Wawona Tunnel Emergency Access, Yosemite National Park

Far end of the "Emergency Access" Side Tunnel, 2010 - note the rad icicles!

One of the things I loved about working for the National Park Service in Yosemite was that I had to learn and know more about the park than the visitors. The other thing I loved about my job was that I was, well, you know, working in Yosemite! It was tricky for me at times as a first season greenhorn to know more about the park than the visitors, because at times, I was up against some fifty year veteran visitors, and various specialists in biology, geology, and history. Fortunately, I had the might of the federal government behind me, who supplied me with a stack of books, a uniform, and a house full of fellow seasoned rangers who could at least laugh at my naiveté at times before giving me the right answer. I also had my own innate curiosity and a childhood of experiences at the park to fall back on for when I really got desperate.

View from the end of the tunnel - similar to the Tunnel Overlook (Previous Post), no? Now that I’m just a member of the public like everyone else, I can admit that I don’t know everything about the park. Actually, I would have admitted that in uniform – even to those visitors who wanted nothing more than to hear me say, “I don’t know”. The park’s just too big and too immense for one person to know everything about it, and that’s fine. That means there’s always something to learn, and always something to explore. In my time there, I learned a lot, and I explored like crazy. And, that’s why I keep going back today because there’s always something to explore, something to see, and what has been seen is changing, because nothing ever stays the same, even the timeless worn granite of Yosemite’s mountains.

One of the places I explored one night after work was the Wawona tunnel. Sure, I had driven through it plenty of times, but I was curious about the side tunnels I had seen in it. I drove up, parked at the Tunnel Overlook, and walked in to the Wawona Tunnel without any hesitation. From the Tunnel Overlook, I walked through the Wawona Tunnel to the other end on the raised sidewalk. I checked out the solid walls of the tunnel, and marveled at the work that it must have taken to excavate all four thousand feet of rock. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wawona_Tunnel). Then, on my way back, it was time to do some exploring. I came upon the nearest side tunnel to the Tunnel Overlook, and peered in. The lights from the actual tunnel penetrated about five feet into the side tunnel, and then disappeared into actual darkness. After that, I could see nothing.

 A close up of those gnarly icicles - proceed with caution in the tunnel!

Since I was young and fearless, I strode into the side tunnel (after first turning on my trusty headlamp), and started walking. After about a quarter mile, the main tunnel was nothing but a dimly lit halogen spot behind me. The floor of the tunnel was (and remains) uneven, the walls were roughly hewn, and the celling seemed just inches away from my head (and I’m not that tall). Despite all of these things, I was having a blast. It was easy to imagine that I was heading to the center of the earth, or was going to come out in a secret spot of the park that only I and John Muir knew about. Finally, I came to the end of the side tunnel and found it partially blocked by a steel fence with a door-like opening. Out on the other side, there was a small clearing to stand, before a steep drop-off. The view from the spot was spectacular, as it was a calm, unobstructed and secret replica of the Tunnel View, not even a mile away.

After I watched the stars for a while, I wandered back down the tunnel, and realized that it must have been cut for ventilation or perhaps runoff flow or emergency access to the Wawona Tunnel. These practical thoughts about the purpose of the side tunnel didn’t ruin my enthusiasm for the spot I found, and I’ve returned several times over the years to hike the tunnel, and to enjoy a quiet moment of serenity while watching the valley.

My tip is as follows: if you fancy a walk away from the Tunnel View crowds, and you’re willing to take a bit of a risk, and proceed with a little caution, leave your car at the Tunnel Viewpoint (http://lastadventurer.com/last-adventurers-fieldnotes/2011/12/6/tunnel-view-yosemite-national-park.html), and walk up the Tunnel no more than a quarter mile on the sidewalk. The side tunnel which I have been discussing here is the first entrance on the right from the Wawona Tunnel, and is no more than a half mile either direction, and is probably more in the range of a quarter mile. Take a flashlight or a headlamp, and enjoy the view at the end just like John Muir.

See you on the trail!

