Hiking, Exploring & Travel

Personal adventures in hiking and exploring various countries, cities and geographical areas.

El Capitan’s Nose – Year of Yosemite (YOY) – Day 210

Jeff

El Capitan's Nose

El Capitan – East Face and Nosew

The final picture of El Capitan for this series is a decent photograph taken in the meadow as we approached the mountain. This is an improvement over my other shots of that side of the mountain because there is a bit of the foreground which helps give perspective to El Capitan and the trees also enable the viewer to appreciate the size of this Yosemite feature.

BTW – Did you know that El Capitan has a nose? It is the vertical ridge running from the bottom left to the upper right partially shown in the above image. You can see it highlighted with more detail HERE.

 
Do you have a question about our visit to Yosemite? Ask it in the comment section.

 

JBRish.com originally published this post
*All photographs Copyright by Jeffrey B. Ross with all rights reserved.

 
See previous Year of Yosemite (YOY) posts HERE. If you want to read the introduction to the YOY series, CLICK HERE.

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Meta Data – Day 210 YOY – Year of Yosemite

File Name: 0306.NEF
Capture time: 11:19:33 AM
Capture date: June 8, 2016
Exposure: 1/200 sec @ f/14
Focal Length: 20mm
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Nikon D3300

 

El Capitan: A Better View – Year of Yosemite (YOY) – Day 209

Jeff

El Capitan's West Face

El Capitan – West Face – Better View

This picture was taken very near the same spot where YOY Day 208’s shot was captured. I moved a bit to the west, decreased the zoom on my bridge camera and moved closer to the prevailing trees so they would frame El Capitan and lead the viewer’s eye to the main attraction.

This was getting close to the golden hour and the wispy clouds add a bit of personality to the photograph.

 
Do you have a question about our visit to Yosemite? Ask it in the comment section.

 

JBRish.com originally published this post
*All photographs Copyright by Jeffrey B. Ross with all rights reserved.

 
See previous Year of Yosemite (YOY) posts HERE. If you want to read the introduction to the YOY series, CLICK HERE.

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Meta Data – Day 209 YOY – Year of Yosemite

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Capture time: 6:25:03 PM
Capture date: June 7, 2016
Exposure: 1/125 sec @ f/5.6
Focal Length: 4.3mm
ISO 100
Canon PowerShot SX50 HS

 

El Capitan From the West Side – Year of Yosemite (YOY) – Day 208

Jeff

El Capitan’s West Face


As this picture clearly shows, it isn’t just the subject matter that helps to make a great photograph. The skill is in the eyes and vision of the photographer. In the picture above, a view of the more popular west face of El Capitan, the large monolith looks much like any other mountain one may encounter and not really anything special.

There are a couple of reasons why this might be the case. The trees cover the bottom of the mountain and reduce the viewer’s ability to appreciate the full height and “heft” of El Capitan. Including more foreground was not appropriate because there was much detritus on the ground. While this is better than the photograph of YOY Day 207 as far as being picturesque, it still is not an excellent picture. The color of the light was good, but a different angle and point of view is required to raise the beauty factor.

 
Do you have a question about our visit to Yosemite? Ask it in the comment section.

 

JBRish.com originally published this post
*All photographs Copyright by Jeffrey B. Ross with all rights reserved.

 
See previous Year of Yosemite (YOY) posts HERE. If you want to read the introduction to the YOY series, CLICK HERE.

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No Meta Data – Day 208 YOY – Year of Yosemite

File Name: 0274.NEF
Capture time: 6:40:05 PM
Capture date: June 7, 2016
Exposure: 1/15 sec @ f/16
Focal Length: 27mm
ISO 100
Nikon D3300

 

El Capitan From the East Side – Year of Yosemite (YOY) – Day 207

Jeff

El Capitan’s East Face


Many of us probably prefer to be photographed from one side as opposed to the other. We might even prefer a particular angle of the camera. I know that I have a good side and a side that is okay, but not as photogenic as the other.

