Even with the virus closures, I could run as far, and as often, as I wanted. The hike to the valley features two waterfalls and amazing scenery Little Yosemite In Sunol Regional Wilderness​ Vandalized, © East Bay Regional Park District Police Evidence Photo. Consider going in the winter after some rain when Alameda Creek will be running. We popped out at the end of the trail, and there, just a couple hundred feet in front of us, was our shuttle car. Find First Available Date. No need for a gym, a partner or to travel. I ran my first trail marathon in July, and in August, Audrey and I completed our first stretch across Yosemite – from Virginia Lakes outside the northeastern border of the park to Tuolumne Meadows – about 25 miles with a couple steep climbs in six hours. Deep within the hills of the Sunol Regional Wilderness lies one of the East Bay’s best-kept secrets: Little Yosemite. Audrey Adler and I stood shivering at the Cathedral Lakes Trailhead in Tuolumne Meadows, woefully underdressed for the icy morning and substantially overdressed for the nearly 80 degrees we would experience in a few hours when we planned to reach Yosemite Valley. But little attention has been given to the increasing rates of … COVID deaths are averaging about 15,000 per week. In this July 15, 2014 photo, hikers gather in the foreground as climbers use the assistance of cables to scale Half Dome in Yosemite National Park National Park in California's Sierra Nevada. MORE: Nevada freshman breaks American junior marathon record. Come with me on a hike to a place called Little Yosemite in the Sunol Regional Wilderness. Sunol, California - Campsites, Cabins & Lodging. Amy Alonzo covers the outdoors, recreation and environment for Nevada and Lake Tahoe. Lucas, who was interviewed in the 1980s, allegedly claimed the victim was a female hitchhiker that he picked up on Highway 41 between Fresno, California and Yosemite National Park in the early 1980s. I’ve hiked Four Mile many times, but never run it – the steepness, after having run 24 miles, battered my toes. We stumbled down the last four miles, descending from coniferous forest to oaks and bay trees. A haze of smoke from still-burning California wildfires was spread over the valley. If not then, certainly by Valentine’s Day. Walking the steepest hills to conserve energy. I’ve summited Half Dome six times, climbing the southwest and northwest faces and ascending the standard hiker route. Little Yosemite in Sunol is a scenic hike offering breathtaking oak lined canyon views and dramatic waterfalls. The homes evacuated are on Welch Creek Road, about four miles southeast of Sunol and about a mile north of the popular Little Yosemite Trail. Connect with friends faster than ever with the new Facebook app. They credit a community member who helped with the investigation. Still it's beautiful at all times of the year although you should have plenty of water in the summer as it's dry and you're often exposed. Today, camping, picnicking, hiking … Incredible views of Yosemite from the top of Half Dome. Still it's beautiful at all times of the year although you should have plenty of water in the summer as it's dry and you're often exposed. Reach her at aalonzo@gannett.com or (775) 741-8588. 309 reviews of Sunol Regional Wilderness Area "One of my favorite East Bay Parks. Bay Area Hiking, Hikes Near Me. Please call before visiting the clinic as appointment availability and clinic hours can vary. Snow days remain snow days for WCSD students; state only allows digital learning for COVID-19. Vegetation fire near Sunol burns 1,775 acres, ... COVID-19 vaccine weeks away, ... located about four miles southeast of Sunol and one mile north of the Little Yosemite Trail area. Their names have not been released. During non-COVID times, I spend, at minimum, seven hours per week at Mesa Rim, a Reno rock climbing gym – partly for training, and partly to connect with friends and other like-minded individuals. A longtime casual runner, my goal of running across the park was born of COVID-induced boredom and loneliness as I struggled to find goals to train for during the earliest stages of the pandemic. We chugged up a hill, across Panorama Point, where spectacular views of Yosemite Valley greeted us, before plowing up to Glacier Point and down the Four Mile Trail. ... All reviews nice walk nice park yosemite area hike picnic nature rocks horses camping. There are camping options available as well. While some people embraced the isolation brought on by the quarantine, I panicked. The homes evacuated are on Welch Creek Road, about four miles southeast of Sunol and about a mile north of the popular Little Yosemite Trail. Unlike going for a run around the neighborhood, a lot of strategy goes into long trail runs. We found a natural spring and filled our water bottles, then waded through about a mile of trail that disappeared under a blanket of buckthorn that tore at our legs. California’s population is now growing at its slowest rate in more than a century. Facility Details. Learning to trail run for longer distances was a whole new sport. Great overnight site with direct access to Half Dome for a next-day hike. On our backs were packs with several thousand calories worth of food, our phones and a water filter – all we would need for the next eight hours. state only allows digital learning for COVID-19, Nevada freshman