Yosemite Trip 7/12/2008 - 7/19/2008

7/17/2008: Day 6 - Once again, today we made another change to our scheduled trip. Instead of trying to knock out 11 miles, we decided to head down another route that would take us towards some of the most popular areas in the park, the waterfalls. Part of the reason we came out west early this year was to make sure we got to see the waterfalls, so this was an easy choice to make. The waterfalls are as awesome as everyone says. I could not even begin to imagine how these falls look during snow melt.

What was really interesting was seeing the day hikers on the way down. At the beginning we saw the better day hikers since we were farther up and they were headed towards Half Dome (some should have thought twice about that goal), but as we headed closer to civilization the worse shape the day hikers got. We had one guy ask us if we spent the night out. Hmmm, let me see. I have a full beard, been wearing the same clothes for six days and carrying a 45lb pack, "Yea, we were out for 5 nights and 6 days, is that what you asked me?". Lots of people could not believe that we had spent that much time out there, but now that I think back on it, that gave me a sense of pride that we did do it!! Also, I should give Tom a little credit since he thinks I just whine and complain with my little blurbs on the pictures, I did carry out all my food this trip and Tom did not have to carry out the usual left over packet of Romain Noodles!!

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• This buck was quite tame as it strolled through our campsite the last morning.
• Me and Nevada Falls! Tom failed to tell me my hat was crooked.
• Neat water shoot in the creek.
• I thought this was cool the way the water spread out over the rock face.
• Nevada Falls from the bottom. Very powerful waterfall.
• Tom and Nevada Falls.
• Obviously the spray from the falls keeps this area lush.
• Looking down from the top of Vernal Falls.
• Look closely in the water, you can see the shadow of me taking the piture.
• You can really see the force of the water as it hits the rocks at the bottom of the falls.
• Nice flow on this water fall. To make sure the falls were still running, we took our annual trip earlier then usual.
• Baby squirells, too cute not to take a picture.
• Notice the mist makes the picture look a little grainy. Also, notice the cloudless sky.
• Rainbow coming out of the mist from the bottom of Vernal Falls.
• Looking up at Vernal Falls.
• Looking through the mist up the trail. This section was called the mist trail. The mist was very cooling and I was glad that I was going down and not up!
• One last look up at Vernal Falls before continuing.
• A rainbow in the mist as you look down the creek, heading into the valley.
• This was a shot from where the paved trail meets the real trail. Lots of muggles (for those Potter fans).
• Upper Yosemite Falls. I was disappointed that the flow here was not very good.
• Lower Yosemite Falls.
• Different perspective of Upper Yosemite Falls.
• Upper, Middle and Lower Yosemite Falls.
• Half Dome from Yosemite Valley Floor.
• Another shot of Upper and Lower Yosemite Falls.
• The terrain in the valley go from completely flat to straight up. No way I could get a picture that could really show this contrast.
• Bridal Veil Falls.
• More granite rock outcroppings from the valley floor.
• Probably the most notable place to take a picture with all the big name peaks and mountains all within view.
• El Capitan
• Zoomed in picture of Half Dome and Clouds Rest.
• Nerd!!
• El Capitan
• Last parting shot of El Capitan before leaving for San Francisco.

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