hiking

Hetch Hetchy Wildflower Field – Year of Yosemite (YOY) – Day 279

Jeff

Hetch Hetchy wildflower field

Hetch Hetchy’s fields of wildflowers

As we hiked along the Wapama Falls trail at Hetch Hetchy we would take time to stop and gaze at the wildflowers. This field was so full of color that it was hard to focus beyond the purple and yellow colors. The purple flowers are Owl Clover and my guess is that the yellow-gold blooms are a daisy variety.

As you will see in following posts, there were also more defined pockets of individual specimens of nature’s bounty.

 
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 279 YOY – Year of Yosemite

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Capture time: 2:34:03 PM
Capture date: June 11, 2016
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Nikon D3300

 

Hetch Hetchy The Path Opens – Year of Yosemite (YOY) – Day 278

Jeff

Hetch Hetchy reservoir landscape view

Hetch Hetchy reservoir landscape view

The panoramic view we came across on our way to the Wapama Falls was stunning in it’s beauty and subdued tones. Every few steps called on me to stop and gaze about as the vista opened wider and wider. My hiking spirit didn’t have enough sponge to soak it all in, but I did the best I could.

As I stated in the previous posts it was other worldly and reminiscent of scenes I had seen of exotic lands.

 
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 278 YOY – Year of Yosemite

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Capture time: 12:32:27 PM
Capture date: June 11, 2016
Exposure: 1/60 sec @ f/22
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Nikon D3300

 

Hetch Hetchy Stormy Valley View – Year of Yosemite (YOY) – Day 277

Jeff

Hetch Hetchy path opens up

The Hetch Hetchy Valley comes into view

Yesterday’s photo showed the path’s rise as we were ascending a slight incline and the mountains beginning to appear just over the ridge. Today’s photograph gives a more complete view of the scene that was set before us.

I have read about Hetch Hetchy and the fight to save the valley and I must admit that it was awesome to see the towering mountains and the water, but I would love to have seen the valley as it was prior to the dam. It was nevertheless spectacular especially with such dramatic weather.

 
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 277 YOY – Year of Yosemite

File Name: 0457.NEF
Capture time: 11:59:42 AM
Capture date: June 11, 2016
Exposure: 1/60 sec @ f/22
Focal Length: 18mm
ISO 125
Nikon D3300

 

Hetch Hetchy Another World – Year of Yosemite (YOY) – Day 276

Jeff

Hetch Hetchy path

A clearing along the path at Hetch Hetchy

Although our day at Hetch Hetchy turned cloudy almost as as soon as we arrived, we were not totally disappointed. There was drama in the skies and many photographs that day captured the stormy atmosphere. We hiked for a week in the Grand Tetons and needed an umbrella or rain covering every day so this was really not too bad in comparison. The rain held off for the most of the day.

The photograph above was taken as we were making our way to Wapama Falls along the designated trail and we came to an elevated point with an opening between the trees. The hills and mountains began to rise up and it looked like something from another part of the world. It reminded me of scenes I had seen in photos of China.

 
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 276 YOY – Year of Yosemite

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Capture time: 11:16:59 AM
Capture date: June 11, 2016
Focal Length: 32mm
ISO 125
Nikon D3300

 

Lupine Wildflower – Year of Yosemite (YOY) – Day 275

Jeff

Lupine

Lupine wildflower growing through a fern

I am fond of lupines because they grow well in our Sonoran Desert environment at spring time and if there is a reasonable amount of winter rains, they can be quite spectacular.

We saw a number of patches of lupines along the trails as we hiked at Yosemite. They are more purple than blue, but the yellow highlights and gray-silver leaves (not pictured above) give them added interest and appeal.

This particular specimen was growing through a fern so the leaves are not visible in this 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 275 YOY – Year of Yosemite

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Capture time: 11:16:59 AM
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Focal Length:50mm
ISO 360
Nikon D3300

 

Forget Me Not – Year of Yosemite (YOY) – Day 274

Jeff

Forget Me Not Flowers

Forget Me Not wildflower

There aren’t many blue flowers either wild or cultivated so it is quite a thrill to see them growing naturally in the wild. These Forget Me Nots were growing in a relatively isolated clump along the Sentinel Dome trail.

Individually, each flower may not be too impressive, but seen as a cluster of blue along the path of mostly pink and yellow wildflowers, they provided a beautiful contrast!

Here is a larger view of the flowers.

Forget Me Not Flowers closeup

 
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 274 YOY – Year of Yosemite

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Capture time: 11:16:59 AM
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Drama Along the River – Year of Yosemite (YOY) – Day 273

Jeff

Boulders with rushing water

Swirling rushing waters

The Merced River provided an exciting background for our hike along the Vernal Fall trail. The sound of rushing water paired with the gray overcast sky created some drama.

As we walked along and near the river, I couldn’t help but be captivated by the water’s sound and the beautiful earth-toned hues of the rocks, water and eddies.

 
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 273 YOY – Year of Yosemite

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Capture time: 1:12:10 PM
Capture date: June 10, 416
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Merced River Onward Always Onward* – Year of Yosemite (YOY) – Day 272

Jeff

Merced River rushing water

The rushing waters of the Merced River near the bridge

When water runs down a mountain range into a valley to a collection point, i.e. river, it is relentless and because of the recent rains and snow melt, the Merced was a raging torrent in many locations. The photo above is one example of the powerful rushing waters.

There were times around the Sentinel Beach picnic area, near the Four Mile Trail terminus, where it was calm enough for bathing, boating, etc., but other areas were strictly off limits.

 
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 272 YOY – Year of Yosemite

File Name: 0420.NEF
Capture time: 12:53:43 PM
Capture date: June 10, 416
Exposure: 1/60 sec @ f/16
Focal Length:18mm
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Nikon D3300

 

* As long was there is adequate water from rain and snow melt!

Vernal Fall View from the Bridge – Year of Yosemite (YOY) – Day 271

Jeff

ernal Fall water spill

The view from the Vernal Fall Tail Bridge

Yesterday’s post showed a crowd gathered above the torrent of water safely poised on the bridge over the Merced River. The scene above is what some of the bystanders were viewing.

This apparently is a popular hike and if you don’t want to hike up the the waterfall itself, this is a picturesque stop and photo opportunity. The day was gray and threatening so we turned around at this point to do hiking closer to refuge should it be needed.

 
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 271 YOY – Year of Yosemite

File Name: 0415.NEF
Capture time: 11:50:28 AM
Capture date: June 10, 416
Exposure: 1/60 sec @ f/16
Focal Length:55mm
ISO 200
Nikon D3300

 

The Power of A Waterfall Torrent – Year of Yosemite (YOY) – Day 269

Jeff

Vernal Falls water torrente

Vernal Fall creates a torrent

With the previous posts, we showed water from Vernal Fall rolling down the mountain toward the valley. The photographs showed only one example, but water may also be coming from other such depressions leading from the beginning of the fall’s dropoff.

As the waters roll down the mountain, they come together as they reach the Merced River and create the torrent shown above. I can attest that this water was flowing quickly and was very forceful.

The rushing water becomes so fierce at times that they have a very jarring warning sign placed near this spot which you can read about in a previous post by clicking 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 269 YOY – Year of Yosemite

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Capture time: 11:47:15 AM
Capture date: June 10, 2016
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Nikon D3300