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
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