My love affair with Yosemite began over 25 years ago when I first drove through the Wawona tunnel and pulled over to view the “Gates of the Valley” (above). This first view of the Yosemite Valley when arriving is so magnificent and breath taking, that I, along with others there, could only stand and stare in wonder and awe. I was not prepared for the grandeur before me, for the massive granite rocks that dwarfed mighty pines to the size of mere blades of grass. I’d seen many photos, especially those of the master, Ansel Adams, but no one can really capture the majesty of God’s creation in two dimensions. The explorer Lafayette Bunnell wrote in 1851, “None but those who have visited this most wonderful valley can even imagine the feelings with which I looked upon the view that was there presented.”

The Valley
The Yosemite Valley, shaped by glaciers and sculpted by erosion and the Merced River, lays seven miles long and one mile at it’s widest. My friend and I stayed in a small cabin at the Yosemite Lodge that first trip, and all of my trips in the years after, with a view of Yosemite Falls by day (photo at left) and the soft thundering of the falls drifting over at night. I especially enjoyed the cool early mornings, sitting on the steps of the cabin, looking up at the cliffs and trees, listening to the falls and breathing in the clean pine-scented air. For a country girl now living in a large city, I’d found my heaven on earth. As many people do, my friend and I considered any and all possibilities for living and working there—from becoming park rangers to working at the stables mucking out stalls. But, alas, we had to content ourselves with promises to return as often as possible and to make the most of each visit. Over the years I’ve hiked all the trails, explored the valley floor from one end to the other, and watched rock climbers clinging to the face of El Capitan. I’ve dined on fabulous cuisine in the Ahwahnee Hotel dining room while gazing at the surrounding cliffs, as well as eaten gorp on the side of a trail with squirrels begging for crumbs. I’ve walked through the nearby Mariposa Groves marveling at the giant Sequoia trees. And I’ve taken numerous photos, a few of which are on this page and in slide shows (click on the photos in each of the sections below).

The Waterfalls
I love waterfalls. I could spend hours watching, listening–mesmerized–as water cascades, plunges, streams from the cliffs to the valley floor, as volumes of mist are sent dancing on the breeze. I always plan my trips for spring when runoff from the snow melt is at its peak. As wonderful as Yosemite is, for me it wouldn’t be the same without the falls. Several can be seen from the valley floor, but quite a few others are found only by hiking into the canyons. Yosemite Falls, my favorite, is the second tallest fall in the world at 2,425 feet. It is actually two falls, the top fall (right) is 1,430 feet. I’ve viewed it many ways... from the bottom (getting quite wet), from the top looking down from a viewing platform (after a rather strenuous hike) and from across the valley from the four-mile trail. A favorite hike of mine is to the Vernal and Nevada Falls. There is a steep climb up a rock staircase beside the Vernal Falls, called the Mist trail. Though when the falls are especially full, “mist” takes on a whole new meaning. For more waterfall photos, click photo at right.

The High Country
Many people who visit Yosemite stay in the valley and never travel into the high country. If they only knew. Looking down from the cliffs affords views that cannot be equaled, like the one from Glacier Point (left). I’ve traveled through the this vast, magnificent area by car, foot and horseback; over snow, marshy meadows and granite fields. At Tioga Pass the road crosses the crest of the Sierra at 9,945 feet, the highest automobile pass in California. From the pass you see a divide with two worlds. Looking west, the moist rain-filled world of meadows and forests stretches before you. Looking east, you see the parched face of the high granite deserts. For more scenic views, click the photo at left.

The Wildflowers
From the valley floor through the high country, Yosemite is resplendent with color from over 1,500 species of flower. Some of these include: Penstemon, Lupine, Wild Iris, Shooting Stars, Yarrow, Pacific Dogwood, Manzanita, Foxglove, Yarrow, Evening Primrose, Sierra Primrose, Crimson Columbine, Larkspur, Mountain Heather, Alpine Laurel and, of course, the California Poppy. One of my favorite spots is Summit Meadow (right), off the Badger Pass road. Under a blanket of snow until late spring, it sometimes doesn’t completely dry out, leaving this moist subalpine meadow a nature’s playground of wildflowers. On one visit, I saw a cinnamon-colored bear in the meadow far up near the trees, but he loped away before I could take his picture. One of my favorite flowers is Lupine, which has several varieties in various shades purple. To see these and other photos of wildflowers, click photo at right.
Upon leaving after that first visit, I stopped at the turnoff for one last look at the Gates of the Valley...and wept. This had become more than a vacation or trip to the mountains. Many who travel have a special place they consider their own, a place where they feel they belong the moment they arrive. A place where they feel more alive or more at peace. Yosemite is mine. Each time I return, I feel I’m coming home.