Friday, May 23, 2014

Yosemite National Park

After the 3rd try in 3 years we finally made it to Yosemite National Park, camping just 5 miles outside the west entrance.  We spent 4 days touring and hiking the park and had a ball.  The park is spectacular from all sides, except when we tried to tour the last portion the road to the north entrance was closed because of 18" of new snow, and here we are in shorts and T shirts!

One day we drove to the Arch Rock Entrance just so we could drive through the arch.


Bridalveil fall taken from tunnel view area of the park.  We stood in the mist at the bottom of the falls for more pictures.


Bridalveil fall from near the bottom.


These next two pictures are out of order so skip down and take a look at the size of  El Capitan then come back and see if you can find the white tent half way up the side with two people standing next to it on a ledge.  You can click to enlarge any of these pictures.


People come from all over the world to try and climb El Capitan.  Not sure I would want to try it on a day with the clouds covering the top.  Oh, heck I guess I would never want to try and climb it.


Just one of the views from the end of glacier point road where you can look down at some of the major areas of the park.


Two more out of sequence, so take a look at Half Dome picture and then come back to this one and if you look real close at the next picture of the very top of Half Dome you can see about 20 people who have made it to the top.


Half Dome from Glacier Point.


Just 6 miles inside the park from the southern Mariposa Grove entrance is one of three groves in the park of giant sequoia trees.  We took a 45 minute tram tour through the grove and it was spectacular.


What can we say about these two huge trees.


Now you can get a better idea of the size with Jackie walking through another.


This shot is also from Glacier point view showing Nevada fall (upper) and Vernal fall (lower).


Another view of Nevada and Vernal falls.


Another day we hiked near to the base of Vernal  fall.  Short hike of about a mile but it was straight up and really tested our hiking abilities!


It's been a while since our last Blog so we wanted to share a recent picture of us to let you know we are still alive and well and still on the road touring our great Country.  This taken from Tunnel View area of the park.


Upper and lower Yosemite falls.  We did hike to the base of the lower fall but opted out of the hike to the top of the upper.


The last day into the park there was snow at various areas so Dick found some waiting to melt on the inside of this plant.  I think it's skunk cabbage.



To be continued...  it may take awhile but hope to post more of our travels soon.