Hiking, Exploring & Travel

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

Year of Yosemite (YOY) – Day 58 (The Spires & El Capitan with Sun Setting)

Jeff

El Capitan, the Valley Spires and Peaks 

A view of El Capitan, the Spires and Peaks as the Valley Opens Before Us

The light was not the best for taking a photograph as we were hiking along the Four Mile Trail in a westerly direction with the sun beginning to set. I felt compelled to try to capture the stunning view of Yosemite Valley with El Capitan on the right and the Spires and Peaks on the left. The Valley was open before us and we could see the Merced River and the meadows. It was beautiful and inspiring. We stopped often to inhale the scene before us.

 
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 58 YOY – Year of Yosemite

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Capture time: 4:16:20 PM
Capture date: June 6, 2016
Exposure: 1/80 sec @ f/14
Focal Length: 18mm
ISO 100
Nikon D3300

Year of Yosemite (YOY) – Day 54 (Vernal Falls)

Jeff

Vernal Falls 

Vernal Falls

The day was overcast and less sunny than previous outings, but still beautiful!

 
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 54 YOY – Year of Yosemite

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Capture time: 11:49:02 AM
Capture date: June 10, 2016
Exposure: 1/160 sec @ f/6.3
Focal Length: 42mm
ISO 100
Canon SX50 HS

Year of Yosemite (YOY) – Day 53 (Purple Wildflower)

Jeff

Brodiaea elegans - purple wildflowerBrodiaea elegans a beautiful purple wildflower

While hiking at Hetch Hetchy along the Wapama Falls Trail we saw a number of pretty wildflower. These purple Brodiaea elegans blooms against the backdrop of the brown hay-like growth created a lovely scene (IMHO).

 
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 53 YOY – Year of Yosemite

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Capture date: June 11, 2016
Exposure: 1/200 sec @ f/5.6
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Canon SX50 HS

Year of Yosemite (YOY) – Day 52 (Taft Point Trail Ski Markers)

Jeff

NOTE: Two pictures are posted today because they are related to the “story” below. These will only count as one of the YOY picture posts, i.e. Day 52. There will be no YOY post tomorrow, but will resume on 8/15/16 (+/-).

Ski trail marker mounted high on a tree 

Two trail markers mounted high on a tree along the Taft Point Trail

While hiking along the Taft Point Trail, it was unusual (at least for me) to look up and see what was mounted on the tree above. Did you notice them? I must confess that I am just speaking from conjecture here, but I interpret these as being ski trail markers. The blue sign (see below) definitely has a skier on it.

I am also going out on a limb (pun alert) by suggesting that the yellow marker (see below) is also a trail marker of sorts and is intended to stick out from the tree as it appears that there is a mounting flap that is broken which would be able to hold the sign horizontally so it can be seen from a distance.

If any readers know for sure, please confirm via a comment below. If my assumptions are incorrect, please help me clarify for JBRish readers.

Close up of ski trail marker mounted high on a tree 

Two trail markers mounted high on a tree along the Taft Point Trail


The snow must get awfully high to have these trail markers elevated so or perhaps they do this to prevent vandalism, etc.!

 
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 – No Metadata today as these are just simple jpeg snapshots to report

Photography – Grand Teton National Park, Cascade Canyon (B&W)

Jeff


As most of JBRish readers know, I am an amateur photographer. I have explained my photography philosophy on my blog before, but let it suffice to say that I am an “opportunistic” photographer. I do not wait for a scene to unfold, but I capture those scenes before me that resonate in some way.

As an enthusiastic hobbyist, I am trying to learn to use Adboe’s Lightroom and some associated ad ons. I have only begun this journey so if you find that my submissions via this website are lacking, kindly understand that I am learning along the way.

Below is a picture of some of the mountains we encountered while hiking the Grand Teton National Park’s Cascade Trail. The day was overcast with very little color, but when converted to black and white, I think the picture has a special quality. What do you think? Leave any suggestions, remarks, etc. in the comment section below.


Grand Teton National Park, Cascade Canyon Trail
“Black and white rendition of a portion the Grand Teton National Park’s Cascade Trail”

Meta Data – Grand Teton National Park, Cascade Canyon (B&W)

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Capture time: 11:10:13 AM
Capture date: August 24, 2014
Exposure: 1/400 sec @ f/7.1
Focal Length: 16mm
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See more of Jeff’s photography on Instagram

Other photography posts can be found HERE as well!

Year of Yosemite (YOY) – Day 51 (Lembert Dome)

Jeff

Lembert Dome from parking area 

Lembert Dome as viewed from one of the parking areas

I have posted pictures from Lembert Dome prior to this, but I thought it would be a good idea to show the entire dome. I will post more pictures of the trail and some scenery as we ascended to the very top in the future. This image was captured near one of the parking areas.

