Well, we did it! We had a great time in and around Yosemite. We constantly changed things that I had taken weeks to arrange, but it turned out well. Did a bunch of small excursions on trails. Short walk at Whitney Portal and Alabama Hills, and Horseshoe Meadows. Also, at the behest of a British gentleman I met at Horseshoe Meadows, we took in Mosquito Flats. Absolutely wonderful. A tip of the hat to him. Didn't make it to Bristlecone, but did check out Bodie. Very cool, and didn't seem as contrived as some suggested. Made it almost all the way to Wapama Falls, not Wawona Falls, till we realized that we hadn't checked in at the lodge and it was 6:30 PM. We were afraid they were going to give our room away. They didn't, but I think I set a record for getting back to that pay phone in the parking lot at the O'Shaughnessy Dam. I hadn't used a pay phone in 20 years and had a helluva time getting through to a human on a Saturday evening.
June Lake was spectacular. I could see myself staying there for a few days the next time we venture out west. But make no mistake, it is a MAJOR undertaking getting out there from Alabama. I envy you guys who live out there tremendously.
If my wife were up for it, we would pack up and move out there in a heart beat. I have spoiled myself by going to Yosemite, now no other national park east of Colorado will satify me.
It kills me everytime I see a list of National Parks to visit, and the Everglades is on there. I live on the Alabama coast, so I'm surrounded by an Everglades type environment, marshes, swamp, gators, bugs, and long, straight, flat trails.
Boring.
Also, apologies to Dan for not getting him the info he equested. I was actually looking forward to helping out someone with some needed info, but just wasn't at the right place at the right time.