Logger's Retreat
Guest Comments
Although we can tell you about our home, perhaps the best way to understand what it is like to stay here is to read honest impressions from visitors just like you. We invite you to browse through this transcript of our visitor's log. Enjoy!
Aug 22-26 2007
Dear D & S,
We had a lovely time in you mountaintop retreat. We had two families here, and visited Bridalveil Falls, Tunnel View, Yosemite Valley, and we loved Glacier Point. We checked out Big Sandy and fished both at Bass Lake and off the 140 in the Merced River after Foresta Bridge. The boys enjoyed the dirt path with their bikes, and soaking in the jacuzzi afterwards. Thank you for allowing us to enjoy this view and for helping us appreciate Yosemite!!
The C Family J, M, & R; The B Family J, E, L
We also did a bit of stargazing, spotted the Milky Way, Andromeda Galaxy & all the 4 moons of Jupiter. Its quite a place you have here! Thanks again, -JB
August 19, 2007
D & S,
We really enjoyed staying at this wonderful place! Thank you guys so much! We had two families stay here, and we all fit! It was so comfy and clean, but we suggest you get shades in the kids bedroom!
Thank you, The D Family, The R Family
Aug 9-12, 2007
D & S,
Our family really enjoyed our stay in your delightful retreat. Glorious area, we walked our legs off! Soaked them afterward in the warm hot tub and thought the night skies were magical. The kids liked the hike down to the campfire where the could see bits & pieces of the old railroad.
Many thanks, The A Family.
P.S. You might want to add a toaster to your amenities!!
Our stay here has been so great for all our family who have come from all over the country for one of our rare gatherings. The Mariposa Grove and Glacier Point were especially enjoyed and a drive up the Tioga Pass Rd was another trip of beautiful views. There is so much to see and do - so little time. I gathered pine needles for basketry which will be a memento of our stay. A small suggestion is a photo of the view in winter. I lived in Sonora 13 years and have seen Yosemite in winter - it was so wonderful to return to California once again!
- M B
This beautiful house in this amazing setting was perfect for our rare family gathering coming from WI, IL, NM, and NH, we all settled in and enjoyed each other's company as well as escaping for private reflection -- so many great decks here with great views! Lots of good memories were made here...we hope we can all come back again.
S B, Newmarket, NH.
Aug 4-7 2007
Dear D & S,
We have all had a wonderful time in your home. What superlative views! Great walks through the forest! Home well equipped! Trips of interest we have done inc: Mariposa Grove Tram Tour - well informative and recommended $17 each time, 1 hr 30 mins Logger's Sugar Pine Railway trip - Highly recommended for youngsters, and only 2 mins away from lodge - $18 - Plus other things to do e.g. gold panning. Glacier Point - Well worth a full day trip. Starting the day off with a leisurely bike ride. Bikes hired from Yosemite Lodge at $7.50/hr We found 3 hrs was sufficient. Don't forget your picnic! Then follow this with trip to Glacier Point to marvel at the spectacular views and great photo opportunities. We recommend: Blinds in bedrooms; gas bbq to avoid charcoal use (due to forest fires); also we found the fan above the bunkbed is very close and slightly dangerous. Can't wait to return in the future!
Thanks, S's & J's x-x-x
The memories we made here will be in our thoughts forever. The house is beautiful and the views are breathtaking. We had so much fun from Glacier Point to Touloume Meadows. Swimming in Cascade Creek ended our wonderful trip to Yosemite. To end our vacation we rented a party barge on Bass Lake which was very relaxing.
Thanks again. Love, the M's - H, R, H and M, R and N C, J P. New Orleans, LA.
6-30 to 7-7-07
Thank you for opening your beautiful home to us! We really enjoyed it. The fire pit was great for S'mores on the 4th of July! We rode our bikes along the dirt road behind the house. It was fun, but very bumpy. We really think your need a swamp cooler for the summer. We had temperatures into the 100's The house was just as hot as outside and in the evenings it was hotter. Curtains on the windows might help with that too. The view is beautiful, but the sun through the windows was way too hot! We'd love to come back sometime when the weather is a bit cooler.
- The A Family
June 12, 2007
My daughter just turned 1 year old today here in this dining room surrounded by grandparents, her uncle, aunt and nephew and I can’t imagine a better place to bring my family together than here. She may not remember the experience, but we surely will and they will be plenty of photos to remind her. The place is wonderfully equipped. The only thing I longed for was a high chair and some shades for the upstairs bedroom windows. It’s lovely to wake up to that gorgeous panoramic view of the mountain but it would be nice to pull a blind down as others trek to their cars or the hot tub. All told it is a breath-taking place. Best,
- T & the W Family
P.S. I can’t believe you have a DVD of Mr. North! Wonderful!
Found you on the net! Could not have made a better choice. Everything surpassed my expectations! Just wonderful! Our first family reunion! Perfect! Highly recommend night train dinner and ride! Hope to return soon.