DISCLAIMER: This is not an actual trail, nor hike. I’m not sure what official NPS policy would be should they find you traversing the tunnel on foot, or coming and going from what I like to call “Highway 41 Emergency Access”. Moreover, traffic in the Wawona Tunnel can be unpredictable, so watch yourself despite the “sidewalk” that is in the main tunnel. Last, the side tunnel could have bats, large bugs, or other animals, and there is that steep drop off at the end. Proceed with caution should you go, and be prepared for these risks. However: there are no “access restricted” or “stay out” signs, so perhaps this warning is for naught. :)

Tunnel View, Yosemite National Park

Tunnel View, Yosemite 2010

I know this place. It’s a place unlike any other on earth, it’s magical, it’s mystical, it’s beautiful, it’s amazing, it’s stunning, it’s everything that you’d want the wilderness to potentially be; and it’s only visited by millions of people a year. It’s called Yosemite. You might have heard of it. I’d like to sit here, and tell you all sorts of amazing things about Yosemite, about the park’s history, about the park’s geology, about the park’s geography, and about everything in between. But you know what? That’s all been written. And for me to say that sounds a little bit like a cop-out, but let me be honest with you: in that respect, there’s nothing I can tell you that hasn’t been written in a better researched and more thorough way by other professionals. (Besides, you know that I’m going to mix in some facts in with my articles, anyways, so there’s nothing to be too depressed about, really. If you’ve never been to Yosemite – do the research, whether you’re starting here, or anywhere else, and prepare to be fascinated).

What I am going to tell you is the things I know based on personal experience, of having been a park visitor for all these years; and an employee of the Backcountry division of the National Park Service for one season. These facts and tips make up for any lack of specific knowledge that I might have in certain areas. I know Yosemite like the back of my hand. I know it like the back of both hands, actually, because it’s a big place – as big as Rhode Island. I know the trails. I know the plants. I know the animals, and I know the climbing routes. I know these things because I’ve been there, and I keep going back. That alone should tell you something: the person who loves solitude and hates crowds more than anything keeps returning to a place that attracts millions of people. Yes, for me Yosemite is also “Mysemite” (http://www.amazon.com/Mysemite-Sketches-Warren-Cederborg/dp/1425954952), and it can be Yoursemite too, because it is that special.

 Tunnel View, Yosemite 2002

So let’s get started. There’s a lot to cover, and while I’ll be talking about winter activities primarily in Yosemite for the next couple weeks, there will be other posts about Yosemite in the following weeks and months. The best time to visit Yosemite? Any time, the park is stunning at all times. However, be aware of two things: if you go in winter, be prepared for winter conditions – snow, ice, and all that fun. If you go in summer, be prepared for lots of people, and sometimes, winter conditions at higher elevations. As for spring and fall? Be prepared for a mixture of all of the above.

As for the easiest-to-get-to-best-view-in-the-park, the answer can only be one thing: the Tunnel Viewpoint off of Highway 41. (http://www.nps.gov/yose/naturescience/scenic-vistas-tunnel-view.htm, http://www.nps.gov/yose/planyourvisit/viewpoints.htm). The viewpoint is directly off of Highway 41, and is accessible from both the North and South side of the highway. Should you have entered Yosemite from the South Entrance on Highway 41, the viewpoint will be right in front of you once you exit the Wawona Tunnel. Should you be headed out of Yosemite Valley to the southern portion of the park, the viewpoint will be on your immediate right after you pass the Lower Bridalveil Fall parking area, and before you enter the Wawona Tunnel.

 The view from the spot is simply amazing, and is popular at all times of day year round for good reason. Be prepared for lots of other visitors to be around you, hungry animals begging for food, and a spectacular view, no matter what time of day you arrive. It’s a great spot to stop, look, and sometimes reflect on a quiet winter morning, and a great spot to start your time in the park.

See you on the trail!

More Information here: http://www.nps.gov/yose/index.htm, http://www.virtualtourist.com/travel/North_America/United_States_of_America/California/Yosemite_National_Park-756823/Things_To_Do-Yosemite_National_Park-Tunnel_View-BR-1.html