Yosemite National Park, California
April, 2011
The family flew down to California to celebrate Lowell's 70th birthday.
All of the images below link to larger images.
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Cynthia's parents rented a cabin for all of us in Wawona, which is inside the National Park.
Here are Lowell and Morgan hanging out on a tributary of the Merced River, just outside of our cabin.
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When you drive into Yosemite Valley, you have to go through a long tunnel.
When you emerge, this is the view into the valley.
Cynthia said that after the long dark tunnel, it was like being born!
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The massive granite face on the left is the world famous El Capitan.
Half Dome is in the distant center.
Bridalveil Falls is on the right.
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We were joined by Kirsten and Chuck, Cynthia's aunt and uncle on Lowell's side of the family.
Kirsten is on the left. I didn't manage to get a photo of Chuck here at Tunnel View.
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We stopped for lunch at a riverside picnic area called Cathedral Beach.
That's El Capitan in the photo, further behind those trees than it looks.
El Capitan consists of about 3000 vertical feet of granite, making for a 20+ pitch rock climb.
This often requires overnight stays on the vertical face for those intrepid climbers who dare the ascent.
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Cynthia and Morgan at Cathedral Beach.
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Yosemite Falls:
This is the reason we came to Yosemite.
Lowell hiked to the top of this incredible waterfall in 1959, as a high school senior.
We came here in 2011 so that Lowell could do it again. The hike gains 2700 feet in 3.4 miles.
The upper falls is basically a river flying off of a 1500+ foot-tall granite cliff.
A few hundred feet down from the top, the waterfall hits a big ledge and blasts out all over the place.
By the time it reaches the bottom, it has become almost all mist and spray.
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Some family photos:
Left: Lowell with Kirsten and Chuck
Right: Anna and Kirsten
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The Sentinel
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Half Dome
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Bridalveil Falls
We arrived here at the perfect time of day to see a really crisp double rainbow.
Morgan kept pointing at it and saying "Uh-oh!"
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The trail to the area near the base of Bridalveil Falls was wet!
By the time Cynthia, Morgan, and I reached the top, it was like being in a shower.
Maybe that's why Morgan was saying "Uh-oh".
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There was something at the Vistor Center for everyone.
For me it was the subduction zone, for Morgan it was the deer she saw outside, for Cynthia it was John Muir.
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April, Lowell, Cynthia, Morgan, and I started up the Upper Yosemite Falls trail on Saturday morning.
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I had Morgan on my back the whole way up.
Cynthia took a timeout to nurse Morgan off the side of the trail about half-way up.
Lowell was reliving his teenage experience, 52 years later!
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The sheer height and verticality of the granite faces was very impressive.
We were in the park during the best time of the year for the waterfalls.
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Cynthia and Lowell near the base of Upper Yosemite Falls.
This is about where April decided she had enough of the endless switchbacks and headed back down.
This is also about where I decided that Morgan and I were going to pick up the pace and hike ahead.
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Morgan fell asleep in the backpack as I hiked up to the top of the upper falls.
The trail was pretty steep and rocky, though extremely well-built.
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Here is a panorama from about halfway up the upper falls portion of the trail, looking down into Yosemite Valley.
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Father-Daughter summit shot!
As Morgan slept on the way up, I received lots of encouragement and compliments from other hikers.
Morgan was groggy from her long nap when she awoke, about 15 minutes from the top.
On the summit, she was, at first, more interested in her lunch than the view.
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Individual summit shots.
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Watch that first step!
|
Morgan perked up after some food and started to run around, exploring the broad top of the upper falls viewing area.
I stayed close by, of course.
|
A panorama of the valley from the top. The falls are below me, to the left.
|
Cynthia and Lowell arrived about half an hour later.
Good job Lowell! You made it!
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Lowell's summit shot.
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Family summit shot.
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The short walk down to the upper falls from the top would be totally treacherous if not for the railings.
|
After about an hour on top, we began our long trek back down.
It was getting a little cold, so Cynthia took Morgan and hiked ahead, going quickly down the trail.
Going down is easier on the cardiovascular system, but actually quite a bit harder on the knees and muscles.
Lowell and I took it easy.
|
Half Dome and the Royal Arches (bottom center) with the encroaching evening shadow.
|
Looking back up at Upper Yosemite Falls on the way down, and racing against the sunset.
|
The lighting on the way down was actually better for photography.
|
The many features on the spectacular rock stood out nicely as the shadows spread over the broad cliffs.
Lowell and I made it from the top to the bottom in four hours, arriving at the car just before sunset.
|
We had a birthday dinner that night back at the cabin.
Here's the cake that Cynthia and I picked up in Fresno.
|
We had a great time seeing the park, hiking Yosemite Falls, and visiting with family.