-S A W
P.S. Climb a mountain! -From Tampa, Florida
June 8 & 9th
Fantastic views! The home was much bigger than we needed, but the upstairs turned out to be perfect for the two of us. We worried about the white carpet, but all worked out fine, the layout on the first floor worked perfect and all amenities were provided. Thank you so much for being so thoughtful. We didn’t get the chance to explore outside because our trip was planned around a 1929 Model A car rental in Fish Camp at Model T Tours. What a fantastic and unique way to tour a national park. The house was so peaceful and relaxing. We didn’t have much time to spend in the house, but when we did, we just relaxed. Thank you for sharing your home with others.
-T and P
June 4-7
We “stumbled” across your vacation home when we decided to take a side trip from our 8-day vacation in San Francisco. We thought our family might need a diversion from the city. To say we have been incredibly “wowed” by our time here in Yosemite is an understatement. Your place is an incredible blessing. Each room provides a view of God’s magnificent creations. The furnishings, the movies and all the fun games added to our “down time” in the home. Yosemite National Park was an experience we will never forget. Our family cannot decide whether we liked Glacier Ridge or Yosemite Valley more. When I think of the splendorous sights we took in with our eyes and reflect on the grandiose creation as well as the tiny details that went into this creation, my mind calls up the old church hymn, “How Great Thou Art.” This is a creation beyond my imagination. I wish I could say that we will come back to your home. But, being from Michigan and having 9 airplane tickets to pay for makes me believe that this was a once in a lifetime adventure. Thank you for bending over backwards to make our accommodations work. We want to thank C J too! God’s blessings to you in this wonderful place!
-The L's: T, K, K, M, A, A, G, M and L.
I had an awesome time in your house! The views were great and I had a lot of fun exploring and looking for bears. Thank you so much for letting us stay here. And I loved the bedroom downstairs with the bunk and trundle. It was one of the best parts of my whole trip to California! Yosemite is so pretty! Thank you!
-M L, age 12
I had an awesome time in your house! Even though I got scared of the moutin lions, and the bears.
–A L, age 9
5.26.07 Memorial Day weekend
Had a great three nights. Especially great to have the place set up nicely for our two year old (with the exception of the acres of white carpet we worried about; Alas, no spills!) It was wonderful to discover that if you walk far enough on the road above the house you eventually reach Fish Camp! The Narrow Gauge Inn was a fun discovery too. Gardens were simple but beautiful, fun firetruck for our little one to look at, and the restaurant looked quite promising for a better-planned return trip sometime. Tenaya Lodge wasn’t as charming. But the beer was good. Long lines to get into the park on this holiday, but the golf course was surprisingly uncrowded. We’re off to look at one of the cabins for sale in Fish Camp (these prices seem nuts!) then a quick spin on the railroad before home. Thanks for being good hosts. Thoroughly enjoyed it!
-K, J, and O F
Great Spot! Wish we could have stayed for two weeks. We will be back. Thanks so much. –M & C P
May 06-8,2007
Dear D & S,
Your website promised much, in reality your beautiful home is nothing short of PARADISE! Your home defies description and adjectives could flow as smooth as the Merced River if it were not for the control one has to eventually maintain. The wonderful patio was our permanent hangout when at home and the sylvan surroundings our constant companions. It was only the gently creeping evening chill and the breathtaking beauty of the northern skyline that reminded us to retreat into the coziness of your beautifully kept and extensively equipped home. As my son rightly said “Daddy this is better than our hotel in London!” We are visiting from India and this is one of the best memories we will preserve of any of our numerous trips to the U.S. None of us expected anything so beautiful and pristine in surroundings that would any human wish to paint. We only wish we could have stayed more than we have coz its been a weekend that all of us will cherish for many years to come. Thanks for opening your beautiful home to us and making our short family holiday to Yosemite a memorable one.
P Family India and Irvine CA.
April 29-May 6, 2007
This week has been one of my most memorable weeks of my life. My husband and I stayed here for our fifth wedding anniversary. We experienced warm weather, cold weather, rain and snow…beautiful sunrises and starry nights. The moon rises were beautiful too, especially when it crested over the north mountain range. The house is wonderful and has so many luxuries and necessities that a person would / could ever need for a fun filled relaxing vacation away from home at any time of year or season. My husband and I want to thank you D & S for opening your mountain home to folks like us to experience the true beauty this great area has to offer. Much Enjoyed!
D & A S San Jose, CA
4/28/07
Dear D & S,
We’d like to thank you for such a lovely stay, this is truly a “home away from home.” It is such a lovely and beautiful place. We had a very memorable stay and hopefully will be able to return in the future. Thank you!
