Jan's Blog: Yosemite National Park

Yosemite National Park, about four hours’ drive east from San Francisco, is internationally recognized for its spectacular granite cliffs, waterfalls, clear streams, Giant Sequoia groves and biological diversity.

In 1864, President Abraham Lincoln created the Yosemite Grant, the first instance of park land being set aside specifically for preservation and public use.

The public are certainly encouraged to use it, and they do. You can visit as a day tripper, or stay in hotels, lodges, luxury hired tents, campgrounds or hike tents. You can travel around there by stretch limo, coach tour, shuttle bus. private car, bike, horse, mule, canoe or on foot.

Laura had booked us a very well appointed alpine chalet, Eagle’s Nest, about 30 minutes’ drive from the main visitor centre, which at this holiday time of year was very crowded. We had the top floor.

A spectacular view of the park can be seen from the Tunnel View Vista Point, located directly east of the Wawona Tunnel as we entered Yosemite Valley from the south. The view includes, from the left, the southwest face of El Capitan, Half Dome, and the Bridalveil Falls.

While we (and many other people) were enjoying the scenery at Tunnel View Vista Point, along came one of the many tour vehicles. So cute!

The granite crest of Half Dome, rising 1,444 metres above the valley floor, is possibly Yosemite's most familiar rock formation.

Half Dome and the Nevada Falls.

Yosemite Falls, at 739 metres, is the highest measured waterfall in North America, and the seventh highest in the world.

This is a picture of the Upper Falls.

This is a picture of the Lower Falls.

Pat moved in for a much closer view, but as my camera and I had already been saturated by a waterfall the day before, I stayed further away for a drier view.