About twenty-five years ago, on my first trip to the San Francisco Bay Area, I visited Yosemite Valley. I started the day by driving a Pontiac 6000 to the valley at 3:30 in the morning. Depending on the road conditions, it takes about three or four hours to arrive to the valley. By the time I arrived at the park gates, there were no rangers, and the long and winding valley road was all covered with fresh snow from the night before. Since I had no tire chains equipped, I cautiously drove on. The heavy and bulky Pontiac moved through the early morning fog like an old boat, quiet and floating.
The downhill winding road to the valley was all covered in fog. I was expecting to see the valley surrounded with impressive peaks, the way it looks in the photographs of Ansel Adams. However as I approached the valley floor, I could not see a thing. Despite this I could feel the strong energy surrounding me. There was no doubt in my mind that the giant granite peaks were all there. When I reached the valley floor, the fog started clearing. The overwhelming peaks welcomed me to this magnificent place. Somehow, I found my way to the Ahwahnee Hotel. There was immense awe in meeting this place. I called my wife on the other side of the continent and the way I described Yosemite Valley was short and decisive: "Here, I can die".
For breakfast, I ate at the Ahwahnee Hotel's dining hall. I had the most delicious pancakes in my life while observing the surrounding peaks from the large and tall windows of the hall. Following my delicious breakfast, I toured and photographed the valley for the entire day, and returned to my hotel in Pleasanton later that night.
By January, through the nasty tricks of corporate executives, I had lost my position at the company I worked so hard for. Luckily, It didn't take long to find new work because of my reliable business standing within the industry. My new work would take me to the San Francisco Bay Area. Nine weeks after my first trip to the valley, I was going back again. I drove from the east coast to San Francisco in almost four days, averaging about fifteen hours of driving a day. I was so eager to start working and establishing my family on the west coast.
Years passed, my wife and I worked very hard but through all of that, we never forgot Yosemite, as we paid our regular visits to this wonderful place. Our son was born in the San Francisco Bay Area. Three of us continued our trips to Yosemite. He had his first bouldering and childhood rock-climbing experience in Yosemite Valley. Most of the time we just camped in the valley, but when our parents visited us from abroad, we'd stay at the Yosemite Lodge or outside the park, at a hotel called the Cedar Lodge. Sadly we could not afford to stay at the Ahwahnee Hotel. Our Yosemite family custom was to always have breakfast at the Ahwahnee Hotel and enjoy the breathtaking views of the valley.
This year our son is graduating from college. We now have more time to plan our regular visits to Yosemite. Recently, in celebration of our twenty-five year anniversary of visiting this paradise, I reserved a room at the Ahwahnee Hotel as a surprise for my wife's birthday. We were given a special place on the fifth floor with breath-taking view of the Yosemite Falls. It gently snowed most of the day which gave us more time to enjoy the Ahwahnee Hotel and its surroundings. During winter, the hotel is more appealing to us. You could be sitting in front of one of the large fireplaces and reach a point of relaxation that is beyond your wildest dreams.
Yosemite has an important place in all of our hearts. I will be working hard to record and interpret the infinite beauties of Yosemite in the years to come.
© Nihat İyriboz
California, 02/13
