Day: 16
Miles Travelled: 3,853
Miles Hiked: 56.9
Current Location: Yosemite National Park
Yosemite has a countless number of attractions but in general the four things people mention when discussing the park are bears, waterfalls, El Capitan and Half Dome. With two full days in the park we mapped out a plan that would allow us to see as much as possible. Half Dome is roughly a 14 mile hike to the top of an 8,800 foot peak. Unfortunately the later half of the trail is still closed due to snow so we only got to do the first half of the trail on Day 2. Half Dome is the peak slightly to the left of center.
The most famous peak in the park is El Capitan which is pictured below. One night after dark we drove by and from a distance it looked like there were stars reflecting off of the peak. It turned out to be the headlamps on people who were in the middle of climbing the face. It was an amazing sight to see but we could not capture it with a picture so here is a daytime shot.
El Capitan is more famous for rock climbing than for hiking so we decided to focus on seeing the major waterfalls in the park. On the first day we hiked to the top of Upper Yosemite Falls.
The trail involves a 2,700 foot elevation change over 7.2 total miles which translated into 2.5 hours of this on the way up
Up until this point in the trip LD and I were debating what the single most impressive thing we saw was. After this hike there was absolutely no question. The Upper Falls is one of the greatest things I have ever witnessed in my life. The hike up takes you past several outlooks at the bottom of the falls. In addition to the beauty, the hike is extremely strenuous so the views from the top are even more rewarding due to the sense of accomplishment. I would say that after the NYC Marathon, this hike was the hardest single thing I have ever done. Here are some views from the top.
All in all the hike was the best thing on the trip so far. Everything went just about perect. As much as I would like think I am getting good with the camera, these two pictures that I took on the way down are more a product of being in the right place and the right time.
On our way out of the park we stopped at Bridalveil Falls, another of the park's well known attractions. Here is the falls from a distance.
From the parking lot it was a short hike along this stream
to get to the viewing platform which is right at the base of the falls. The noise at the base of the falls is incredible. It sounds like a plane take-off, train crossing and thunder all rolled into one. It also generates a strong breeze that sprays mist in every direction. I took this picture from the viewing platform.
Click here for the full Yosemite National Park - Day 2 photo album
