YOY

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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Meta Data – Day 71 YOY – Year of Yosemite

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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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Year of Yosemite (YOY) – Day 66 (Three Brothers)

Jeff

Bridal Veil Falls, the Three Brothers 

Bridal Veil Falls and the Three Brothers photographed from Tunnel View

Bridal Veil Falls was putting on quite a show as the Three Brothers (rock formation) looked on. A typical shot from this vantage point will often include El Capitan which is off to the left.

I wanted the other “players” to have their own moment.

 
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 66 YOY – Year of Yosemite

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Year of Yosemite (YOY) – Day 65 (Cairns at Lembert Dome)

Jeff

Cairns at Lembert Dome Trail 

A rather usual cairn leading to the Lembert Dome Trail

For those who may not know, cairns are small piles or groupings of rocks intended to lead hikers to the correct trail. There are varying thoughts on their usefulness. The simple cairn above was located at the start of the Lembert Dome Trail. Cairns are often placed in a line showing the direction of the trail.

Pranksters have been known to deliberately place cairns so they lead in an errant direction. Foraging for rocks to add to a pile disrupts the surrounding area and is often frowned upon by those who oversee a park or hiking venue.

There have been a couple of times when I was glad to see a cairn because it verified that I was on the “right track” or prevented me from wandering in the wrong direction.

It is an interesting topic for discussion and I suppose there is fodder for both sides. As I will show in a later post, some cairns are more elaborate than others.

You can read some interesting points about hiking cairns HERE – Cairns 101

 
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 65 YOY – Year of Yosemite

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Year of Yosemite (YOY) – Day 64 (Merced River Stone Bridge)

Jeff

Area in back of the Majestic/Ahwahnee HotelA wooded area in back of the former Ahwahnee Hotel now named the Majestic Yosemite Hotel

Nestled in the valley with mountains rising up behind it, the Majestic Yosemite Hotel sits comfortably near the Merced River which has a number of stone bridge crossings. The use of natural materials against the formidable grandeur of Yosemite is a nice accompaniment.

 
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 64 YOY – Year of Yosemite

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Year of Yosemite (YOY) – Day 63 (Glacier Point-Half Dome)

Jeff

Half Dome from Glacier PointHalf Dome from Glacier Point

I would advise anyone who visits Yosemite National Park to go to Glacier Point. There are numerous viewpoints which, on most days, will be stunning. For those who are more energetic and capable than I am, a hike up to Glacier Point and then back down would be tremendous. It is possible to take one trail up and another one down.

We decided that hiking up and down was more than we cared to do on the day we set up to go to Glacier Point. Fortunately, there is a shuttle bus that leaves from the Valley Lodge area and they offer a one-way fare. We took the bus up and hiked down. I heartily recommend this for those who are so inspired.

Another benefit of taking the shuttle is the “inside information” the bus drivers are able to share about the park’s history and highlights.

IMPORTANT – Purchase your tickets in advance or the shuttle may be sold out. If you know which day you want to visit, purchase tickets a couple of days in advance. The early shuttle tends to sell out quickly.

 
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 63 YOY – Year of Yosemite

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