just praying that it does not get too warm and bring the high Sierras down with a torrential fury. That happened back in 1996 or 7 and we had to close the Park due to flood waters. We have signs posted that depict flood swells of up to 11 and 12 feet. That is alot of rushing water.
Up the Merced River is White Water Rafting and the other day 2 orange rafts were swirling out in the rapids with guests afloat and a paddle. They were having a great splashing in their water attire...or life vests and some were paddling and watching the perilous solid grey forms protruding menacingly out of the water. Bass Lake is placid by comparison. Just radical boat drivers showing off there best sleek forms.
Yosemite does not have a lake, however if you drive up 120 to Hetch Hetchy Dam you will find a bigger and better lake, but this lake is not for swiming, nor boating...although you can camp around the lake. Yosemite has water falls and more water falls, and running rivers and running bears and lots of people that like to get out of their cabins or tents and run and run. The main reason for all the running is the air we breathe up here is great. It is crisp and clean and sweet, filled with the fragrance of Pine and Cedar and meadow grasses and the sweep of air off the granite cliffs. Since the altitude is only 4,000 feet or so you can run and not easily fall out of breathe. You might loose your breathe if you see a bear, or you might become breathless at the sight of the many deer in the Valley, especially in the low light of sunset when the deer come out to forage or feast on the tender meadow grasses.
You will see coyotes on your hike, run or walk, but you will not see real live wolves like these two wolves pictured here. These two wolves like to live in the wilds, but they became orphaned at an early age and adopted by man. They grew up in a civilized environment and became tame wild pets of a wolf loving owner. If you are lucky you might see wolves like these in Yosemite, however they will be on a leash and their owner will be with them. And although greatly loved by man they are still wild and deserve to be respected as such. Notice how they are sitting in very close proximity to each other, with the white wolf touching the other wolf, and she has her legs demurely crossed. They are calm and yet remain focused. These two lovely creatures, although the white one has passed on and the other lives with a family live not in Yosemite, but near Isle Royale in upper Michighan state near the Great Lakes. The White Wolf was called Mikey. The darker wolf is his sister.
