hiking

Year of Yosemite (YOY) – Day 21 (Taft Point)

Jeff

El Capitan viewed from Taft Point

Looking at El Capitan from Taft Point

Almost a continuation or another branch, if you will, of the Sentinel Dome trail is second pathway to Taft Point. This trail leads southwest of the Sentinel Dome trail. There seems to be a loop to get from one to the other, but it appears to be a bit longer route. While Taft Point offers spectacular views of its own, it is not quite as amazing as the view from Sentinel Dome (IMHO).

And “Yes,” that is a person standing all the way out there on the ledge to the left! Find out more about the Taft Point trail 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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Year of Yosemite (YOY) – Day 20 (Sentinel Dome Trail)

Jeff

Sentinel Dome Trail

Sentinel Dome Trail was varied and steep in places.

The hike to Sentinel Dome was steep in a number of places, but there were numerous outcroppings with views and a good number of wildflowers in bloom. We stopped periodically to “smell the roses;” so-to-speak!

The payoff at the end (as you will see in subsequent posts) made it all worthwhile. If you visit Yosemite and you are trying to decide whether or not to take the Sentinel Dome Trail to the top of the dome, I would encourage you to do so if you are in good physical condition. A number of people rested at the base of the dome while others in their group hiked the dome itself. Even from that vantage point, there were beautiful views.

 
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 20 YOY – Year of Yosemite

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Year of Yosemite (YOY) – Day 19 (El Capitan)

Jeff

El Capitan from near Devil's Elbow

El Capitan viewed as we continued the Valley Loop

This picture of El Capitan was taken as we ambled along the Valley Loop Trail in the vicinity of the Devil’s Elbow (bend in the Merced River) picnic area. The area itself is very nice and meadow-like. You can read more about it at the link above. We noted that there were signs indicating that the area was being restored and therefore may have limited access until that project is completed.

 
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 19 YOY – Year of Yosemite

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Year of Yosemite (YOY) – Day 18 (Campsites Full)

Jeff

crowded Yosemite campsite

One of a number of crowded campsites at Yosemite

Although we chose a week to visit Yosemite that we thought would have less crowds and during which many children would still be in school in many sectors of the United States, there were no available camping sites in any of the campgrounds we passed. This was Camp 4 near Yosemite Falls just one of many, and as you can see, it was crowded.

 
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 18 YOY – Year of Yosemite

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Year of Yosemite (YOY) – Day 17 – (Hetch Hetchy)

Jeff

Yosemite NP - Hetch Hetchy Valley

The main Hetch Hetchy Valley view seen from the Wapama Falls Trail


Yesterday I showed a picture of the beautiful white Triteleia hyacinthina flower head we saw as we hiked at Hetch Hetchy. Today I thought I would post a photograph of one of the main views of the area.

Hetch Hetchy Valley is a beautiful and often overlooked part of Yosemite. On this day we had overcast conditions, but the scenery was still dramatic and beautiful. While it functions as a reservoir, the trails and waterfalls provide plenty to see for those who like to explore nature and/or hike.

The National Park Service has a one page Hetch Hetchy pamphlet from which I have excerpted the paragraph below. You can find out more by clicking the link above.

Hidden in Yosemite National Park’s peaceful northwest corner, Hetch Hetchy Valley is a treasure worth visiting in all seasons. In spring, two of North America’s tallest waterfalls plummet spectacularly over thousand-foot granite cliffs. The dramatic cliffs surrounding these waterfalls add to the grandeur that John Muir compared to the more well known Yosemite Valley. In 1870, Muir called Hetch Hetchy Valley “a wonderfully exact counterpart of the great Yosemite.” In the early spring through late fall, visitors have easy access to a vast wilderness filled with high-country lakes, streams, and wildlife. A rare snowy winter day gives adventuresome visitors a chance to explore on skis or snowshoes.

 
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 17 YOY – Year of Yosemite

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Year of Yosemite (YOY) – Day 16

Jeff

Beautiful White Wildflower

White wildflower (Triteleia hyacinthina) photographed along the trail at Hetch Hechy

On Saturday we anticipated that Yosemite Valley would be more crowded so we headed north to Hetch Hetchy to hike the Wapama Falls Trail. Hetch Hetchy is a man-made dam created by flooding one of Yosemite’s other pretty valleys. This was a controversial move at the time. You can read The Drowning of Hetch Hetchy—and What Was Lost to find out more (scroll down on the page).

Nevertheless, there was an abundance of wildflowers along the trail on this day and this white beauty flowering against a darkened puddle made for a very pretty shot.

Wikipedia Information about the flower:

Triteleia hyacinthina is a species of flowering plant known by the common names white brodiaea, white tripletlily, hyacinth brodiaea, and fool’s onion.

 
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 16 YOY – Year of Yosemite

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Year of Yosemite (YOY) – Day 14

Jeff

Half Dome under the setting sun

“Half Dome Cast with the Setting Sun”

As I indicated in the introduction, you will see numerous photographs of Half Dome and El Capitan. These two iconic features of Yosemite call to visitors from many different venues and beckon to take their picture. This photo was snapped after a day of hiking as we were returning to our lodging to relax a bit before dinner.

 
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 14 YOY – Year of Yosemite

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Year of Yosemite (YOY) – Day 13

Jeff

Vernal and Nevada Falls

“Vernal Falls (lower) and Nevada Falls of Yosemite as seen from Glacier Point”

Below is a closer view of the same picture cropped to show the falls more clearly

Vernal and Nevada Falls

Yosemite has domes, mountains and rock formations of alls shapes and sizes, but to add to its character, it has an abundance of waterfalls. The above view from Glacier point taken near Washburn Point show the lower Vernal Falls and the upper Nevada Falls. They were flowing with vigor during the time we were there!

 
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 13 YOY – Year of Yosemite

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Year of Yosemite (YOY) – Day 12

Jeff

Rock spires near Cathedral Rock

There were numerous spires to be viewed near Cathedral Rock

There are so many rock formations at Yosemite and they all seem to have names. While we couldn’t single out all of them, the spires (as they are known) certainly add a beauty of their own. This shot of the spires just past the tree line with the gold and green meadow in front was captivating.

 
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 12 YOY – Year of Yosemite

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Year of Yosemite (YOY) – Day 11

Jeff

Hang Glider over Cliff

“As we were approaching Mirror Lake, we saw this hang glider.”

It was interesting to note how relatively “open” Yosemite is to a variety of sports such as hang gliding. I didn’t expect to see anything like this in such an iconic location.

 
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 11 YOY – Year of Yosemite

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