natural beauty

Year of Yosemite (YOY) – Day 79 (A Duck Rock Formation)

Jeff

Duck rock formationThis rock formation on the way to Taft Point across from large fissures reminded me of a duck.

I am always saddened to hear stories of vandalism in our national parks and similar settings. Of course it is wrong at any time, but the wounds seem much deeper when they occur in such a beautiful area put aside for all to appreciate.

The recent destruction of the sandstone formation known as Duckbill Rock or Thor’s Fist on the Oregon Coast at Kape Kiwanda was one such incident. To pay homage to our now lost icon, I offer the above picture of a rock formation that appears duck-like. It doesn’t replace what was destroyed, but can remind us that we need to treasure the resources we have.

 
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 78 (Wildflowers Along the Trail)

Jeff

Wildflowers along the Four Mile TrailPink and Yellow wildflowers dotted the mountainsides along the Four Mile Trail

While hiking down the Four Mile Trail from Glacier Point, we were rewarded with numerous outcroppings of wildflowers. This photograph shows an alpine-type pink penstemon perhaps Mountain Pride.

Sorry to say I could not identify the clusters of yellow, succulent-like flowers that served as a backdrop. The picture is a bit fuzzy because of the slow shutter speed (my bad!), but I think it still offers an idea of what can be expected at Yosemite during the spring and early summer.

NOTE: It was recently brought to my attention that the yellow flower is Stonecrop (Sedum spathulifolium) – edit 2/11/17.

 
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 77 (Half Dome Close Up)

Jeff

Closeup of Half Dome 

Another view of Half Dome – It never got tiresome.

This picture of Half Dome was taken from Glacier Point. If you plan to go to Yosemite, schedule a ride to Glacier Point which hosts some of the best views of many of the Valley’s hot spots.

Better yet, take the shuttle bus and save your car’s brakes and a nerve burning ride. I don’t think you will be disappointed.

Once again, I recommend that, if you are fit and you are comfortable with following a trail and trail map, consider taking one of the shorter trails down to the Valley. We took the Four Mile Trail and it was splendid.

 
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 76 (Merced River Flowing)

Jeff

Merced River Full FLowDuring our Yosemite Visit, the Merced River was at full flow

The week before we arrived at Yosemite, it had rained nearly every day. Added to the snowpack, this pushed all water features into overdrive and it was superb!

This picture of the Merced River is just one indication of the fullness of the flow.

 
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 75 (Dramatic Clouds over Hetch Hetchy)

Jeff

** NOTE ** JBRish will be on a brief hiatus starting tomorrow and thus Year of Yosemite (YOY) postings will also pause.


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Dramatic Clouds over Hetch Hetchy 

Hetch Hetchy with a dramatic sky

The day we began our hike on the Wapama Falls Trail at Hetch Hetchy the weather was variable. It started as a partly cloudy morning, but by midday, the clouds were dominant.

As we were making our way back to the parking area, I couldn’t get enough of the dramatic valley containing the reservoir. It was reminiscent of the scenes one sees from China with the mountains encircling the water. The clouds added another dimension to the setting.

 
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 74 (Artwork near Yosemite Falls)

Jeff

Artwork near Yosemite FallsWalking past one of the viewing points for Yosemite Falls, this metal artwork was embedded in one of the granite columns

Even among all of the natural beauty of Yosemite, we find attempts to add the human signature to the park with various embellishments. If anything, it helps to remind us that as much as we try, we are all amateur artists when compared to nature!

 
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 73 (Ribbon Fall)

Jeff

Ribbon Fall Yosemite NPRibbon Fall is seasonal and flows only during the melts of winter and early spring.

Ribbon Fall is more wispy than many of the other waterfalls and it may be overshadowed by its proximity to El Capitan; situated just to the west.

Looking at the way the water starts narrow and widens as it reaches the base, it is easy to understand how it received the moniker, horsetail. I was drawn in by the light playing off the leaves of the trees as the mountain was being bathed in shadow.

 
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 72 (American Robin)

Jeff

American Robin on a dead logAmerican Robin sitting on a log


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American Robin on a branchAn immature Robin watching us watching it


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One of my interests is moderate bird watching. I am really not one to walk miles to try to find a bird that was spotted a day or so ago. I will arise early to go on a bird walk as long as I am with someone with experience as my bird ID skills are not well developed.

I do enjoy taking photographs of birds and many times, with photo “in hand,” I am able to identify the bird after the fact. When we head onto hiking trails, the anticipation of sighting a bird I had not seen before is always with me. Generally, we are not up and about on the trails at the best times for birds, but we take what we can get.

The only bird I was able to capture in a good photograph during our exploration of Yosemite was the American Robin which we don’t see in Phoenix, AZ. The bird in the tree is an immature Robin.

 
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.

Year of Yosemite (YOY) – Day 71 (Top of the World – Lembert Dome)

Jeff

Top of the World at Lembert DomeLembert Dome offers wonderful views of the Tuolumne Meadows and the surrounding peaks

I have mentioned Lembert Dome a number of times as part of my previous Year of Yosemite posts, but I haven’t really shown the top of the dome itself. In the picture above, the rounded protrusion at the center-top is where I stood to take 360 degrees of photographs to document the circle of vision seen from the dome.

As you may note, it is quite an upward trek although the footing is mostly very good . The surface is somewhat rough and provides footholds along the way. I must say that when I got to one point, I had to place my cameras on a ledge above me and hoist myself up to that level. It was a stretch, but not too far! Oh, we also had to avoid patches of ice and snow!

There were groups of people sitting at a lower “saddle” eating lunch and enjoying the panoramas. If you are physically fit to undertake the climb, I can assure you it is a view worth the effort. Good hiking shoes or boots are strongly recommended!

 
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 70 (El Capitan by a Nose)

Jeff

The Nose of El Capitan 

The ridge facing left on El Capitan is referred to as “the Nose”

Of course I had heard of El Capitan long before I saw it or even before I planned to visit Yosemite. In preparation for the visit, and while at the park, the readings about Yosemite would often refer to “the nose” of El Capitan.

Apparently the ridge that juts out (facing southwest) is one of the premiere rock climbing trails and referred to as “the nose” by rock climbers. It was once thought impossible to scale, but is now one of the benchmarks of achievement for rock climbers.

You can read more about “the Nose” and rock climbing:

The Nose: How to Climb El Capitan’s Most Famous Route by Andy Kirkpatrick Jul/2014

Danger Zones: The Nose – Accidents On El Cap’s Most Popular Route

The Nose of El Capitan 

 
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 70 YOY – Year of Yosemite

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