Since it was going to rain we planned to go to church and then maybe find a Starbucks or something to hang out for a little while since our new cottage wouldn't be ready til 5 .... but as we were driving, the rain didn't seem that heavy .... so, why not just keep going to Yosemite and get the lay of the land. We only have Sunday and Monday at Yosemite and we want to make the most of it. The upper areas of Yosemite are closed (just like Sequoia and Kings Canyon) in the winter - but here the roads don't open again until May or early June.
We took the South Entrance into the park, which took us up and over with lots of winding back and forth through the mountains - we were hoping that the West Entrance would be open for our route home to our next cottage. With the snowy forecast we just didn't know what roads would be open but we were ready for the adventure.
Beautiful Bridal Veil Falls - falls 620 feet.
The views were beautiful with the rain ending and the clouds and fog hanging low. It seemed like waterfalls were everywhere. Driving around the valley we knew that El Capitan and Half Dome were looming above us - but we could only catch glimpses. We could hear thundering from waterfalls.
This coyote was hanging out in the parking lot - he was looking for hand-outs.
The Merced River runs through the Valley.
We checked out the Ahwahnee Lodge - beautiful huge fire places with lots of comfy chairs.
The West Entrance was open and the drive was much easier!
I'm so glad that Tom is a good driver!!!
Monday morning we head back to Yosemite - its still misty and cloudy, but the forecast is for a beautiful day.
El Capitan - 7,569 ft. high
Beautiful views all around!
Half Dome - 8,836 ft. high.
Granite Cliffs - The very existence of great cliffs like Half Dome and El Capitan has inspired questions about how they came to be. American Indians tell of a woman and her husband who argued and fought. The displeased spirits changed them into stone, Half Dome and North Dome, forever to face each other across the Valley. How these cliffs were formed has challenged geologists for over 100 years. They think the granite of Yosemite's walls solidified over five miles underground. As the overlying rock eroded away, the granites rose to their current exposed level. Nature's dynamic forces continue sculpting this exposed rock.
We hiked the Vernal Falls and Nevada Falls trail - a little challenging!
The path was paved - but it was very steep!
The higher we climbed, the more spectacular the views.
The Vernal Falls
The trail continues to the Nevada Falls, however it is closed due to Rockfall Danger - but a winter route is open - it goes on part of the John Muir Trail and its longer - much longer. We are just about to turn around and go back down when a group of school kids with a guide came down the trail. They weren't that old ... so ... we had to continue up.
Snow covers the trail in spots!
But if those little kids could do it ... actually, Tom was calling them something else ...
That's the falls we're going to the top of - it feels like we have climbed forever, and its still so far away!
Tom took this picture - a little too close to the edge for me!
You can see people and a railing right at the edge.
If its got a railing, I'm ok
.
Cool trail signs.
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We made it - and here I am at the edge! A nice safe railing! |
The sun on the rock was beautiful and the view was spectacular.
As we were sitting, Tom noticed people walking by that were wet and wondered where they were coming from.
The closed Mist Trail - they were sneaking under the gate.
The Mist Trail is much shorter - by several miles. At this point we are tired and shorter sounds better - but looking through the gate and down at the Mist Trail - I don't like it - it looks very scary.
While there is a railing ... its very wet and water is coming over the cliffs and running down the steps like a stream.
I know Tom wants to do it, so I tell him "whichever way you want to go."
What was I thinking??? - I don't want to go that way - way out of my comfort zone.
So we go under the gate and start down the steps - 600 steps in all.
Rainbow at the bottom of the Falls.
The first section had a railing.
Once the railing ended, Tom held my hand and helped me down the stairs.
I
Here's the stairs after the stream stopped flowing over them.
They were really cool stones.
Here's the bird that was waiting for me to fall over the edge so he could pluck my flesh.
Did it!
and it was WAY shorter and no snow.
A beautiful day in Yosemite!
So much to see and do!
Off to our cottage - tomorrow we head to Weldon.
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