NOTE: Lembert Dome elevation is 9,449′

 
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 51 YOY – Year of Yosemite

File Name: 0250.NEF
Capture time: 4:54:14 PM
Capture date: June 7, 2016
Exposure: 1/80 sec @ f/16
Focal Length: 18mm
ISO 100
Nikon D3300

Year of Yosemite (YOY) – Day 50 (El Cap and Half Dome from Tunnel View)

Jeff

El Capitan and Half Dome as seen from Tunnel View 

A Warm glow was settling over El Capitan and Half Dome as seen from Tunnel View.

We had stopped at Tunnel View prior to this, but the light was more inviting as we cam upon this scene at this time of day and we were compelled to stop once again. El Capitan can be seen in the upper left with Half Dome close to dead-center. It is awesome to see both major icons of Yosemite in this orientation.

 
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 50 YOY – Year of Yosemite

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Capture time: 6:07:56 PM
Capture date: June 7, 2016
Exposure: 1/200 sec @ f/8
Focal Length: 31.27mm
ISO 100
Canon SX50 HS

Year of Yosemite (YOY) – Day 49 (Morning at Yosemite Falls)

Jeff

Morning at Yosemite Falls 

We started this day by walking to Lower Yosemite Falls

How wonderful is this? We started our day by walking to Lower Yosemite Falls to view this spectacular show of force and beauty. At our room nearby, we were able to hear the falls all day long. At night it lulled us to sleep!

“Yosemite Falls (2,425 ft)
Flows: approximately November through July, with peak flow in May.

Look for the ice cone at the base of the upper fall during winter and for roaring runoff April through June. Yosemite Falls, one of the world’s tallest, is actually made up of three separate falls: Upper Yosemite Fall (1,430 feet), the middle cascades (675 feet), and Lower Yosemite Fall (320 feet).

You can see Yosemite Falls from numerous places around Yosemite Valley, especially around Yosemite Village and Yosemite Valley Lodge (formerly Yosemite Lodge). A one-mile loop trail leads to the base of Lower Yosemite Fall (the eastern side of the loop, from the shuttle stop to the base of the waterfall, is wheelchair accessible).

It’s also possible to hike to the top of Yosemite Falls as a strenuous, all-day hike.” – (source)

NOTE – I looked at the webcam this morning (8/9/16) and I could not see any water flowing!

 
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 49 YOY – Year of Yosemite

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Capture time: 7:44:44 AM
Capture date: June 5, 2016
Exposure: 1/15 sec @ f/16
Focal Length: 18mm
ISO 180
Nikon D3300

Year of Yosemite (YOY) – Day 48 (Taft Point Fissures)

Jeff

Taft Point Fissures 

The Fissures along the Taft Point Trail

I must confess that it is difficult to portray this physical phenomenon in a two dimensional picture, put fissures are large crevices (or cracks) in rocks. They can be very dangerous as they often intersect areas close to trails and form a hazard for hikers.

Naturally hikers need to be vigilant at all times, but when hiking with children, one needs to be doubly aware. Can you see the large crevice with the two small boulders that have fallen in the crack? That could be a person wedged in there. To make matters worse, some areas near the edge of the fissures have small shrubs along the perimieter which might camouflage them a bit.

Of course there are warning signs alerting hikers of the dangerous fissures and to alert families to hold children close.

NOTE – If you haven’t discerned the fissure, look at the picture below. The arrows point to the walls of the fissure and the red-orange ovals show the boulders that are wedged in the crack.

Taft Point Fissures Annotated 

 
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 48 YOY – Year of Yosemite

File Name: 0372.NEF
Capture time: 1:52:28 PM
Capture date: June 9, 2016
Exposure: 1/60 sec @ f/18
Focal Length: 18mm
ISO 125
Nikon D3300

Year of Yosemite (YOY) – Day 47 (Rescue Gear)

Jeff

Rescue gear storage box along the Four Mile Trail 

A box of rescue gear is left on the Four Mile Trail…jut in case

While hiking the Four Mile Trail starting at Glacier Point, we noticed a metal box with a lock on it along the edge of the path. We surmise that this is a box of rescue gear that might be needed when hikers need assistance.

Notice the lock on the box which we conjecture is enough to keep the contents away from those who are unauthorized.

NOTE – If you want to see a reason why such an item might be necessary, you can review Day 25’s post Warning Signs related to the Four Mile Trail.

 
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 47 YOY – Year of Yosemite (Rescue Gear)

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