Yosemite

June 2
Ah, Yosemite. As we wound our way up and over Hwy 120, we dropped into view of waterfalls cascading over the granite walls, we all exclaimed in oohs and aughs at the same moment! We saw at least three water falls within seconds and still hadn’t entered the valley floor. With near record snowfalls and being the first of June, Yosemite Falls and Bridalveil Falls are thundering over the high granite walls in amazing beauty. The meadows on the valley floor are a brilliant green along with the new maple tree leaves. Dogwood is in bloom everywhere and to top it off the sky is broken up with white clouds! We loved the red rock and desert but coming into the tall pines and firs with the lush meadows and water running everywhere felt really good. We couldn’t get set up and have lunch quick enough before getting on the road. We took the loop hike to the Lower Falls and the view of Yosemite Falls. We could hear the roar of the falls as we walked toward them. I think I saw that roughly 2,500 gallons are pounding over Yosemite Falls each second. That’s like 2,500 basketballs shooting over the falls each and every second with a thundering force. With my eyes and ears taking it all in, it was quite an experience. Of course there are people everywhere to share the experience with me and cameras going off continually. No private time here! My camera doesn’t do the falls justice but it will be a reminder of the beauty and nature’s power. The river which was down to a trickle in October was now roaring over the rocks. We had only seen a trickle of water on the falls in October and that was only because it had rained the day before. Otherwise it would have been totally dry. These full falls and the green valley are what we returned to see and we weren’t disappointed! As we got out of our car at Bridalveil Falls, we noticed that some of the people were totally wet with the lucky ones wearing their rain jackets. We could hear the roar of the water load and clear. As we started up the walkway we heard such a loud noise. Later we figured it must have been rocks tumbling downstream and then cascading over the cliff or rocks falling off the cliff side. Thank goodness the pathway is paved because it was covered over by a stream of water. Christy’s new boots kept her feet nice and dry while mine were soaking wet. We were all glad to have our rain jackets! The spray bouncing off the rocks as the water hit the cliffs and then the pool at the bottom sent a spray that was like rain as we came closer to the view point. We not only heard and saw the gorgeous falls, we felt it. We drove up to Tunnel View where the valley is before you with Bridalveil Falls and Half Dome. What a sight that is. Knowing there are thousands of tourists like us in the valley, it looks like total wildness from the viewpoint where only wildlife would be wandering the valley floor.



Yosemite Falls




Lower Yosemite Falls




Getting soaked at Bridalveil Falls




Yosemite Valley




El Capitan

 June 3
We weren’t as lucky with the weather today and woke up to a cloud cover that never broke all day. I’m so glad we had our beautiful views yesterday with the sun shining. We wanted to repeat our walk up to Mirror Lake that we did in October. The lake was only a small pond and the river a small stream then. In June it was easier to picture the lake back in the late 1800’s being dammed up allowing tourists to paddle about in row boats. It was a beautiful walk in October but more so now. The river is raging over the rocks as it makes it way to the Merced River. Standing by the lake we looked up for a different view of Half Dome and on up the granite mountains toward Tioga Pass. After lunch we drove up to Glacier Point for the fabulous panorama view of Nevada Falls and Vernal Falls, Half Dome, and Yosemite Falls. We could hear the falls miles away across the valley! What a sight even though the gray skies didn’t make for good photos. We were up over 7,000 feet and there is still a lot of snow up that high. Because of the snow, the road only opened a week ago.
After dinner we went up to the theater at the Visitor Center to see a film called “Return to Balance: A Climber’s Journey’ with Ron Kauk, the climber, giving a live introduction and discussion after the film. The film is a work of art taking the viewer through the seasons of Yosemite highlighted with Ron Kauk rock climbing. He is master starting rock climbing back when he was 13. He made it look like a beautiful ballet. He related it to yoga. He brought in his deep connection with nature and Yosemite. It was a beautiful and moving film. We also made it over to Yosemite lodge to see the film Ansel Adams. In 1997 when this film was made he was looking back at the development of his career and the growth of photography being accepted in the art world. He went all the way back to his childhood as he reminisced. He sure had a twinkle in his eyes. He must have been quite a character. Norm had clued us in on the films and they were both terrific.



On Hike to Mirror Lake




Reflection Near Mirror Lake




Snow Near Glacier Point



Squirrel at Glacier Point

 June 4
Rain was expected today and by breakfast time it was here. We are nice and cozy as we look out into the campground but most of the campers are in tents! You can’t even have a fire in Yosemite until 5:00 in the afternoon. Tent camping in the rain just doesn’t look like fun. We decided to take the hour plus drive up to the Hetch Hetchy Reservoir which is fed by Tuolumne River. Christy has fond memories of their family’s first backpacking trip up there. They hiked along the lake and then up to the head waters of Rancheria Falls. With Bryan at only two or three years old and Doug at six or seven, they made the seven mile hike with over thirty pounds on their backs. They took everything they needed for seven days and had the time of their lives. It was such a success that they made backpacking their family vacation for years and years. When the kids were little they even made it on the cover of a backpacking magazine! It might have been this trip. The area is beautiful but the clouds and sprinkles didn’t make for the best first impression. It was quite the controversy back in 1913 when Congress authorized the dam to be built within the park in such a gorgeous valley. John Muir and others wanted the valley to remain untouched. Now there is a movement to return the valley to its natural state. After the San Francisco earthquake in 1906, the city was looking for a dependable water source and decided to push for the dam on the Tuolumne River. It was completed in 1923 and now supplies the San Francisco Bay area with its drinking water. Electricity is also generated.
I had made reservations for dinner at the Ahwahnee Hotel as a surprise and thank you to Norm and Chris for graciously taking me along on another dream adventure. What a beautiful dining room. We sat at the very table where Queen Elizabeth had sat on her last visit. It had an incredible view of Yosemite Falls! We have had an incredible journey and are still laughing and talking to each other after more than 4 amazing months on the road. Tomorrow we head north with a stop in Chico for a quick visit with Jake and one more stop at Collier Memorial State Park to check out the campground we picked for our family reunion in July. The next day we will be home! We are excited about getting back to our home bases and reconnecting with family and friends. My garden is waiting for some tender loving care. Norm and Chris are ready to get back to eBay.



Water Shooting Out of Hetch Hetchy Dam




Lunch By the Fire at a Lodge Near Hetch Hetchy




Dinner at Ahwahnee Hotel!




Saying Goodbye to Yosemite

 June 5
We met Jake and he introduced us to his friend Beth. Sitting outside for a Mexican dinner downtown was delightful. It was wonderful to meet Beth and get to know her a little bit.