BACKTRAT: VISITING YOSEMITE DURING THE PANDEMIC

Feb 28

A trip to Yosemite had been in the works for over a year. My cousins and their families had all planned ahead, booking cabins right in the heart of the park. We were excited—it was going to be one of those rare big family getaways.

I had been to Yosemite a couple of years before and absolutely loved it. That trip, however, was last-minute, which meant I had to stay an hour outside the park and make the long drive in every day. This time was going to be different—staying on-site, soaking in the scenery, and just fully being there.

But then the pandemic hit.

As things got worse, it became less and less likely that this trip was actually going to happen. Cousins started dropping out one by one. Travel restrictions were ramping up, and testing wasn’t even widely available yet. It felt like everything was working against us.

Still, a small group of us weren’t ready to give up on the trip just yet.

Committing to the Trip

Five of us—Diane, Neil, Grace, her daughter Isa, and me—agreed that we’d go as long as we all got tested beforehand. At the time, testing wasn’t as common, and since I worked remotely and barely interacted with anyone, I had never even needed one. In fact, I had never been sick at all during that period.

Grace and Isa had the biggest challenge since they were flying in from New Jersey. Their friends and family strongly advised against traveling, warning them about things like being tracked. For a moment, it seemed like they might cancel. But in the end, they decided to go for it.

We all took our tests together at Dodger Stadium, where mass testing was being done. The whole scene looked like something straight out of a sci-fi movie—health workers in full protective gear handing us swabs to stick up our noses while we stayed in our cars. It was surreal. All we could do was wait for the results and hope for the best.

A couple of days later, we finally got our results—negative across the board! We could all breathe a little easier. Some results took longer than expected, which definitely added some stress, but in the end, everything worked out.

Where We Stayed

We stayed at Yosemite Valley Lodge, and it was such a great choice for easy access to everything in the park. Being centrally located made it super convenient to explore without long drives in and out.

Our rooms were in a great spot—just a five-minute walk to the cafeteria, where we grabbed most of our meals. Plus, there were general stores nearby that had groceries and essentials, which came in handy. Since lodging in Yosemite books up fast, we made sure to reserve our rooms a year in advance, and it was definitely worth the planning!

A Side Project in the Mountains

One of the things I was really excited about on this trip was a little side project I had in mind—a short video of my niece Isa practicing Kali, the Filipino martial art.

More on this in another blog post.

Beauty Everywhere

Yosemite is one of those places where every direction you look feels like a postcard. There isn’t a single spot in the park that doesn’t have something breathtaking to take in. Everywhere we went, there was something worth capturing.

The moment you arrive in Yosemite, the first big view that greets you is Tunnel View—and honestly, I think it’s the most breathtaking spot in the entire park. It’s that classic, jaw-dropping panorama of El Capitan, Half Dome, and Bridalveil Fall all in one frame.

We spent a good amount of time here, soaking it all in and capturing the sunset as it painted the valley in warm hues. As the sky darkened, we stuck around for a few night shots, watching the stars slowly take over. There’s something magical about seeing Yosemite under the night sky—quiet, vast, and absolutely unreal.

One of our stops was Valley View, the perfect place to get those dreamy reflection shots. I found myself trying to channel my inner Ansel Adams, hoping to capture even a fraction of the magic he saw through his lens. Yosemite just has that effect—it makes you want to slow down, take it all in, and appreciate the beauty everywhere.

We got there pretty early, which was a huge win because we were able to find parking. As you can see below, there isn’t a ton of it, so getting there ahead of the crowds definitely made a difference. If you’re planning a trip, I’d highly recommend arriving early to avoid the hassle of circling for a spot!

Reflecting on the Trip

Looking back, this trip was one of the most memorable experiences I’ve had. Yosemite was just as breathtaking as I remembered, but there was something extra special about being there at a time when the world felt so uncertain. The quiet, the vastness, the stillness of it all—it was a reminder of how small we are in comparison to nature.

Definitely worth the effort, and honestly, I’d love to go back and capture it all again—maybe at sunset or even under the stars next time.