California Dreaming (Part 2)

Yosemite

This was a great two days!!!!

Of course any day in a National Park is a great day!!

Here is what the Yosemite site says about the park...

Not just a great valley, but a shrine to human foresight, the strength of granite, the power of glaciers, the persistence of life, and the tranquility of the High Sierra.

First protected in 1864, Yosemite National Park is best known for its waterfalls, but within its nearly 1,200 square miles, you can find deep valleys, grand meadows, ancient giant sequoias, a vast wilderness area, and much more.

I took this picture!! With my phone!!!

We had all been to Yellowstone and were curious to see how Yosemite compared. I guess the thing that surprised me most was that Yosemite is a valley, an awe-inspiring, breathtaking valley. I had taught earth science units on U-shaped valleys carved out by ancient glaciers that scraped out softer sedimentary rock leaving behind harder material like granite, but it was just amazing to be standing in such a valley!!

This one, too!!

Yosemite's famous Half Dome.

The other surprise that Yosemite held for me was the beauty of the valley itself.

Dogwoods!!

The Magestic Yosemite Hotel

Dad's favorite features were the waterfalls, rushing river, and Honey.

As you can imagine, Yosemite has a rich rock-climbing history. We were able to spot climbers on the face of the mountains. They looked smaller than ants!

And speaking of small, here are my parents and sister standing at the base of a YOUNG sequoia.

My family is standing at the left-hand side of the trunk. We were unable to visit the Mariposa Grove of Giant Sequoias as it was closed for restoration, but this "baby"in the valley was pretty impressive! Its age is estimated at 200 years where as the Mariposa sequoias are estimated to be 3,000 years old!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

We didn't just visit Yosemite, we were educated on Yosemite. June, our travel agent, arranged for a naturalist to spend the day with us as we explored the park. Andrea shared the history of the park, the geology, the wildlife, and so much more!! It wouldn't have been the same without her!

James and I watch Jeopardy every night to keep our minds sharp. Of course your mind has to be sharp in the first place, which in James' case is true. I should say that I watch Jeopardy to sharpen my mind. In any case, the fact is, I rarely beat him on any question, but I pinned him to the mat when I returned home and this picture came up on an episode!! It's a bear trap!! Thank you, Andrea!

Needless to say, it was hard to leave...

Love ya'll,

Shelli

“There can be nothing in the world more beautiful than the Yosemite, the groves of the giant sequoias and redwoods…and our people should see to it that they are preserved for their children and their children’s children forever, with their majestic beauty all unmarred.”

– President Theodore Roosevelt, 1905

“It is by far the grandest of all the special temples of Nature I was ever permitted to enter.”

– John Muir, 1868.

“This is the magic of Yosemite: It forges heroes. No matter where they come from, from the Alps to the Andes, all self-respecting rock climbers yearn to make a pilgrimage to “the valley” to measure themselves against its giants…To climb here is a rite of passage.”

– Mark Jenkins, 2011.

“A passage of scripture is written on every cliff.”

– Thomas Starr King, 1860.