Yosemite.

On Sunday I went to Yosemite. I drove west until I reached the 120 highway and then drove south towards the park. There's a map here. The 120 come in halfway up on the left side of the map and I followed it south east to Yosemite Valley.

I stopped just before the Pohono Bridge, (first bridge on the left of the Yosemite Valley map) and saw a rock in the river. I was even motivated enough to drag the tripod out for a slow shutter speed photo.



Downstream didn't look too bad either.


I crossed the river because it's a one way loop around the valley and stopped just past the next bridge at Cathedral beach. I walked through the pines and onto the beach and El Capitan loomed above me.


I haven't down a Spot the ... for a while, so here's one.


If that is too difficult, here it is zoomed in a bit.

And here's the Answer.*

Looking upstream is the photo that I've been teasing you with.


My next stop was the lookout between the Swinging bridge and the chapel. (Indicated by the bump in the road.) This is looking across the meadow to Upper Yosemite Fall.


This waterfall freezes in winter and forms a large ice cone.


Looking downstream towards the Three Brothers. El Capitan is around the bend to the right.


Looking upstream towards the snowy mountains.


There were lots of Fall (pronounced faoull) leaves on the ground.


Big Autumn leaves !




The river was wide and slow moving here.


I keep driving and parked next to the Sentinel bridge. There was a sign indicating an old flood level. I wouldn't have wanted to be around when that was happening.


The view from the bridge looking upstream was pretty good. That's the other lump of granite called Half Dome.


Very cool.


Downstream was awesome as well.


I walked back downstream onto the east end of the meadow and found a dead tree with Upper Yosemite Fall behind.


It had been attacked by woodpeckers.


I parked the car in the parking lot and walked to the village for some lunch. I sat in the sunshine outside the shop and listened to the German tourists at the next table.


After lunch I caught the free bus and walked up to Mirror Lake.


But that's for tomorrow.


* Yes, its a couple of climbers who have obviously slept the night on the rock face.

Back down the Sonora Pass

After a few more photos of the mountains, I headed back to the motel.








This gives you an idea of the size of the trees.


This was the view from the car, lots of lovely snow.


I stopped just down the road to take photos of the cliffs along the river.


I'm guessing the water is cold ...


I stopped up the hill from the Columns of the Giants and took some more photos.


Abstract closeup of the rocks and snow.




I stopped at this old bridge and photographed on it ...


Under it ...


Downstream ...


... and upstream.


There was an amazing tree growing in the rocks just upstream of the bridge.


It had split the rocks apart.


This was looking at the gorge that the river had carved. I suspect that the water had been a little higher recently, see the tree ?


Here's the top closer up. Looks like it had a rough trip.


Another tree wedged in the rocks.




The rocks were really interestng. You could see the scrapes that I presume were made by the glaciers or the water. It was fascinating that there is a harder layer on top that is weathering away over time.


Some of the rocks looked very Japanese.


I stopped at Pinecrest beach and lake. It was surrounded by tall pines, funny that.


Although the beach was a bit of a stretch.


I couldn't see anyone sunbathing.


The reflections were very cool.




And finally a teaser for tomorrow.