breaks American junior marathon record, Genasci remembered as a gentle giant with a heart of gold, Bank Saloon, the former Jack's Bar, reopens in Carson City in a gorgeously renovated 1899 building, Here's how you can support ongoing coverage and local journalism, Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. We passed by Little Yosemite Valley and hit Nevada Fall, where we were faced with a decision – head down rocky stairs and hit the valley in about three miles, or tack on another nine, including another 1,400 feet of elevation gain, topping out at Glacier Point before dropping four steep miles into the valley. If you want to hike up to the top of the falls it will take you 8 hours! Protection and Stewardship of the lands is a duty of our officers.". Call the Dispatch Center at 510-881-1833. Just as the going got miserable, we popped out of the buckthorn and were on the backside of Half Dome, a place I’ve been to many times. Friendships and experiences were limited by social distancing and limited contact,” Audrey told me after our run. (A permit is now required for day hikers and backpackers hiking to Half Dome.) Little Yosemite Valley is the most popular area in the Yosemite Wilderness, mainly because it provides easy access to Half Dome.Wilderness permits for the trails leading to Little Yosemite Valley are the most difficult to obtain, and a wilderness permit reservation is strongly recommended. But once I took a seat on the curb, I didn't want to get back up," Audrey said afterward. FREMONT, CA — Two women have been accused of vandalizing Sunol Regional Wilderness by spray painting rocks at Little Yosemite. Although the cliff they were at was mere feet from the parking lot, we hobbled partway up the trail to meet them, then just collapsed in a jumble of rocks and waited for them to come down. And last week, Audrey and I tackled our second leg in Yosemite. After a few miles, we left Tuolumne Meadows and entered a part of the park I hadn’t seen before, through a burned-out section of forest between Moraine Dome and Clouds Rest. FREMONT, CA — Two women have been accused of vandalizing Sunol Regional Wilderness by spray painting rocks at Little Yosemite. Microsoft may earn an Affiliate Commission if you purchase something through recommended links in this article. When in the parks, if you see something, say something. Little Yosemite in Sunol: Trail has dramatic views of canyon, waterfalls - rustic town offers railroad station Gail Todd Feb. 13, 2013 Updated: Feb. 14, 2013 1:15 p.m. Bedrock mortars used by Native Americans for pounding acorns that were found in the area are reminders of Sunol's first inhabitants. Add to Favorites. Under the East Bay Regional Park District's multi-use land management policy, cattle continue to graze in the 6,859-acre wilderness. The vaccine for COVID-19 might be the beginning of the end of the pandemic, but for airlines, it’s the beginning of the discussion about how and whether a … Group of fires near the Sunol Regional Wilderness and the Calaveras Reservoir have burned more than 1,700 acres and still had zero containment as of Aug. 17, 2020, according to Cal Fire. If you are in the park and feel sick or are concerned you were exposed to COVID-19, you are welcome to call the Yosemite Medical Clinic at 209/372-4637. Audrey and I are on a quest to run across Yosemite in three legs – about 100 miles in total. It's a short 2 miles upstream from the visitors center and is open 8am to dusk all year long. MORE: Bank Saloon, the former Jack's Bar, reopens in Carson City in a gorgeously renovated 1899 building. Throughout the pandemic, we have seen the effects that COVID-19 has had on families across the country. ... To get to Little Yosemite, ... You can take a stroll (not much of a hike but rather a walking trail) over the bridge to little Yosemite. "It took a moment for my body to adjust to not moving. HELP US KEEP THE REGIONAL PARKS SAFE BY COOPERATING with the statewide Shelter-In-Place order and park rules. Like us on Facebook to see similar stories, Nashville explosion: RV played warning message before Christmas morning blast, Netanyahu invites Morocco's king to Israel after first flight between countries. Fremont Fire Department I know most of the park like the back of my hand, so part of the appeal of running across the park is seeing the bits I’ve never viewed before. For your safety and ours during COVID-19 Pandemic. According to Park Police, "This area of Sunol contains a fragile ecosystem and sensitive watershed. Yosemite National Park shared an update about how their new day-use reservation system is going, talked about COVID-19 concerns, and answered questions from community members during a … Because COVID can shut down most of what we know as normal, but it can’t stop these feet from running. I spent 12 years living not far from the park’s northern boundary, spending as many weekends as possible hiking and rock climbing in Yosemite. Prior to May, the furthest I had ever run was 13 miles – a completely flat half marathon at sea level. Sunol Regional Wilderness: Little Yosemite is a must-stop - See 62 traveler reviews, 94 candid photos, and great deals for Sunol, CA, at Tripadvisor. COVID-19 Updates. With only a 3 day itinerary in Yosemite, it’s best to hike to one viewpoint and move on to the next Yosemite … It is staffed 24 hours a day. It’s getting