Yosemite trip

We just got back from a week in Yosemite. We camped 4 nights at Tuolomne Meadows, and then spent 3 nights at the Wawona, an old fashioned lodge hotel with sweeping lawns and a parlor where a wonderful man plays piano and sings every night.

While we didn't bring bikes this time, we did do some epic hikes, and took some photos....

Hiked up to Young Lakes (13.5 miles round trip, up to over 10,000 feet elevation - definitely the most epic hike of the trip):

http://i83.photobucket.com/albums/j2...s/CIMG2496.jpg

Ragged Peak - over Young lakes:

http://i83.photobucket.com/albums/j2...s/CIMG2491.jpg

View on the way from Young Lakes - these are the mountains which surround Tuolomne Meadows:

http://i83.photobucket.com/albums/j2...s/CIMG2501.jpg

Meadow:

http://i83.photobucket.com/albums/j2...s/CIMG2509.jpg

Kids in river at campground (PP and one of her cousins):

http://i83.photobucket.com/albums/j2...s/DSC_1141.jpg

Hiking to Cathedral Lake:

http://i83.photobucket.com/albums/j2...s/DSC_1169.jpg

Cathedral Lake:

http://i83.photobucket.com/albums/j2...s/DSC_1176.jpg

I hiked up to Chilnualna Falls from Wawona by myself (only 9 miles round trip, but pretty epic when you're out there on your own):

http://i83.photobucket.com/albums/j2...s/CIMG2594.jpg

The PP and I on a ledge overlooking the Valley (you can't tell til you see the next picture):

http://i83.photobucket.com/albums/j2...s/DSC_1244.jpg

And this is why we had to sit down:

http://i83.photobucket.com/albums/j2...s/DSC_1240.jpg

OHHHHH.... so pretty. I just finished reading a kid's book about John Muir. We are so lucky that man had such vision.

V.

I just wish he'd been able to save Hetch Hetchy. That was supposed to be almost a carbon copy of Yosemite Valley. Hard to imagine.

Wow. I haven't been to Yosemite in years and then it was mostly winter trips. Beautiful.

What about the photo de resistance though? You should share.

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Originally Posted by SadieKate

Wow. I haven't been to Yosemite in years and then it was mostly winter trips. Beautiful.

What about the photo de resistance though? You should share.

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Well, I didn't put it in because it wasn't really descriptive of Yosemite.... but here it is:

http://i83.photobucket.com/albums/j2...s/DSC_1233.jpg

The Madonna and child. Note the LRRH T-shirt on the child....

Great shot of the dots! Definitely framable.

Are 4 legged pals allowed to hike with the two-legged ones at Yosemite? I want to go, but would really like to take Quid.

spazz

Thanks, Spazz!

I had a lot of pressure from the PP to bring The Russo ("I'm a lover not a thinker") on our trip. They can be in the campgrounds, but not on the trails. Which is not worth it.

I think it is a Federal thing. When I did Mt. Whitney with my rottie, Meg, she had to stop within state park boundaries and could not go onto the US Park trail.

The Russo:

http://i83.photobucket.com/albums/j2...otpois/dog.jpg

He's a stud for Guide Dogs for the Blind. Let's just say you'll be seeing a lot more black guide dogs..... they LOVE him. So do we.

That is just so wierd... I'll bet Fed lands would allow dogs (on lead) if they could charge a fee. Hell, could?? They already charge for everything else... I want a doggie hiking license.

Thx MP... and again, great pit-chers.

spazzdog

Wow. I was gonna rave about the beautiful landscape shots, but the mother and daughter shot is just incredible. That is just beautiful.

I need to get back to Yosemite. It's one of my favorite places in the world. We stayed at White Wolf. Those tent cabins are fun!

I agree, MP....the mom/daughter shot has it, but not by much. Those Yosemite pics are great....ah! Be still my heart! I love that place. It's like my soul's haven. Tuolumne Meadows takes my breath away, almost literally. Hard to believe nature could create a place so beautiful.

