Get update alerts
Locations
- .All Trips
- Art
- Car Culture
- Central America/Caribbean
- Food
- Food Tour
- Pic of the Week
- Sl;ovenia
.All Trips / California / North America / Southwestern USA
Yosemite Falls is actually made up of three separate falls:
1) Upper Yosemite Fall (1,430 feet) comprises half of the fall’s vertical drop. The upper fall is formed by the waters …
Majestic Yosemite Falls!
At a height of more than 2,425 ft (739 m), Yosemite Falls is the highest waterfall in Yosemite National Park and even one of the tallest waterfalls in the world. It can be seen from many vantages in the park. I’m especially fond of this view from across the valley, although the perspective from Glacier Point is also pretty terrific.
Yosemite Falls is a popular attraction, especially in May-June when it’s at peak flow from the melting snow pack in the Sierra Nevada mountains, as it was when we visited this past spring.
View of Yosemite Falls from Valley Floor
Yosemite Falls is actually made up of three separate falls:
1) Upper Yosemite Fall (1,430 feet) comprises half of the fall’s vertical drop. The upper fall is formed by the waters …
.All Trips / California / North America / Southwestern USA
It’s interesting to stroll through and read the grave markers for people who died here, many of whom played important roles in the development …
Yosemite National Park’s historic Cemetery
I’ve traveled to Yosemite National Park at least a dozen times in my life, always enjoying each visit, but it was not until my latest visit that I discovered it had a small historic cemetery in it.
Yosemite Cemetery (also known as Pioneer Cemetery) is located in Yosemite Village, near the Yosemite Museum. It’s quite secluded and peaceful, shaded by cedars and surrounded by a low split-rail fence. The graves were originally scattered throughout the park but after President Lincoln signed the bill creating Yosemite National Park into law, the remains were collected into this small cemetery.
Pioneer Cemetery, Yosemite National Park
It’s interesting to stroll through and read the grave markers for people who died here, many of whom played important roles in the development …
“Pic of the Week”, July 3, 2020: Snow Plant, California
The only place I’ve ever seen snow plant is on the western (wetter) slopes of California’s Sierra Nevada mountains, especially in Yosemite National Park. It’s hard to miss seeing snow plant if its there, as it’s bright red and stands out against the melting snow and tree litter in which it grows.
Some interesting facts about snow plant:
1) It’s a bright fleshy red plant (herb) of the Indian-pipe family, usually 15-30 cm (under a foot) tall
2) It grows in high-altitude conifer forests of California, Nevada and Oregon (generally between 1000 – 3000 m altitude)
3) It derives its nourishment from soil fungi attached to the roots of pine trees, and does not need sunlight to survive
4) It usually pops out in late …
Jul 2, 2020
Comments Off on “Pic of the Week”, July 3, 2020: Snow Plant, California
.All Trips / California / North America / Southwestern USA
Backpacking to Ostrander Lake, Yosemite National Park
From time-to-time I enjoy looking at some of my older photos to remember bygone adventures. It’s from one of these periods of reflection that today’s blog germinated.
When I lived in Southern California, I enjoyed spending time each summer exploring the beautiful Sierra Nevada Mountains — John Muir’s Range of Light. While much of California is hot as an oven in the summer, these mountains offer a pleasant climate and excellent backpacking opportunities. In the summer there’s enough water in the lakes that you don’t need to carry more than a day’s worth — very different and much easier than what’s required when backpacking in the Mojave desert. The weather is warm in the day, cool at night, and almost without …
.All Trips / California / North America / Southwestern USA
Yosemite National Park: Hiking in the Mariposa Grove of Giant Sequoias
The state of California has some pretty remarkable scenery. Where else can you find the world’s …
Oldest trees (bristle-cone pines)
Tallest trees (redwoods)
Largest/most massive trees (sequoias)…
…but in California? I know it’s a rhetorical question, but there’s no area I know of that offers such variety.
As one might imagine, to walk in a grove of giant sequoias is a most memorable experience. If you’ve never felt small and insignificant in life, you likely will when you stand beside an ancient sequoia tree. The largest density of sequoia trees is in California’s Sequoia National Park, south of Yosemite, including the tree known as “General Sherman”, the world’s largest living thing. Yosemite National Park has two groves of …
“Pic of the Week”. February 7, 2014. Half Dome, Yosemite National Park, California
One of the classic symbols of Yosemite National Park (or the USA for that matter) is Half Dome in Yosemite Valley. This mountain rises 5000 ft (1500 m) above the valley floor and its summit is 8800 ft (2680 m) above sea level. Half Dome is best know for being a half a mountain (as its name implies). John Muir, the father of conservation of the Sierra Nevada, correctly postulated that this appearance was due to glaciation, half the mountain having been removed by glacial action not unlike a knife cutting a cake in half.
The color of the granite in the valley changes dramatically with changing daylight, as seen in the …
Feb 6, 2014
Comments Off on “Pic of the Week”. February 7, 2014. Half Dome, Yosemite National Park, California
“Pic of the Week”, Sept. 20, 2013. Ostrander Lake, Yosemite National Park
Ostrander Lake is a popular destination in Yosemite National Park, both in the summer and winter. The lake is situated south of Yosemite Valley and lies about 8500 feet (2600 m) above sea level, just below the treeline. Bridalveil Creek flows from this lake, eventuating in lovely Bridalveil Falls that you readily see from Yosemite Valley’s famous lookout. It’s just over a six mile (about 9 km) trail to the lake from the Glacier Park road, easy at first, the last half quite steep. In the summer the trail is used by both backpackers and day-hikers. The hut at the lake is much in demand during winter with people who cross-country ski and snow-shoe, but is closed during the …
“Pic of the Week”, August 23, 2013. Jeffrey Pine, Sentinel Dome, Yosemite National Park
Yosemite National Park is one of my favorite places in the United States. Grand landscapes, granite mountains with sheer valleys carved by glaciers, thunderous waterfalls engorged by the spring thaw plunging thousands of feet, and several groves of majestic Sequoia trees (the largest living things on the planet). Everything about it seems bigger than life! It’s easy to see why it’s a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
One of the best places to gain views of the park is from its granite domes. These domes, smoothed and rounded by the action of glaciers, offer 360 degree views that are remarkable! Sentinel Dome is among these, near both Yosemite Valley and Half Dome it’s accessible and a fairly easy …
