natural beauty

Year of Yosemite (YOY) – Day 26 (Olmsted Point – Lone Tree)

Jeff

Lone Tree at Olmsted Point

Olmsted Point has a view of Half Dome. This lone tree is trying to grab center stage.

Omsted Point is easy to pass on the way to other locations, but it certainly is worth a stop. We were on the way to Lembert Dome when we stopped to take a few photographs.

What I liked about this particular photo is the tree near the center. Although it would normally be a supporting cast member with Half Dome straight ahead (peaking out just above the curve of the hill in the center), it steals the scene in its own right. Naturally, there are nice pictures of Half Dome to be captured from this view as well.

 
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 26 YOY – Year of Yosemite

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Year of Yosemite (YOY) – Day 24 (Nevada Falls from GP)

Jeff

Nevada Falls - closeup

A closer view of Nevada Falls as seen from Glacier Point

The Merced river and the waterfalls throughout the park were at near peak during our visit to Yosemite. This picture of Nevada Falls underscores nature’s power and beauty. Our lodge was close to Yosemite Valley Falls and we enjoyed the low, sleep-inducing roar throughout the night.

 
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 24 YOY – Year of Yosemite

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Year of Yosemite (YOY) – Day 23 (Arch Rock Entrance)

Jeff

Arch Rock - east entrance

Entering Yosemite National Park from the west, will bring visitors through the Arch Rock Gate.

The picture above shows the rock grouping that forms a nice arch through which cars entering the park from the west must drive. It is a bit tricky to find a place to park and take a picture, but as soon as visitors pass through the entry gate, there is a small parking lot on the right. Care must be taken as the road is narrow and traffic can be heavy at times.

 
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 23 YOY – Year of Yosemite

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Year of Yosemite (YOY) – Day 22 (Stone Structure)

Jeff

NOTE – Hello Readers of JBRish! Those who are following my Year of Yosemite posts might recall that on July 7th I posted a different view of the structure below. You can see it HERE.

At that time I asked readers to take a guess regarding the nature of this structure near the the Majestic Yosemite Hotel. Well…do you want to take a guess? If you do take a guess, you can find out if you are correct by highlighting the space between the two lines of asterisks that follow. The answer will be revealed once highlighted.


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A stone carriage house!

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Second view of stone structure

Another view of the stone structure referenced above

As I noted in the prior post, stone was plentiful in Yosemite and was used as a building material for buildings, bridges, curbs, etc. This stone structure that is situated in proximity to the the Majestic Yosemite Hotel (formerly the Ahwahnee) served as a carriage house or carriage stop years ago. In older pictures, a sign for the Ahwahnee Hotel can be seen hanging above it.

According to this story on the Internet, the sign was stolen just days before the Ahwahnee was to change its name.

 
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 21 YOY – Year of Yosemite

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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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Meta Data – Day 21 YOY – Year of Yosemite

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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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Nikon D3300

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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Nikon D3300

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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