Shuttling Around Yosemite National Park

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Kerry, Gena, and I took the shuttle into the village around 10 am. Bob stayed in camp with Milo because they don’t allow dogs on the shuttles. We were a little late getting started, but so were a lot of other people, the shuttle got pretty crowded. At the Visitor Center Gena and I were able to get our stamps, patches and postcards, while Kerry studied the topographical map. We got back on the shuttle and rode to the trail that leads to the base of the Lower Yosemite Fall. We could hear the sound of the water from the road. The trail was short, about half a mile, through beautiful old growth timber, redwoods and pines mostly. There were Dogwood trees with enormous blossoms the size of my hand. The trees themselves were taller than our dogwoods at home.

At the base of the waterfall, the air was full of mist, quite cool, and the sound was loud. The tumbled rocks at the base were irresistible to some, and folks were climbing on the slippery granite. We walked back to the shuttle stop and took another ride, this time to Sentinel Bridge. From the middle of the bridge you get a wonderful view of Half Dome and the Merced River, which runs through the valley. We watched a family rafting on the Merced, and the children waved as they floated under the bridge.

We rode back to the campground and had lunch. Then the four of us (and Milo makes 5) got in the van and went to the base of Bridalveil Fall. This was a steeper climb, but well worth it. The fall was gorgeous, the sound deafening, we got wet, we took pictures, we loved it.

On the way back to the campground, we stopped at a meadow with a great view of El Capitan with its nearly vertical wall. Bob spotted a couple of climbers up on the rock face, so we got out our binoculars and watched them for a while. They didn’t seem to making much progress, but maybe that was just our uneducated opinion.

Then back to camp and dinner and a card game. Thus ended Day 2 at Yosemite.

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Photos

Here we are
with Upper and Lower Yosemite Falls behind us

Upper Yosemite Fall
Yosemite NP

Hearts of Pine
In Yosemite

Upper and Lower Yosemite Falls
Yosemite NP

Lower Yosemite Fall
at the base of the falls

Mist
at base of Yosemite Falls

Clear water
This was from the falls, so clear

Half Dome
by the way, there never was another half

from Sentinel Bridge
Half Dome, Merced River, and rafters

Upper and Lower Falls
from another angle

North Dome
seen from our campground

Bridalveil Fall
Yosemite NP

Us again
at the base of Bridalveil Fall

El Capitan
Yosemite NP

Climbers on El Capitan
Yosemite NP

Royal Arches
Yosemite NP

Dogwood Blossom
and my not-so-dainty hand

Our camper and van
in campground with giant trees, and rock walls

Comments

[Barbara]

AWESOME!!!!!!!

[Thaddeus]

WOAH!
What species of dogwood is that? Everyone at work is very interested.

[Frances Noe]

Wow!
Your pictures are breathtaking! I can't imagine what it would be like to have that beauty all around me. LOVE the dogwood flower!!

[Peggy]

I can't believe those climbers. By the way, you two look great.