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Wednesday, November 16, 2011

Yosemite National Park

Our final destination on our recent trip west was Yosemite National Park in California. Unfortunately, it appeared that we had used up all our allotted sunshine before we reached Yosemite. It was overcast and drizzling the day we arrived. But Yosemite is a beautiful place in any kind of weather.


The above picture was taken at Tunnel View, so called because it's the view that awaits park visitors as they exit the Wawona Tunnel when entering Yosemite from the south. If you look closely, you can see Bridalveil Falls a little to the right of center in the photograph.

There wasn't a lot of water flowing over the falls on the day of our arrival. However, it rained that night. Things looked a little different the next day.

This is basically the same view as above, but with more water flowing over Bridalveil Falls.

Bridalveil Falls

El Capitan

Bridalveil Falls

That's Bridalveil Falls again in the background.

Yosemite Falls

Yosemite Falls consists of Upper Falls, Middle Cascades (which are not visible from the valley floor), and Lower Falls. In the above picture, you can see Lower Falls slightly left of center, just above the trees. At 2,425 feet (739 m), Yosemite Falls is the highest waterfall in North America and one of the highest waterfalls in the world. The Upper Fall alone, plunging 1,430 feet (440 m), is numbered among the twenty highest waterfalls in the world.

On our first day in the park, there was very little water coming over Yosemite Falls. The above picture was taken on our second day, after a good rain. My nephew and his family were out there in the early summer, though, and the flow of water at that time was just awesome. The best time to go, to see Yosemite Falls at its finest, is late spring or early summer.

There is so much more to see at Yosemite than we were able to see on this trip. Several inches of snow fell in the upper elevations while we were there, closing Glacier Point Road and Tioga Road. So our visit was limited to the valley. But the valley alone is worth a visit to this national park.


11 comments:

  1. Yosemite is absolutely gorgeous --especially for waterfall lovers like us. We MUST get there sometime.

    Great set of photos. Thanks!
    Hugs,
    Betsy

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  2. Wow.. such magnificent scenery. I'll bet there were many times that you were awestruck by the beauty and power of what you saw.

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  3. It thrills me every time I see your photo's, nature and our world is just breathtaking. You are so lucky to have seen it first hand, I hope one day I will get the chance :o)

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  4. You have some wonderful pictures here! Thanks for taking me away on a short trip these morning.

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  5. Betsy - I know you'd love it. But you'll want to go in the spring, when the flow of water over the falls is at its peak.

    Hilary - When we see things like this, we're awestruck, not only by the beauty and power of what we're seeing, but by the realization that the One Who created it loves us and wants to be in a relationship with us.

    Deborah - Thanks so much for your enthusiastic response to my photos. And you're right...there is so much beauty in our world.

    Betty - Thanks, kindly. You deserve a little getaway. :)

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  6. Linda, what fantastic beauty our Lord created.

    You are an incredibly good photographer!

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  7. Carla - God did the work. I just took the pictures. :) Thanks so much for the visit and the kind words.

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  8. You do have a talent for photography, Linda! I had no idea that Yosemite Falls is one of the highest falls in the world! I'd love to take a trip there.

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  9. Cheryl - Other folks with photo blogs put my humble efforts to shame, but I appreciate your kind comment about my photography. I hope you do make it out to Yosemite. It's worth the trip.

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  10. Goodness, I don't know how I missed this post. Another great park that I've always heard so much about, but never been! Eddie and I always talk about what National Park he'll go to next. We may have to put Yosemite on the list based on these pictures!

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  11. Elizabeth - I love adding to your and Eddy's "bucket" list. :)

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