Friday Fun: Man Drives Car Onto Tuolumne Meadows, CA

I drove up through Yosemite National Park’s Tioga Pass highway this past Friday, May 9th, 2014.  When I reached 8,600-foot high Tuolumne Meadows, one of our greatest national treasures, I found a car parked right in the middle of the meadows.  Its owner had his family in the car and was leaning on the trunk.  His car was stuck and his idea of joyriding the meadows had backfired blindingly.

I don’t think the meadows were hurt too bad and I’m sure the poor guy got a fearsome fine.  However, it does make you wonder just what was going through his head as he smashed on the gas pedal of family sedan aiming straight into Yosemite National Park’s pristine Tuolumne Meadows.

Maybe it was similar to us skiers when we fully commit to a line that we know will never work.  You simply point it and charge and hope for the best.  Just like for us on skis, the execution of these follies often leaves us in awkward if not harmful situations.

When I initially saw him, I thought maybe there was a little parking lot out there…  Then I realized he was simply parked in the middle of the meadow just past a “Do Not Drive Off-Road” sign.  I turned around, pulled over and blantatly took photos of him and his car while he scowled at me and displayed disapproving body language.  I then turned around, heading toward Tioga Pass when I saw a Park Ranger/Policeman rolling up.  It was going to be a rough day for this off-road sedan driver.