My earliest childhood memories are of camping with my family and cousins without any camping gear in a dog camp along the Merced River in Yosemite. At dusk we’d all yell for the legendary Elmer and watch the fire falls off Glacier Point.  As a national park, Yosemite has been in existence for over  a 100 years, although geologically it’s evolution spans more than 500 million years. The valley is surrounded by the grandeur of granite rock formations, waterfalls, meadows, and natural beauty in every direction. Although there are more visitors in the park than ever before, more than 4 million yearly, not much has changed in these protected resources.

The first residents were Native Americas who lived here as early as 6,000 years ago. In the mid 19^th century when the first Euro-Americans came to the area in search of gold, the indigenous people of Yosemite Valley called the land, “Ahwahnee” which means “Place of a Gaping Mouth."

To celebrate a birthday and anniversary this winter, I stayed at the Ahwahnee Hotel recently. Opened in 1927 and a national historic landmark, this is considered Yosemite's grande dame of establishments with a price that matches. At over $500 a night it is quite frankly a huge disappointment. The rooms are fairly small and tired, the heating didn't work, the water was lukewarm, and the food in the restaurant is expensive and just so so. The dining room and great hall are beautiful with floor to ceiling windows and three inglenook fireplaces that are kept blazing.The decor is Native American with kilim rugs hanging on the walls.  It's wprth visiting to have a cup of tea. The staff are warm, friendly, and besides the view, they are the best part of the experience.

Save your money and stay at the Yosemite Lodge or Camp Curry.  Bring your own snow shoes if you want to walk through the trails in winter as there are no rentals available.  The Ahwahnee Hotel was completely full and is usually booked a year in advance. Although Yosemite is breathtaking, the hotel was most disappointing to al;l of us. Don't bother staying there.

No one yells "Elmer" anymore, but the granite cliffs, the waterfalls, the streams, and the nature will forever be embedded in my dreams.