Yosemite
photo essay
Boulders perched atop Olmsted Point
Frederick Law Olmsted, founder of American landscape architecture and creator of New York’s Central Park, helped shape the vision for Yosemite National Park (and all public lands) in 1865. His forethought, with additional contributions from Frederick Law Olmsted, Jr., laid the premise for protecting the park’s natural resources.
The world-famous granite monolith El Capitan
The vertical rock face is 3,000 feet from base to summit; to see it being climbed (and that it was even climbed free solo) seems a feat of humankind.
Alder Falls
A serene hike leads to a view above the falls, complete with micro-gardens growing out of rock.
Harlequin lupine, Lupinus stiversii, is one of the most colorful in Yosemite and a treasure along the trail.
Bridal Veil Falls
The mist rising from the falls looks like tufts of tulle from a bride’s veil. Yosemite has numerous high waterfalls & steep drops. Bridal Veil gushes over 600’.
Western blue flag iris, Iris missouriensis
This petite crop was showing for spring with such a painterly petal.
Tioga Road overlook
We visited Tioga Road early on the day it opened for the warm season. The road meanders through a high alpine region of the park and grants access to trails, vistas, high meadows, and rivers and lakes. On this day in late May, snow covers areas of the high alpine region Yosemite National Park.
View of Half Dome
Half Dome, another iconic granite rock formation, punctuates a number of views throughout the park from many different points and elevations. The grand scale of the Sierras is difficult to capture piece-by-piece; it is one awe-inspiring, jaw-droppingly beautiful landscape. It is easy to imagine the explorations of John Muir in this geologic playground.
High alpine stream and meadow.
Fresh snow melt meant fast-flowing water and boggy meadows getting ready to wake up for the summer growing season.
The Merced River
Pearl enjoyed creekside walks and dipping her paws in the cold water on multiple occasions.
Yosemite National Park was a beautiful experience. Thank you for reading!