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Yosemite 2011 |
| 25 years - everyone seems shocked that
couple stay together that long. I can't imaging life any other way. We
decided to sneak away for a four day trip to Yosemite since our annual
pass was about to expire but no tents for this trip. We stayed at the
Yosemite View Hotel just a few minutes from the park entrance. We could
run around the valley all day and relax in the spa before retiring for
the night. I'm not about to give up camping but it was a great way to
spend some quality time with my sweetie and test out the synthetic
cartilage in her knee.
You can click on the thumbnails to view a larger version of the
pictures. |
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After driving up
Friday afternoon, getting checked in at the hotel, we drove down to the
Valley to catch a couple of views. We stopped off at the swinging bridge
for a picture and to marvel at how little water was going over the
falls. |
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We continued down
the valley and parked to watch the sun paint my favorite view, Half
Dome. As the sun starts to slip down behind the granite walls the color
gradually changes from gray and becomes deeper and... |
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...about 30
minutes later the color is incredible. Kind of like 25 years going by in
what seemed like minutes. It ends in seconds though and the
temperature starts to drop quickly. Back to the hotel for a movie, some
snacks, and shuteye. |
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Saturday's hike
was to Sentinel Dome. According to the guide book, an easy little hike.
Becky's asthma made it a bit more challenging for her. While she was
resting and I was chasing a chipmunk with the camera some of the
Yosemite deer paid Becky a visit. Look to her right just past the
granite. |
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This is one of the
four that made her morning. |
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At the top of
Sentinel Dome I saw this chubby little guy munching on some seeds. Hmm,
wonder if I could win a slide viewer like Cory did with his picture?
It took a bit of persuasion to get my better half to brave the last 50
yards to the top but she made it! It also changed the plan a bit,
instead of just hiking back to the trail head we decided to hike on to
Glacier Point since it would be basically all down hill rather than
mostly uphill to the trailhead. |
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A great view of
Half Dome and Clouds Rest in the distance. |
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All that is left
of the Jeffery Pine made famous by Ansel Adams. |
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New profile
picture? |
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Maybe this one,
what do you think Cory? |
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Not much water but
the view is spectacular just the same. |
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Becky hanging out
at a scenic overlook. |
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I was following a
little stream alongside the trail to May Lake. One of several tiny
little waterfalls. I could follow a stream like that all day. |
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May Lake, tucked
in the shadow of Mount Hoffmann. There is a nice alpine campground
at the lake. |
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See, she was
enjoying the hike! |
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This rock
formation reminded me of the heads on Easter Island. Or maybe dumb dumb
wants some gum gum? |
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One of the few
places where we got both sunlight and fall foliage. Lots of either one
by themselves but the combination is much much better. |
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Swiped from Braden's photo
blog, now you don't need to wonder where she gets it from... |
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On Sunday we hiked
to Mirror Lake but found no lake, just a trickle where the stream is
supposed to be. Even if it had been there, my wide angle wouldn't be
wide enough to get both the mountain and the reflection. Good time to
have a snack and wait for the light. |
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The light was
stunning again and worth waiting for even as the temperature dropped
again. |
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The deer were so
chill they didn't even mind the flash interrupting their evening
foraging. |
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Monday morning and
back to the signpost at the trail head we took on Saturday. Becky
enjoyed the warm sun at the trailhead while I bombed out to Taft point. |
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Bagged another
USGS marker at Taft Point. Some of the best sheer cliffs I have seen.
Most of the granite at Yosemite has rounded edges but not here. The
fissures were amazing. Not a place for those with vertigo. |
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A carefully posed
self portrait that neatly hides the sheer drop to the valley behind me.
Wouldn't want to worry the wife. |
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Played cat and
mouse with this little guy for about 10 minutes until he finally posed. |
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Lacking scale I
could tell you about the massive snake we found but he was so tiny that
even Becky thought he was cute. About 30 seconds later we were
surrounded by a bunch of kids and cell phone cameras. Red on yellow
will kill a fellow, but red on black is a friend of Jack. Yep, just a
milk snake. |
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Near the base of
Bridal Veil Falls. With so little water falling it was great day to
boulder around the base. |
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One more fall
color picture. |
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Ok, so this is
really the last one.
Hope you enjoyed the pictures, we sure enjoyed the trip. |
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