El Capitan too has a more photogenic side and the picture above is not it. This is the less photographed (IMHO) east side. From this angle and relationship to the surroundings, it is easy to note that this is a large, massive mountain, but it is not as glorious as it appears in other photographs. It is still impressive, just not as impressive!

 
Do you have a question about our visit to Yosemite? Ask it in the comment section.

 

JBRish.com originally published this post
*All photographs Copyright by Jeffrey B. Ross with all rights reserved.

 
See previous Year of Yosemite (YOY) posts HERE. If you want to read the introduction to the YOY series, CLICK HERE.

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No Meta Data – Day 207 YOY – Year of Yosemite

File Name: 0355.CR2
Capture time: 10:48:04 AM
Capture date: June 8, 2016
Exposure: 1/320 sec @ f/8
Focal Length: 5.43mm
ISO 125
Canon PowerShot SX50 HS

 

El Capitan A Yosemite Star – Year of Yosemite (YOY) – Day 206

Jeff

l Capitan Webcam
El Capitan Webcam at Turtleback


Once again I am bending the YOY rules a bit since this is not a photograph that I took, but I am going to use it to set up my next series of posts. It is of interest to me that some people admire El Capitan so much that they have increased its celebrity by having a webcam trained on it for “real time” viewing.

The photo above was provided by a webcam funded through the Yosemite Conservancy. As you will note, El Capitan isn’t the sole star in this picture even though it does get the close up positiion. Half Dome is looming off to the right and therefore hogs a bit of the spotlight; literally and figuratively.

The photograph is of El Capitan from the Turtleback Dome (taken on January 13, 2017).

 
Do you have a question about our visit to Yosemite? Ask it in the comment section.

 

JBRish.com originally published this post
*All photographs Copyright by Jeffrey B. Ross with all rights reserved.

 
See previous Year of Yosemite (YOY) posts HERE. If you want to read the introduction to the YOY series, CLICK HERE.

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No Meta Data – Day 205 YOY – Year of Yosemite

 

Another Spire from the Valley Floor – Year of Yosemite (YOY) – Day 205

Jeff

Valley spire

Another photo of a spire seen from the valley floor


As we were hiking along looking in every direction as well as up and down, scenes like that above appeared over and over again. These natural wonders were so impressive that I found myself with the camera pressed to my nose a good amount of the time. I did take time to look directly at the scenes and soak them in, but there was a compulsion to photograph it all.

As you can see, we were walking between and over logs along the way. This wasn’t a well-groomed path, but a natural hiking trail. I wish I could relay directly the feeling I had while hiking in this valley. It was wild, natural and serene. This was not an “unusual” scene as these panoramas unfolded in front of us on many occasions!

 
Do you have a question about our visit to Yosemite? Ask it in the comment section.

 

JBRish.com originally published this post
*All photographs Copyright by Jeffrey B. Ross with all rights reserved.

 
See previous Year of Yosemite (YOY) posts HERE. If you want to read the introduction to the YOY series, CLICK HERE.

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Meta Data – Day 205 YOY – Year of Yosemite

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Capture time: 10:33:32 AM
Capture date: June 8, 2016
Exposure: 1/80 sec @ f/10
Focal Length: 18mm
ISO 100
Nikon D3300

 

The Cathedral Rocks, Spires, etc. – Year of Yosemite (YOY) – Day 204

Jeff

Higher Cathedral rock

A view of one of the Cathedral Rocks

There are so many rocks, mountains and spires with the name Cathedral in front of them that it becomes quite confusing. I believe the picture above is of Higher Cathedral Rock, but I can’t be definitive; sorry.

Let me just say that while hiking along the meadows provided by the path laid out as part of the Valley Loop trail, there are many such peaks and spires to impress visitors. These natural megaliths stare down at hikers trekking the valley floor.

 
Do you have a question about our visit to Yosemite? Ask it in the comment section.

 

JBRish.com originally published this post
*All photographs Copyright by Jeffrey B. Ross with all rights reserved.

 
See previous Year of Yosemite (YOY) posts HERE. If you want to read the introduction to the YOY series, CLICK HERE.

