HIKING AT YOSEMITE - Dr. Ron Virmani, M.D. - Personal Experience - Day 1

Day 1: June 19, Sunday:  We flew into either San Francisco or San Jose and rented two cars to drive 4 hours down to YNP.  On the way, we stopped at Washburn and Glacier points.  From these vantage points, we could see the breathtaking panorama of domes, pinnacles and waterfalls.  Dominating all is the Half Dome (8842 feet), the most recognized feature of Yosemite.  At 87 million years old, the granite of this dome is the youngest Plutonic rock in the valley.  I secretly aspired to be on top of it one day. 

We were supposed to stay at tents in White Wolf campground, but heavy snow in last winter had closed Tioga road along with this campground.  We reached our alternate destination, the Curry Camp, in Yosemite valley, as it was getting dark.  I kept rehearsing in my mind what I would do if I came upon a bear!  I could not decide if I should start screaming, play dead or act like if I met my old buddy.  Fortunately, the bear never presented itself to put any of my strategies to test during the trip.  We did see a few deer from time to time. 

We received instructions about how to store food and other scented articles into bear lockers and checked into four two person (unheated) tents.  We used our flashlights to walk to rest rooms in the dark as well as the public shower-house. While the days were hot at 75-80 degrees, nights were cold between 45-50 degrees.   I had a difficult time sleeping on many nights.  

Continued - On Ron Virmani's Personal Blog.

HIKING AT YOSEMITE - Dr. Ron Virmani, M.D. - Personal Experience

Stars must have lined up when Charlotte Outdoor Adventure Group (CHOA) announced a hiking trip to Yosemite National Park (YNP) in June 2005.  It was the very week prior to the Sunday when my friend’s daughter was going to be married in California near San Jose on June 26.  I quickly signed up, joining 7 others from Charlotte for the trip.  Our motley crew of 4 males and 4 females included one pilot (Leigh), a firefighter (Lance), a pharmacist (Tom), a few IT folks (Monica, Anelia) and other professionals (Teresa, Charlie). 

YNP comprises of 1170 square miles of area (about the size of Rhode island).  It has 263 miles of roads, 800 miles of hiking trails.  The elevations range from 2000 to 13,000 feet.  It is located in the eastern part of central California, abutted on the east side by Sierra Nevada mountains.  This awesome landscape was created by glaciers transforming the rolling hills and meandering streams of pre-Pleistocene Yosemite millions of years ago.

“Yosemite valley” (elevation 4000 feet) is a very small part of YNP but most visitors do not have the time to go much beyond the valley.  Merced river flows through Yosemite valley, which is 7 miles long and one mile wide.  Many spectacular waterfalls drape the lofty walls of this valley.  We saw these waterfalls gushing with tremendous volumes of water, but they dry up in late summer when the snow has melted and gone.   

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Dr. Ron Virmani on the Heinous Act in Boston

By now, almost all of us are aware of the two bomb blasts that took place in Boston on April 16, this year during the Boston Marathon. I, Dr. Ron Virmani, along with millions of other people from around the world, am strictly against terrorism.

At least 3 people were killed and more than 141 were injured during the twin blasts of which one occurred near the finishing line. I, Dr. Ron Virmani express by deep condolence for the one who have lost their life or are injured.

My (Dr. Ron Virmani) question is, are the terrorists getting what they actually want by spreading so much sorrow and fear within people? People from all over the world are against a heinous act like terrorism and they hate it more than anything.

The terrorists should never be treated as a part of the mankind as no man or woman in this earth or even the animals would do such shameful things and that too during an occasion. They shouldn’t be treated with mercy; instead they should be gifted with what they had for us.

Now, for the people of the world, I, Dr. Ron Virmani, request each and every one out there to unite against terrorism and terrorists. Come, let’s work hand in hand make this world a terror-free place to live.