What a way to celebrate turning 70!
Thanks for a wonderful weekend adventure, Lowell and Anna.
|
Cynthia's parents rented a cabin for all of us in Wawona, which is inside the National Park.
Here are Lowell and Morgan hanging out on a tributary of the Merced River, just outside of our cabin.
When you drive into Yosemite Valley, you have to go through a long tunnel.
When you emerge, this is the view into the valley.
Cynthia said that after the long dark tunnel, it was like being born!
The massive granite face on the left is the world famous El Capitan.
Half Dome is in the distant center.
Bridalveil Falls is on the right.
We were joined by Kirsten and Chuck, Cynthia's aunt and uncle on Lowell's side of the family.
Kirsten is on the left. I didn't manage to get a photo of Chuck here at Tunnel View.
We stopped for lunch at a riverside picnic area called Cathedral Beach.
That's El Capitan in the photo, further behind those trees than it looks.
El Capitan consists of about 3000 vertical feet of granite, making for a 20+ pitch rock climb.
This often requires overnight stays on the vertical face for those intrepid climbers who dare the ascent.
Cynthia and Morgan at Cathedral Beach.
Yosemite Falls:
This is the reason we came to Yosemite.
Lowell hiked to the top of this incredible waterfall in 1959, as a high school senior.
We came here in 2011 so that Lowell could do it again. The hike gains 2700 feet in 3.4 miles.
The upper falls is basically a river flying off of a 1500+ foot-tall granite cliff.
A few hundred feet down from the top, the waterfall hits a big ledge and blasts out all over the place.
By the time it reaches the bottom, it has become almost all mist and spray.
Some family photos:
Left: Lowell with Kirsten and Chuck
Right: Anna and Kirsten
The Sentinel
Half Dome
Bridalveil Falls
We arrived here at the perfect time of day to see a really crisp double rainbow.
Morgan kept pointing at it and saying "Uh-oh!"
The trail to the area near the base of Bridalveil Falls was wet!
By the time Cynthia, Morgan, and I reached the top, it was like being in a shower.
Maybe that's why Morgan was saying "Uh-oh".
There was something at the Vistor Center for everyone.
For me it was the subduction zone, for Morgan it was the deer she saw outside, for Cynthia it was John Muir.
April, Lowell, Cynthia, Morgan, and I started up the Upper Yosemite Falls trail on Saturday morning.
I had Morgan on my back the whole way up.
Cynthia took a timeout to nurse Morgan off the side of the trail about half-way up.
Lowell was reliving his teenage experience, 52 years later!
The sheer height and verticality of the granite faces was very impressive.
We were in the park during the best time of the year for the waterfalls.
Cynthia and Lowell near the base of Upper Yosemite Falls.
This is about where April decided she had enough of the endless switchbacks and headed back down.
This is also about where I decided that Morgan and I were going to pick up the pace and hike ahead.
Morgan fell asleep in the backpack as I hiked up to the top of the upper falls.
The trail was pretty steep and rocky, though extremely well-built.
Here is a panorama from about halfway up the upper falls portion of the trail, looking down into Yosemite Valley.
Father-Daughter summit shot!
As Morgan slept on the way up, I received lots of encouragement and compliments from other hikers.
Morgan was groggy from her long nap when she awoke, about 15 minutes from the top.
On the summit, she was, at first, more interested in her lunch than the view.
Individual summit shots.
Watch that first step!
Morgan perked up after some food and started to run around, exploring the broad top of the upper falls viewing area.
I stayed close by, of course.
A panorama of the valley from the top. The falls are below me, to the left.
Cynthia and Lowell arrived about half an hour later.
Good job Lowell! You made it!
Lowell's summit shot.
Family summit shot.
The short walk down to the upper falls from the top would be totally treacherous if not for the railings.
After about an hour on top, we began our long trek back down.
It was getting a little cold, so Cynthia took Morgan and hiked ahead, going quickly down the trail.
Going down is easier on the cardiovascular system, but actually quite a bit harder on the knees and muscles.
Lowell and I took it easy.
Half Dome and the Royal Arches (bottom center) with the encroaching evening shadow.
Looking back up at Upper Yosemite Falls on the way down, and racing against the sunset.
The lighting on the way down was actually better for photography.
The many features on the spectacular rock stood out nicely as the shadows spread over the broad cliffs.
Lowell and I made it from the top to the bottom in four hours, arriving at the car just before sunset.
We had a birthday dinner that night back at the cabin.
Here's the cake that Cynthia and I picked up in Fresno.
We had a great time seeing the park, hiking Yosemite Falls, and visiting with family.
What a way to celebrate turning 70!
Thanks for a wonderful weekend adventure, Lowell and Anna.