Yosemite Day trip

[John Case]

I took a short trip with friends to Yosemite Valley (this may be the only palmless thread in the travelogue) but there are still some tremdous sights.

Entrance to the Park...the gate is still more than 20 miles away

The Entrance Gate through Tioga Pass road..

Family photo (Mule deer)

Galcie Point from the valley. You can still see the stains from the firefall events ended many years ago

[John Case]

Quoth the raven, nevermore

North Dome from the Valley Floor. The hike to the top of this dome is one of the toughest from the valley.

Half Dome with the morning sunlight streaking over the top

Pointless sign....see the next photo

[John Case]

One foot of water into a gravel bed.......only a 20 foot drop

Eagle Peak on the North face of the vallet

Upper Yosemite falls. Above this are a set of pool holding pure clear water....I just told a lie....many people bathe in the pools

Lower Yosemite Falls

[John Case]

Placard describing seasonality of the falls

Rock split by water freezing and thawing

Last shot of the falls

If they speed, why let them drive?

[John Case]

El Capitan - there are 15 people on the face of this rock....makes Where's Waldo seem pretty easy

Shot of the face

Climber on the face - mag 1200x

Interesting formation on the way to Bridalveil Falls

[John Case]

Fall colors beginning

Typical trail

This fern is endemic here...I do not know its name

[John Case]

More fall color

Check the tree in the face of the rock

Bridalveil falls

[John Case]

Bridalveil Creek at the bottom of the fall

My backyard hardscape.....not!

The raging Merced River

USGS marker I found in the middle of nowhere

[John Case]

Flowering dogwood.....how can you tell if it is a dogwood?.......................by its bark.

El Capitan - ansel Adams, eat your heart out

Our fearless leader filled with fear.......caught in a thunderstorm that ended the trip....

2 inched of water in this chair.....in 1 hour....the rain went non-stop for 4 hours and we bailed......on the trip, that is.

[joe_OC]

Great pics! By far one of my favorite places in CA. Used to go twice a year before kids. Favorite time is winter, when it is not as crowded. Not fun when it is raining there. Looks like you still had a great time.

[paulgila]

great pix,john.

i think yer right about it being the only palmless thread,even my north dakota thread had 1 palm in it

[MattyB]

John, am I going to have to ban "Chair Rain Gauges" too?!!!!! Yes.

So what did you mean by firefall events staining the rocks?

[kelleyslawn]

well i love the place i would love to see in summer but i cant get the time off with my work so i only vacation in winter but someday i will see in summer well nice pics looks like my luck with wether.

[John Case]

John, am I going to have to ban "Chair Rain Gauges" too?!!!!! Yes.

So what did you mean by firefall events staining the rocks?

When I was a boy (in the 1950's) the ranger programs were a ton of fun and show. We didn't have anything but low tech and we made the most of it. At the end of the program, the ranger yelled, 'Are you ready for the fire fall?' Everyone yelled YES.

At the top of Glacier Point, a large fire had been lit and when they heard YES, they used a bulldozer to push the fire over the falls. At the same time, the ranger yelled, 'Let the fire fall!'!

Big doings for the times. A real show.

Also, the dump for the valley was just about 1/4 mile from the campgrounds.

EVeryone would go to watch the bears, who stayed full bellied and pretty tame, unlike today.

[John Case]

well i love the place i would love to see in summer but i cant get the time off with my work so i only vacation in winter but someday i will see in summer well nice pics looks like my luck with wether.

Yosemite in winter is mystical.....a few years back,...well many years back, I watched the full moon rise directly over Half Dome, the valley was lit so bright you could read a book at midnight just by the reflection of the light off the snow.

[BS Man about Palms]

Upper Yosemite falls. Above this are a set of pool holding pure clear water....I just told a lie....many people bathe in the pools

Been there, skinny dipped that.

I must say, one of the most spectacular parks in the nation!