late in the year, but if the weather holds, we are going to run the third leg of the Yosemite trifecta after Thanksgiving. Deaths lag diagnosis by approximately two weeks, so we can expect deaths to rise a little though the end of the year, and then hopefully decline during January, but an additional 100,000 deaths by the end of January is plausible. "I was relieved to see the shuttle car. EBRPD Camping Closure: Due to the outbreak of the Novel Corona Virus (COVID-19) and in support of the of the guidance and recommendations from the Local and State Health Departments, all … Edit. From Oakland/Berkeley - Head east on I-580 to the I-680 junction in Pleasanton. I love this part of Sunol. For the past century, however, the land known today as Sunol Wildereness Regional Preserve was used almost exclusively as ranch land. For me, it’s a way to stay motivated and connected to friends in one of my favorite places during what is otherwise a lonely and confusing time. Set up camp right next to a peaceful river you can dunk into after a long trek and of course a nice water source. And if the snow falls and closes the roads and trails, we will head to Death Valley, land of little rain, to run Titus Canyon. The car’s thermostat said 24 degrees Fahrenheit. Please do the following to protect yourselves, other park visitors, and park staff during COVID-19 pandemic: BEFORE HEADING OUT TO THE PARKS. We’d been on the go for 8.5 hours, running for almost seven of them. “After the pandemic hit, it was hard to find activities that felt normal. Show full articles without "Continue Reading" button for {0} hours. It’s a short walk from the little Yosemite Village where you can buy any necessary supplies for your Yosemite vacation. It was early in the morning, icy, and my legs didn’t want to warm up. The Cathedral Lakes trailhead is just shy of 9,000 feet and quickly gains hundreds of feet of elevation. The water is cold, but jumping around on the rocks and taking a quick dip can be so much fun on a hot day. MORE: Genasci remembered as a gentle giant with a heart of gold. There's always a moment right before when I get nervous about a miscommunication about the drop-off point," Audrey said. This is part of a chain of parks. “Running, on the other hand, has been my saving grace. Managing food and hydration. Sunol Regional Wilderness: Address, Phone Number, Sunol Regional Wilderness Reviews: 4.5/5. Yosemite is closer than you think! Running has been my sliver of normal throughout it all.”. This magical, Yosemite-like gorge will give you a taste of the national park you’ve been looking for without having to make that 4-hour haul east. Our shuttle drivers took off, and we had nothing to do but run until we reached the car they were leaving for us in Yosemite Valley. Our path will take us from Glacier Point to Wawona, another roughly 30-mile day that will top elevations of 10,000 feet. I keep an ongoing list of climbing goals in the back of my head – peaks to bag, places to visit – but as COVID restrictions closed the doors of my gym during the spring and cancelled a climbing trip I had planned out of the country, I struggled to find a way to make those goals reality. This is part of a chain of parks. As we ran, we spent hours discussing the pandemic, politics, running, work – the joy of moving, combined with hours spent with a friend in a time of intense social isolation, was exhilarating. The idea of running across Yosemite is crazy to some people. We drove to meet our friends, who were rock climbing on the other side of the valley. Consider going in the winter after some rain when Alameda Creek will be running. Sunol Park address: 1895 Geary Road Sunol, CA 94586 Directions: From Fremont - Head north on I-680 and exit at Calaveras Road. Little Yosemite In Sunol Regional Wilderness Vandalized - Fremont, CA - The park district police department has arrested two women. We passed by Little Yosemite Valley and hit Nevada Fall, where we were faced with a decision – head down rocky stairs and hit the valley in about three miles, or … The fires forced the evacuation of about 10 homes along Welch Creek Road, located about four miles southeast of Sunol and one mile north of the Little Yosemite Trail area. "And then we finished in style, running as fast as our legs could move and throwing our arms into the air.". At nearly 30 miles with more than 5,000 feet of elevation gain, the span from Tuolumne Meadows to Yosemite Valley would be the longest run yet for either of us. https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/california/little-yosemite--2 mini wrote a review Aug 2020. In September, I ran across a large swatch of Lassen National Park, someplace I hadn’t been in nearly 25 years. Here's how you can support ongoing coverage and local journalism. East Bay Regional Park District Police say they've arrested the two women shown in this photos. We’d reached elevations of more than 9,900 feet, and, according to her watch, burned more than 4,000 calories. 311 reviews of Sunol Regional Wilderness Area "One of my favorite East Bay Parks. I would use the pandemic to focus on long-distance trail running. Turn right on Calaveras and proceed to Geary Road, which leads directly into the park. Hundreds of feet of elevation consider going in the Sunol Regional Wilderness​ Vandalized, © East ’... 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