Can I share some Yosemite pics?

These two I took of Yosemite on the way back from Mammoth Lakes after Vino's wedding weekend. It was sunset and the lighting was gorgeous....

Tuolumne Meadows....my soul lies here....stunning....
Attachment 1310
Half Dome at sunset.....
Attachment 1311
Next, these are from a Half Dome hike I did July 8th with a coworker (all the other coworkers wimped out).

This is the Mist Trail at Vernal Falls:
Attachment 1312
Nevada Falls through the trees....
Attachment 1313
From the treeline area at the base of Half Dome...
Attachment 1314

More below....

And just a couple more....

This is a shot of a dead tree across the river....thought it looked kinda neat, so snapped a pic.
Attachment 1315
And finally, Nevada Falls from above....I like how the wildflowers sortof set the stage for the waterfall at this angle.... If you'll recall the shot in my above post of the waterfall through the trees, the bunch of trees I was in at that moment is waaaaay down there to the left in this photo.
Attachment 1316

I could post a few more, but I don't want to blow up TE's server....:p
~BikeMomma

Gorgeous. (Ack- site of me getting sat on by a bear...)

I love Lassen Volcanic National Park more, though.

http://www.nps.gov/lavo/

Oh, Bike Momma, I also feel that way about Yosemite. Two of my friends got married in the Meadows; wedding wear was specified as "fleece and hiking boots." I live relatively close to Lassen, which I also love, it has such a nice feeling. I just got new tires for my VW bus, so some camping might be in order as soon as the tourist traffic dies down a bit.

Spazz, I also have dogs and can't imagine hiking without them (well, one; the other is really too old). I found that while Yosemite does not allow them, there are a number of places right around there that are (almost) as gorgeous as Yosemite, less crowded, and do allow dogs on the trail. I am thinking of Green Creek area (not far from Bridgeport) and some of the other areas--maybe the Hoover Wilderness, and the Mammoth area. Also excellent hot springs in some of those areas :D

Thanks for adding the pics Bike Momma - very cool.

We were married at the Ahwahnee Hotel in the Valley. I prefer Tuolomne to the Valley - less crowded, more wild. But we couldn't have done a wedding there in November! :rolleyes: As it was, it rained all day and it was nice to be indoors with those grand fireplaces.

Great pics, MP and BikeMomma! I wish I was not so afraid of heights and could do those hikes. I hiked to Vernal Falls a long time ago, and the stairs-thingy 'bout scared me to death. Yosemite is so amazing!!

And Nanci, I love Lassen, too. That's where me and hubby really fell in love with each other and I knew he was "the one!!"
:)

Great pics. I haven't been to Yosemite in too long, I've always wanted to stay at the Wawona Lodge. My husband and I got married in the Valley. For our one year anniversary, we hiked from Tuolumne Meadows to the Valley. Is that Clouds Rest your sitting on (going over Clouds Rest from the Tuolumne side is VERY scary). My grandmother did an oil painting of our photograph of the peak in MP's 6th photo (hiking to Cathedral Lake). Thanks for bringing up some great memories

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Originally Posted by spazzdog

Great shot of the dots! Definitely framable.

Are 4 legged pals allowed to hike with the two-legged ones at Yosemite? I want to go, but would really like to take Quid.

spazz

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Take a trip up to the Canadian rockies to hike with you dog. They are allowed on the trails in the park. We were up there hiking with our dog a couple of years ago. I have a dalmatian and he really enjoyed being petted and photographed by all of the Japanese tourists at Lake Louise.

Kathy

I have been in the wawona! It is really a neat little place. My husband and i stopped in and had a beer there. We went to yosamite in the fall two years ago. It is really nice that time of year. We stayed in the tanya lodge.

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Originally Posted by Nanci

(Ack- site of me getting sat on by a bear...)

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Hey! Wouldn't you like to explain the being sat on by a bear thing??? Please oh please...