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Meta Data – Day 204 YOY – Year of Yosemite

File Name: 0289.NEF
Capture time: 9:31:40 AM
Capture date: June 8, 2016
Exposure: 1/80 sec @ f/13
Focal Length: 22mm
ISO 100
Nikon D3300

 

El Capitan Meadow – Year of Yosemite (YOY) – Day 203

Jeff

Meadows near El Capitan

A view capured from the El Capitan Meadow

We decided to hike the entire Valley Loop Trail which takes adventurers near a number of the major attractions in the valley including El Capitan. The photograph above is a view from El Capitan meadow looking back toward Half Dome. As you can tell, the view was stunning. The sky was dramatic and the valley was oh so green. You can see Half Dome peeking into the valley near the middle-right of the photograph.

There were people in the area with blankets and binoculars watching climbers who were making their way up the large mountain. We were told by a tour bus driver that at night, there are a number of lights on the side of the mountain because climbers use them to read as they hang off of the mountain waiting for sleep and the subsequent sunrise.

NOTE – Hiking El Capitan can take a number of days. Supplies must be hauled along as hikers complete the trek.

 
Do you have a question about our visit to Yosemite? Ask it in the comment section.

 

JBRish.com originally published this post
*All photographs Copyright by Jeffrey B. Ross with all rights reserved.

 
See previous Year of Yosemite (YOY) posts HERE. If you want to read the introduction to the YOY series, CLICK HERE.

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Meta Data – Day 203 YOY – Year of Yosemite

File Name: 0291.NEF
Capture time: 10:01:40 AM
Capture date: June 8, 2016
Exposure: 1/60 sec @ f/25
Focal Length: 20mm
ISO 100
Nikon D3300

 

The Beauty of Tuolumne Meadows – Year of Yosemite (YOY) – Day 202

Jeff

Tuolumne Meadows

Tuolumne Meadows viewed from near the Sentinel Dome Trail head

We have described Sentinel Dome and the hike to the top and we have also shown photographs of Cathedral Peak which can be seen in the distance (near the middle) of this photograph. I would like to point out that Tuolumne Meadows is beautiful in its own right. Look at the lush expanse of green grass and trees which leads up to the meandering Tuolumne River.

The photo was taken as we were heading to the car after a long day’s hiking and only moments before, a Yellow-bellied marmot went scrambling across the field. I believe that during the warmer weather the field would have abundant wildflowers.

 
Do you have a question about our visit to Yosemite? Ask it in the comment section.

 

JBRish.com originally published this post
*All photographs Copyright by Jeffrey B. Ross with all rights reserved.

 
See previous Year of Yosemite (YOY) posts HERE. If you want to read the introduction to the YOY series, CLICK HERE.

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Meta Data – Day 202 YOY – Year of Yosemite

File Name: 0249.NEF
Capture time: 4:43:52 PM
Capture date: June 7, 2016
Exposure: 1/100 sec @ f/16
Focal Length: 27mm
ISO 100
Nikon D3300

 

Dog Lake- Year of Yosemite (YOY) – Day 201

Jeff

A view from the shore of Dog Lakee

Dog Lake is near Sentinel Dome

If you are hiking near Sentinel Dome or in and around Tuolumne Meadows, the hike to Dog Lake may be of interest. It is actually a side trail off of the main trail to Sentinel Dome. It is not too far from that junction and may provide an extension to a day of hiking.

When we visited, the water was very cold and the shore was muddy because of the recent snow and rains. In drier weather, it would be easier to explore more of the shore line. We were getting to the end of our hiking day and we just stopped for a few pictures and to assess the lake.

 
Do you have a question about our visit to Yosemite? Ask it in the comment section.

 

JBRish.com originally published this post
*All photographs Copyright by Jeffrey B. Ross with all rights reserved.

 
See previous Year of Yosemite (YOY) posts HERE. If you want to read the introduction to the YOY series, CLICK HERE.

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Meta Data – Day 201 YOY – Year of Yosemite

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Capture time: 3:05:40 PM
Capture date: June 7, 2016
Exposure: 1/160 sec @ f/13
Focal Length: 21mm
Nikon D3300