The last time we visited Yosemite NP was 2003, so we were overdue for a return. Getting reservations six months ago was a mess with the idiotic Republican cuts to the Park Service employees. The reservation system was chaotic, and some campgrounds were showing as closed for the summer due to staff constraints. I managed to get our three nights - at three different campgrounds.
We drove in from the lesser travelled east side over Tioga Pass at almost 10,000 feet in elevation. We stopped at a few alpine lakes and even took a refreshing wade into one.
 |
| Reflecting lake near Tioga Pass. |
 |
| Elena at a reflecting lake |
 |
| The granite comes into view |
 |
| Refreshing snowmelt lake |
The next stop was Tuolumne Meadow, where we strolled out to Soda Springs, which has been a long time water source for indigenous people and early explorers. We strolled across the high alpine meadow. Crossing the bridge seemed like a scene from Monty Python and the Holy Grail with the marmot gatekeeper.
 |
| Elena overlooking the meadows with distant peaks |
 |
| Paul at a bridge acros the stream |
 |
| For all the Monty Python fans. |
Our next stop was Bridalveil Falls. The misty waterfall would shift as the wind shifted.
 |
| Bridalveil Falls |
 |
| My bride in front of Bridalveil Fall. |
Our campsite the first night was at Upper Pines. We took an evening hike up to Vernal Falls. This is the Merced River making its grand entrance into the valley.
 |
| Vernal Falls |
 |
| Merced River (Vernal Falls way in the back) |
The next morning we hiked up to Mirror Lake. While at the lake a deer came right up behind me for a drink. A coyote crossed the trail right being Bebop and me, but we weren’t fast enough to get a photo.
 |
| Mirror Lake |
 |
| A deer having a drink |
 |
| Bebop and Paul at Mirror Lake |
Elena visited the Museum while Bebop and I strolled across the meadow. It was pretty hot in the valley that day, so Bebop enjoyed a swim in the Merced River.
 |
| Bebop in front of Yosemite Falls |
 |
| Bebop takes a swim in the Merced River |
Since it was hot on the valley floor, we drove up 3,500 feet and hiked to Taft Point.
 |
| Living on the edge at Taft Point |
 |
| "Back up just a little more . . . " |
 |
| About 3,500 feet above the valley floor |
 |
| Sitting on a rock overlooking rocks. |
 |
| Glacier carved valley |
 |
| Paul at Glacier Point |
 |
| Elena and Paul at Glacier Point |
 |
| Paul and Bebop at Glacier Point |
On our final full day we walked the loop around the meadow and up to lower Yosemite Falls. Then we drove out to a lightly visited section of the park - Hetch Hetchy. This granite valley was dammed about a century ago to provide water for San Francisco. The native people were driven out and a beautiful glacier carved valley, similar to Yosemite, was flooded. We walked across the dam and around part of the lake.
 |
| Milkweed in the meadow and Yosemite Falls in the shadow. |
 |
| Elena at the Merced River |
 |
| Bebop, the water quality inspector |
We then we drove out to a
lightly visited section of the park - Hetch Hetchy. This granite valley
was dammed about a century ago to provide water for San Francisco. The
native people were driven out and a beautiful glacier carved valley,
similar to Yosemite, was flooded. We walked across the dam and around
part of the lake.
 |
| Hetch Hetchy reservoir |
 |
| The Tuolumne River flowing out of the dam |
 |
| Paul on the dam |
 |
| Elena with a view down the flooded canyon. |
That's all from Yosemite for now. We still have four weeks ahead on our road trip to other beautiful places. Here are a few photos from back in 2003 when we were last here:
 |
| Photos from our 2003 trip to Yosemite |
- Paul
