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| Half Dome above the Merced River |
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| Snow in the mountains |
There was snow on the side of the road as we climbed over
the mountain range that isolates Yosemite Valley from the world to the west. Left over from a very productive, snowy winter,
snow marked the mountain sides and ridges at elevation all around us. After we descended into Yosemite Valley, one
of the first landmarks we saw was Bridalveil Falls, gushing great quantities of
snow melt water over the 600+ foot cliff.
An old Yosemite hand who we met at the falls said that this is the best you
would ever see the falls. When we walked
closer to the base of the falls, the mist made us wet. So spectacular.
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| Bridalveil Falls |
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| Bridalveil Falls |
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| Wet from the falls |
Spectacular is an easy word to use to describe Yosemite
Valley. Sheer granite cliffs rising
straight up from the valley floor. The
massive granite block that is El Capitan.
Partially rounded Half Dome with a sheer face on one side. Two tiered Yosemite Falls sending comets of
water over the edge. The Merced River gently
gurgling through the center of the valley floor. So many beautiful, spectacular, transcendent
sights, and so few words to describe them.
Another person we spoke with said, don’t even try, just leave the
describing to John Muir, the naturalist/conservationist who persuaded Teddy
Roosevelt to make Yosemite a National Park.
So, we decided to let our photos speak for themselves.
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| Our first view of Half Dome and El Capitan from the road into the park |
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| Rugged peaks |
Over the course of two days, we took several hikes. The brief hikes to Bridalveil Falls and the
Lower Yosemite Falls were paved and well marked, and very busy with other
visitors. The Valley Loop Trail was
much less traveled and much less marked.
We had thought to walk from Yosemite Falls to the Yosemite Village (Visitors
Center, Post Office), and passed above the Village on the hillside ending up two
miles further down the road at the gorgeous Majestic Yosemite Hotel (formerly
the Ahwahnee). It didn’t really matter,
the peace of being out in nature and the gorgeous views were worth the
walk. As if on schedule, we came to a
picnic area at 12noon, and settled down for a rest and a meal before completing
our hike.
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| And there's El Capitan... |
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| Granite scoured smooth by glaciers |
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| This talus of rock is called Lost Arrow from an Indian legend. |
Here are a few observations from our two days in Yosemite
Valley… We had seen many photos and
videos about Yosemite, as likely have you.
It is so unusual and gorgeous that it attracts all kinds of
photographers, including the great Ansel Adams.
Yet, we did not realize how small Yosemite Valley actually is. It is only 7 miles long, and averages about 3/4
of a mile across. You come out of the Bridalveil Falls parking lot and El
Capitan is RIGHT THERE.
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| Upper Yosemite Falls |
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| Lower Yosemite Falls |
Much of the park high country was closed to us because key
roads would not open until May due to snow.
We didn’t get to see the Tioga Road and the road to Glacier Point. In a way, this allowed us to spend two days
focused on the Valley. The road to the
Mariposa Grove of Giant Sequoias opened on April 12, so we decided to stay
another day in the area and travel there on April 14.
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| Another view of Half Dome |
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| Half Dome topped with snow |
The park is CROWD-ED with climbers and hikers and
families. You are encouraged to park
where you can find a spot, and take shuttle buses around to get from place to
place. The shuttles are scheduled to run
every 30 minutes, but we found them to run late and to be so overcrowded that
people who had been waiting for the bus could not get on. Imagine what it is like in the summer…
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| The Yosemite Majestic Hotel |
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| The Yosemite Majestic |
Yosemite Valley is a once in a life-time experience. It is a wonder of the natural world. It is full of the contrasts between fluttering
Stellers Jays and massive stone walls rising 3,000 feet in the air. It is about vistas that each seems more
glorious than the last. We took over 150
photos, and these are our favorites.
Hope you enjoy them.
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| Stellers Jay |
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| Mount Starr King (9,092 feet) |
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| Happy Half Dome Admirers |
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