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A drive through Yosemite Valley
The next two days, Bob and I drove through Yosemite Valley, hitting many of the traditional photo spots. We came in the south entrance of the park and the first vista point on the main road is Inspiration Point, overlooking El Capitan (left), Half Dome (center) and Bridalveil Fall (not shown).
Bridalveil Fall
A short drive down Southside Drive, and you come across the vista to Bridalveil Fall. A short quarter-mile walk from the parking lot, along the creek, brings you to the base of the falls. This is one fall that is reputed to never dry up and falls its 620 feet year-round.
El Capitan
Further along the road and you pass El Capitan, a granite monolith rising 3600 feet and a challenge to rock-climbers everywhere. It takes anywhere from 4 to 9 days to ascend, while starting out with up to 200 pounds of water and supplies to carry along. Definitely not a climb for the faint-of-heart!
Yosemite Falls
Our first glimpse of Yosemite Falls came from along Southside Drive. The meadow, along the Merced River, was a habitat restoration project, hence the wooden walkway to protect the area surrounding it from foot traffic. One afternoon was particularly windy, making the meadow come alive as the grasses bent and swayed in undulating patterns with the force of the breeze.
Half Dome
As Southside Drive loops back across Sentinel Bridge, Half Dome is spectacular with the Merced River in the foreground. Half Dome rises 8842 feet from the valley floor and its unique flat surface is how the rock was carved by natural, glacial forces. It was not due to any breakage in the rock face itself.
Lower Yosemite Fall trail
Traveling back along Northside Drive, Bob and I stopped to walk the Lower Yosemite Fall trail. The trail first gives you a closer view of Upper Yosemite Fall, which drops 1430 feet. It's roughly a half-hour long walk, through the forest and along Yosemite Creek. The trail concludes with a vista at the base of Lower Yosemite Fall, dropping 320 feet.
