Yosemite Valley Tunnel View - Yosemite Valley with Half Dome in the distance




Yosemite Valley Yosemite Valley - The Ahwahneechee tribe believed that Bridalveil Falls was home to a vengeful spirit named Pohono which guarded the entrance to the valley, and that those leaving the valley must not look directly into the waterfall lest they be cursed. Oddly enough, they also believed inhaling the mist of Bridalveil Fall would improve one's chances of getting married.




Yosemite Valley Yosemite Valley




Yosemite Valley Vernal Fall is a large waterfall on the Merced River just downstream of Nevada Fall in Yosemite National Park, USA.
It is 317 feet (97 m) high. It is accessible via the Mist Trail, which climbs close enough to the fall so that hikers must travel through the fall's mist. It is also clearly visible from Glacier Point.
The waterfall runs all year long, although by the end of summer, it is substantially reduced in volume and can split into multiple strands, rather than a single curtain, of water.




Yosemite Valley Nevada Fall is a 594 ft (181 m) high waterfall on Merced River in Yosemite National Park, California.




Yosemite Valley Nevada Fall is located below the granite dome, Liberty Cap, at the west end of Little Yosemite Valley.
The hike to the top of Nevada Falls, along the Mist Trail, is 3.4 miles from the trailhead in Yosemite Valley. One must first hike to Vernal Falls and then trek another 2 miles to reach the top.




Yosemite Valley Mule Deers on the trail to Little Yosemite Valley
The Mule Deer (Odocoileus hemionus) is a deer whose habitat is in the western half of North America. It gets its name from its large mule-like ears. Its closest relative is the Black-tailed Deer. The two species often share natural habitats, and can be mistaken for one another. The most noticeable differences between the two are the color of their tails and their antlers. The Mule Deer's tail is black tipped. Mule Deer antlers "fork" as they grow rather than growing and expanding forward.




Yosemite Valley Half Dome's East face.
Half Dome is a granite dome at the eastern end of Yosemite Valley, possibly the Valley's most familiar sight. The granite crest rises more than 4,737 feet (1,440 m) above the Valley floor.




Yosemite Valley Merced River Valley




Yosemite Valley As late as the 1870s, Half Dome was considered completely unclimbable, but it may now be ascended in several different ways. Thousands of hikers reach the top each year by following a trail from the valley floor. The trailhead is only two miles from Half Dome itself, but the circuitous route is 8.5 miles (13.5 kilometres) long.




Yosemite Valley The final ascent is accomplished by following a pair of metal cables raised on posts up the peak's steep but somewhat rounded east face. The cable route was constructed in 1919.




Yosemite Valley On the way back to the campground after I attempted to hike Half Dome. The cables were down and my shape was worse than ever.




Yosemite Valley Yosemite Valley




Yosemite Valley Mist trail above Vernal Fall. This is one of the few places where a complete circular rainbow can be viewed. Along the trail, the Merced River is a tumultuous mountain stream, lying in a U-shaped valley. Enormous boulders, the size of a house, are dwarfed by the sheer faces of exfoliating granite, which rise 3000 feet (914 m) from the river. Through it all, the Merced river rushes down from its source in the High Sierra, and broadens on the floor of Yosemite valley.




Yosemite Valley Mist trail along Nevada Fall.
Nevada Fall is over twice the height of Vernal Falls, although there is no cascade of mist over the trail at that waterfall.




Yosemite Valley Half Dome, Vernal Fall, Liberty Cap and Nevada Fall




Yosemite Valley Vernal Fall and Nevada Fall as seen from Glacier Point.
Glacier Point is located on the south wall of Yosemite Valley at an elevation of 7214 ft (2199 m), 3200 ft (975 m) above Curry Village. The point offers a superb view of Yosemite National Park, including Yosemite Falls, Half Dome, Vernal Falls, Nevada Falls, and Clouds Rest.
Glacier Point can be reached from the Valley via Glacier Point Road. Shuttle buses require approximately 1 hour to make the trip. Don't drive, unless you want to spend hours in the car.
Glacier Point can also be reached via the Four Mile Trail, which ascends the 3200 feet (975 m) in 4.5 miles (7.2 km). This extremely steep and strenuous trail assists in solitude when the road is closed.




Yosemite Valley El Capitan is a 3,000-foot vertical rock formation and it is one of the world's most popular monoliths among rock climbers.
The name "El Capitan" was a translation from the Native American name "To-to-kon oo-lah", which was named after "To-to-kon", a Paiute chief of the natives of the area.




Yosemite Valley Yosemite Falls is the highest measured waterfall in North America.
The total 2425-foot (739-m) distance from the top of the upper falls to the base of the lower falls qualifies Yosemite Falls as the 6th highest waterfall in the world




Yosemite Valley Half Dome




Yosemite Valley Yosemite Valley - Steller's Jay. It is also known as the Long-crested Jay, the Mountain Jay, and the Pine Jay. It is the only crested jay west of the Rocky Mountains.




Yosemite Valley Mirror Lake is called also Kekotooyem, (Sleeping Water) and Awiyah. The area is eight acres, and the depth from eight to twenty feet. The water is remarkably clear and placid, and the reflection of the Washington Column and of the South Half Dome on its surface is so nearly perfect that photographic views of them are frequently mistaken for upright views taken directly from the objects themselves.