Tag Archives: Yosemite

Is Rock Stacking Graffiti?

Posted on December 22, 2012

I wrote recently about people feeling free to scratch their names into the salt beds at Badwater in Death Valley National Park and whether we should be ambivalent toward this “temporary” graffiti. Even if nature can eventually erase it, doesn’t it just encourage others to mark more areas of our national parks with their names where it’s not nearly as easy for nature to remove the graffiti? Here is another one of those questions that I recently began to wonder … Continue reading →

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Dry Yosemite National Park

Posted on November 9, 2012

I stopped by to visit Yosemite National Park a couple of weeks ago, and for the first time, I ran into a dry Yosemite. When you see all those spectacular photos of Yosemite Falls, you might forget that the beautiful scene isn’t constant. Depending on the amount of snowfall the region receives during the winter, it’s not uncommon for Yosemite Falls to go dry in the late summer or early autumn. While the valley is still spectacular, for anyone who … Continue reading →

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Tightrope Over Yosemite Falls

Posted on October 21, 2011

I was looking at some videos of national parks when I stumbled across this video of a German man who apparently decided that it would be a good idea to tightrope across the top of Upper Yosemite Falls a couple of summers ago. Luckily he had the sanity to place a safety line to the tightrope which he ended up needing. Even with the safety line, my teeth were clinched the entire time watching this…

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Rock Climbing Sentinel With No Ropes Video Yosemite National Park

Posted on October 2, 2011

I just can’t imagine how anyone could do this without totally freaking out. 60 Minutes cameras were rolling when Alex Honnold free-solo climbed Sentinel (a 1,600-foot rock wall at Yosemite National Park) using nothing more than his hands and feet. That’s right — he is up there on that rock face without any ropes to complete a feat never done before. Just watching makes me dizzy:

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Bear Cubs Wrestling at Yosemite National Park

Posted on September 24, 2011

In July 2011, hikers returning from a hike in Hetch Hetchy suddenly stumbled on two bear cubs in the middle of the road and their mother off to the side. The caught the action on video: While seeing bears is not a usual occurrence at Yosemite, there is always the possibility as the road signs warn:

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Half Dome View Yosemite National Park

Posted on September 9, 2011

As you drive along Tioga Road from Crane Flat toward the Tuolumne Meadows at Yosemite National Park, there will be a small, unmarked turn out a few hundred feet before you reach Olmsted Point. The turnout only fits a few cars at most and it’s easy to pass. Trees block the view until you are already directly in front of the turnout, but by that time most cars are traveling too fast to make the stop. If you do manage … Continue reading →

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10 Oldest National Parks

Posted on September 2, 2011

I received an email asking me “what are the 10 oldest national parks?” The first National Park was Yellowstone created in 1872. Number two was Sequoia National Park in 1890 along with Yosemite National Park the same year. While Kings Canyon National Park was established in 1940, it’s included with Sequoia National Park (they are connected) because Kings Canyon National Park incorporated General Grant National Park when it was created. General Grant National Park was established in 1890 to protect … Continue reading →

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Yosemite Lower Falls Photo

Posted on June 20, 2011

Submitted by: Deepti Impressions: Beautiful — a glimpse of Heaven! My must-sees: The Tunnel View Outlook, The Mirror Lake Trail, Lower Yosemite Falls Trail. Yosemite Lower Falls Deepti also had this to say: The Tunnel View Outlook is extremely beautiful! The interesting thing about it is that no two views are same. It keeps changing as the clouds & fog keep drifting around.

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Yosemite Wildlife

Posted on May 5, 2011

As you walk around the Yosemite Valley, there is a fairly good chance that you will come across some wildlife. Squirrels are plentiful and there is also a good possibility of seeing mule deer if you keep your eyes open. There are a wide variety of birds flying around. While much less common to spot, there are black bears, coyotes and mountain lions. Yosemite wildlife makes the beautiful scenery all that more enjoyable: Yosemite Wildlife List Black Bears: If you’re … Continue reading →

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Bridalveil Fall Yosemite

Posted on May 3, 2011

Bridalveil fall is one of the prominent landmarks you will see if you enter Yosemite National Park from the south end and stop at Tunnel View. Bridalveil Fall is 617 feet (188 meters) high and flows year round, although the rate of flow changes from season to season. Ostrander Lake which is just under 10 miles away is the primary water source of Bridalveil Falls. It is a short hike from the parking lot up to a view point of … Continue reading →

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