Saturday, September 19, 2009
Sunday, August 2, 2009
See Seth's pictures by clicking here.
We arrived in Yosemite after 5 pm on July 21, temperature was above 100 degrees F. We drove around the valley and took the short walk to Bridalveil Falls. This was described as easy, and it was with a paved walk to the base of the falls. The signs say the rocks are slick at the base of the falls, and they are not kidding! Just because they may not be wet, don't assume they are not slick. It is not safe to walk on these rocks!.
On Wednesday, we decided to hike to the top of Upper Yosemite Falls. This 7.2 mile hike is described as very strenuous with a 2,700 foot elevation gain. We left at 7 am and returned around 2 pm. The trail was very rocky, dusty, and exposed to the sun - it was very hot after about 10 am. Each person took between 2.5 and 5 liters of water - this was not enough. We were amazed at the number of folks who started the hike in the afternoon with no, or very little water. The views were worth the hike.
After the hike, we drove to Glacier Point.
On Thursday, we decided on an earlier start and more water. Starting at 6 am, the boys took off for Half Dome (14 mile, 4,800 foot elevation gain, described as Extremely Strenuous) and Pat & I went to the top of Nevada Falls (6 mile, 1,900 foot elevation gain, described as strenuous). Seth & William made it to the top of Half Dome around 11 am, and Pat & I finished our hike about 11:30 am. The boys completed their hike around 2 pm.
We took the John Muir Trail to the top of Nevada Falls. This was a much easier trail than Yosemite Falls - most was paved and in the shade. The view from the top was great! We took the Mist Trail down which negated the rise in air temperature.
As some added excitement, a bear got behind us on the trail until Pat scared him off. The bear was either a Grizzly, pictured on the left, or a brown bear pictured below .
On Friday, we took our time in the morning and got to the Mariposa Grove about 10 am - parking areas were already closed. We had to back track to a parking lot and take a 20 minute bus ride. Didn't like the Giant Sequoias as well as coastal redwoods, but they were impressive.
Heading back to the bay area, we passed a large number of wind mills.
We arrived in Yosemite after 5 pm on July 21, temperature was above 100 degrees F. We drove around the valley and took the short walk to Bridalveil Falls. This was described as easy, and it was with a paved walk to the base of the falls. The signs say the rocks are slick at the base of the falls, and they are not kidding! Just because they may not be wet, don't assume they are not slick. It is not safe to walk on these rocks!.
On Wednesday, we decided to hike to the top of Upper Yosemite Falls. This 7.2 mile hike is described as very strenuous with a 2,700 foot elevation gain. We left at 7 am and returned around 2 pm. The trail was very rocky, dusty, and exposed to the sun - it was very hot after about 10 am. Each person took between 2.5 and 5 liters of water - this was not enough. We were amazed at the number of folks who started the hike in the afternoon with no, or very little water. The views were worth the hike.
After the hike, we drove to Glacier Point.
On Thursday, we decided on an earlier start and more water. Starting at 6 am, the boys took off for Half Dome (14 mile, 4,800 foot elevation gain, described as Extremely Strenuous) and Pat & I went to the top of Nevada Falls (6 mile, 1,900 foot elevation gain, described as strenuous). Seth & William made it to the top of Half Dome around 11 am, and Pat & I finished our hike about 11:30 am. The boys completed their hike around 2 pm.
We took the John Muir Trail to the top of Nevada Falls. This was a much easier trail than Yosemite Falls - most was paved and in the shade. The view from the top was great! We took the Mist Trail down which negated the rise in air temperature.
As some added excitement, a bear got behind us on the trail until Pat scared him off. The bear was either a Grizzly, pictured on the left, or a brown bear pictured below .
On Friday, we took our time in the morning and got to the Mariposa Grove about 10 am - parking areas were already closed. We had to back track to a parking lot and take a 20 minute bus ride. Didn't like the Giant Sequoias as well as coastal redwoods, but they were impressive.
Heading back to the bay area, we passed a large number of wind mills.
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