By Karun Yee
Historical Chair
After extensive preparation over a year in the making, our intrepid group of Adventurers were on their way to Yosemite National Park on May 15 through May 18 2023.

Prior to this event, the weather produced massive snow and increased flooding in Yosemite Valley as well as road closures due to sink holes. Our trip was on the verge of canceling. However, Mother Nature smiled on us and gave us a small window of perfect weather in which to visit Wawona and the Valley.

Thanks to Ranger Yenyen Chan and the amazing people of the surrounding Yosemite area, we were able to plan and overcome all challenges prior to the trip.

Lux Bus picked us on time and we were traveling HWY 99 towards our first stop – Merced for lunch at Black Bear Diner. From there we headed to the Mariposa Museum/History Center to examine the area’s history. (Remember Gorden Morgan) Our arrival at the Wawona Hotel gave us a chance to relax and explore the grounds.

Early next morning our bus drove us to Yosemite Valley Lodge to meet Rangers Sharon Miyako (supervisor) and Yenyen (who gave us an interesting lecture and walk to the Chinese quarters). The afternoon, we took a 2 hours tram ride to view and photograph all the wonderful waterfalls as seen from the Valley.

Day three our bus took us to the Yosemite Mountain Sugar Pine Railroad where we met John Riddiough, curator of the Thornberry Museum and a ride on the diesel train through the woods. A delicious box lunch picked up at the Fish Camp Deli (TJ) was distributed on the bus ride on the way back to Wawona.

Some people ate on the nice Wawona hotel veranda. We walked to the Chinese Laundry Museum where Rangers Yenyen, Connie Lau and Jill gave us a splendid tour of the restored building. This was the focal point of our trip where the many contributions of the early Chinese workers were disclosed. Large poster story board photos were displayed with laundry artifacts. All this re-enforced the facts the Chinese played an integral part in infrastructure of the park.

Our last day we checked out of our hotel and drove to the Mariposa Grove just inside the southern Yosemite gate. After dropping us off in front of the visitor’s center, our bus driver was told we couldn’t drive there with our large bus because the shuttle service was not operating. Therefore picking up the group at the center was not possible. The bus left. I walked to the ranger gate to find out a way to get us picked up. Fortunately the transportation ranger and Ranger Connie were there to help out (my phone – no cell service) A very rare exception was made for our group and the bus was able to get us in the bus parking lot after a short walk.

Ranger Connie met our group and as a farewell, she did her fun Chinese history song with us participating.

We stopped in Oakhurst for sandwich lunch (Deli Delicious – Jordon) on our way to the Fresno Underground Gardens. Mr. Ballassare dug 10 acres underground gardens and his home there. Bizarre and fascinating history. We were ready to head home after the tour.

On the way back, CACS gave all guests the book, “Mountain Chef”. The momento of the trip describing the story of Tie Sing, a famous chef that accompanied Steven Mather in 1915 on his expedition into Yosemite to establish it as a National Park.

Tie Sing is the only Chinese to have a peak named after him by the National Geological survey team in the Park. In the back of the book, it describes the conditions and people wrote praises of this chef. He had to feed 19 people on the trail; many of these important people were well connected wealthy men, who could influence the government.

Happily, we arrived back in Sacramento around 6:30pm due to the great driving ability of our bus driver Ericka. The memories of our trip with spectacular waterfalls, wonderful new friendships made, and gaining the knowledge that the Chinese played an important part in the building of beautiful Yosemite National Park.

CACS is proud to have made this field trip possible for cultural education and thank everyone who participated.  Additionaly as a token of our appreciation, every attendee received a free 1 year Membership to CACS.