– N H, etc
Dear S & D
We enjoyed our weekend immensely. We love your home on the hill and nestled among the trees! We will return! We did take great care of your home and you actually have a lot of the same taste we have! Thanks again,
- The S Family
Dear D & S,
What a beautiful home – very comfortable and well equipped. Perhaps a few more saucepans to facilitate cooking for 10! The weather wasn’t the best so we couldn’t do the sugar-pine railway which was disappointing for the kids – however it gives us an excuse to come back again sometime! Thanks a million
– S B, CA
April 16
We enjoyed our stay in your lovely home. The weather treated us to winter snow and summer sun. We hope to come back soon. Thanks!
- The L Family
We enjoyed our Easter weekend getaway very much in your lovely mountain home. What a beautiful, peaceful view! We visited the Mariposa Grove and Yosemite Valley as well as Bass Lake. It’s a big difference from Orange County!
The W Family, Newport Beach, CA
April 6, 2007
We’ve had a wonderful vacation. Thanks for opening your home to us. The views are fabulous and the house was great. Yosemite was beautiful. We recommend if you want to get away from the crowds, the hike to Wapama Falls off Hetch Hetchy road was great! Thanks!
The S Family (Michigan)
1 March 2007
I know that everyone who reads these is looking at “driveway tales.” We weren’t excluded either. By the time it was all over it was 1-2. By the afternoon today we’re hopefully 4-0. Fabulous home, views snow and overall ambiance. Driving in through Yosemite was the best – gorgeous & no cars. Hiking to Mariposa Grove through the snow tomorrow hopefully! Great Place!!!
- “The Quilters” LWW2007
P.S. Sunday packing up but really had a great time!!! Hike to Mariposa Grove was full of snow strenuous and loads of fun. Wish we had snow shoes to forge ahead thru the grove. Again, love the home, amenities and surroundings. The icy driveway truly sucked – but it worked out, after 2 groups had to huff their gear coolers, etc up by hand. 4WD IS A MUST!!! Would love to come & enjoy this in the Fall. Peace
2/16-18
President’s Day Weekend! Had a great time! We enjoyed the incredible views and comfort of the home! Thank goodness we did not have ice! I’m in good shape but so glad we did not have to walk up the driveway! The weather was beautiful & sunny on Sat. The kids tried snowboarding at Badger Pass. J and I had a great snow shoe hike & the little ones just enjoyed the snow & sun! Sunday we had rain but not enough to keep us from some small hikes in the Park. I had not been to Yosemite since my teens and never with snow. We were all happy and impressed!! Enjoyed the hot tub & the stars! Look to come back maybe in the spring. Thank you,
- T, J & S S...
1-15-07
Dear D & S,
Thank you for opening your beautiful home to us. We will have so many great memories that we will not soon forget. The gorgeous views, great meals & the satisfaction of making it up that drive way with all of our silly luggage have made this one of my favorite birthdays yet. Thank you for providing a space for my favorite people to be together and have a great time.
Sincerely, E T
Happy New Years,
We had a very exciting trip up here because when we were on the driveway the car slipped on the ice and then when we backed up because one of the front tires was stuck in the snow on the side of the road, so we backed up but the car slipped and it turned sideways. So we had to get out and walk to the house witch wasn’t to far away but we only had the clothes we were wearing in the car so it was really cold. My mom and dad went to the car and we got most of the stuff out so we are pretty comfortable. Right now we are watching a movie and eating cornbread and drinking hot chocolate. It has been an eventful day and we hope to go skiing while we are up here. I also am excited about playing in the snow because I rarely get to see it because I live in Pasadena.
Sincerely, E G
P.S. I love this house it is really cool!
Jan 1, 2007
Happy New Year!! What a great way to bring in the new year. We got here on Saturday and played in the snow around the house. On Sunday we took the kids to the Snow Park down the road. Had a ball! We watched the ball drop in Times Square and called it a day. Thanks for sharing your gorgeous home with us. We will be back soon hopefully.
Sincerely, R & S A and girls A, B, S and J Merced, CA
Dec 30, 2006
D & S
My family and I had such a great time over the past 3 days. We love all of the snow, and trekking our stuff up in the sleds has been way more of a memorable adventure than an inconvenience. We had a great time sledding, making snowmen, hiking, playing cards and eating lots of Christmas cookies. I am definitely planning on coming here again, if not with my extended family, then with my immediate family. The kids do not want to leave. Thanks again for the amazing stay
Sincerely, the L Family
Dear M Family,
We had a fantastic time and the house is awesome! We enjoyed the breathtaking views, the tasteful and thoughtful furnishings, the wonderful hot tub, the majestic landscape… In short – we enjoyed every second! Thank you for the warm welcome and all the thoughtful little details! We sure will come back! Our boys enjoyed the steam engine and all the little allusions to it throughout the house and of course – the snow-plow in the garage! We had a fantastic weekend here and to make the day perfect it even started to snow! Thank you again for sharing this beautiful house with us!
All the best,
M, L, J and A K, Menlo Park, CA & J, Germany