A Living Postcard
I can hardly breathe. And it’s not from hiking 20 miles over the course of a few days, either! It’s the unimaginable beauty that is Yosemite National Park. Last year, I was blown away by the sheer majesty of the Grand Canyon. And then again by the breathtaking scenery that was Yellowstone. This is the 20th National Park I’ve had the privilege to visit over the last 10 months, and I must say that in terms of astonishing beauty, I’ve either died and gone to heaven, or am merely steeped in a living, breathing painting.
Each of the parks have their own unique beauty, to be sure. But the mix of giant granite with alpine forests; the high-altitude runoff of the Sierra Snowpack into the most amazing, powerful waterfalls; the green meadows and clear rivers, makes Yosemite just so raw and beautiful.
The size and amount of the exposed sheets of granite are not like any other place on the planet. The glacial pools of water are pure and clear and each one you discover seems like it may be the prettiest you have ever seen. The feeling of standing beneath El Capitán or Half Dome and looking up are just unmatched. Anywhere. Photos cannot accurately represent how enormous everything is at all; you may just have to use your imagination.
It's just so darn awe-inspiring. I felt so connected to God and to nature, more than ever before, I think. I invite you to open each picture below, and just pause. Take in the scene. I’m no professional, and the photos were taken with just my iPhone, but if you can imagine actually being there, I’m quite sure this magical place might make it to the top of your bucket list.
Let’s start off with Tunnel View. It’s the first real glimpse of the majesty of the place, and it comes at the end of a long tunnel, cut through the mountain. Within this most iconic view you can see El Capitán, Horsetail Fall, Clouds Rest, Half Dome, Sentinel Rock, Cathedral Rocks, and Bridalveil Fall. I’ve left a picture of the sign so you can see what’s where. The pics below are from two separate days; the second time I went was super cold and foggy. The clouds were so very dramatic!
The first waterfall we came upon was Bridalveil Fall. The Ahwahneechee tribe called it Pohono, meaning “spirit of the puffing wind.” Makes sense to me! Plunging from 620 feet above, it lives up to its name with delicate mist that often forms rainbows. Pictures were a bit of a challenge due to the spraying mist, but I like how funky some of them are. :D
So Yosemite Valley is a glacial valley carved out of granite, which means the landscape is quite unique. With granite being such a hard rock, glaciers are one of the things powerful enough to carve a valley out of it. This glacial valley plus the elevation of the mountains surrounding it—some of the highest in the Sierra Nevada, with several above 10,000 ft—plus the picturesque rivers, lakes and meadows combine to create the most spectacular landscape. Aesthetically speaking, Yosemite Valley provides us with some of the most picturesque and unique views in the world.
And then there’s the trails. Yosemite has more than 800 miles of trails. Unfortunately, and like most national parks, dogs are not allowed on most of the trails. However, I was VERY impressed with number and design of the many paved accessible trails for bicycles, pedestrians and dogs—finally! We actually hiked over 10 miles our first day at Yosemite. 10 miles! I’m running out of adjectives to describe this magical area, so I’m going to have to rely on the pictures telling the story!
The pine forests in the western side of the park are considered by arborists as the finest on earth. Jeffery pine, sugar pine, lodgepole pine, ponderosa pine in addition to California red fir reach their greatest expression of height and size in the park. And add the Giant Sequoia groves? Lord, have mercy! The smell of the pines was intoxicating. The silly photo is me happily holding up the remote control to my new selfie stick among the pines—it made things so much easier since as much as I ask Maisie to help me take pictures, she just refuses ;-). How long after this did I lose said remote? Like two hours. Ugg!
Yosemite National Park is also home to some of the most breathtaking waterfalls in the world. With dramatic plunges, powerful cascades, and serene alpine settings, these waterfalls are more than just scenic—they’re unforgettable experiences. Yosemite Falls, dropping 4,425 feet, is the tallest waterfall in all of North America. Maisie and I hiked the Lower Falls Trail both days we were there. The Upper Falls Trail? Well, it ascends over 2,600 feet and is a steep, full-day, 6-10 hour strenuous 7.6-mile round-trip hike, and dogs aren’t allowed. Would I have tried it otherwise? I doubt it! Maybe next year?
Half Dome is an iconic granite monolith—8,800+ ft!!—and is renowned for its unique, sheared-in-half shape and the thrilling, steep cable hike to its summit (or so I hear). I read that it offers a 360-degree view at the apex, challenging hikers with a 16-mile, 4,800-foot ascent, including a near-vertical, 400-foot, 45-degree granite climb using steel cables. (No, I did not try to climb it!) It is considered Yosemite's most popular rock formation.
El Capitán, the largest granite monolith in the world, is known as a mecca for rock climbing. Climbers from all over the world come to train on the 3,000-foot walls of El Capitán, and was once considered the hardest climb in the entire world. (Again, no, I did not try to climb it!) ;D If you haven’t seen the film Free Solo, I’d encourage you to check it out. Can you imagine scaling this behemoth? I mean, this picture is tiny, but the rock is GIGANTIC!
Unfortunately, two of the top attractions Yosemite is known for were not yet open—the only downside to coming during the shoulder season in late April. So Tuolumne Meadows and Glacier Point will have to wait until next time. Something to look forward to x 10,000!!!
Overall, Yosemite was even more beautiful than I imagined. It has soared to the top of my list of all my lower-48 travels so far! But next week, I’ll be heading to Lake Tahoe, so …