El Capitan lit up by the early morning sun.
This fall I had a short visit to the iconic Yosemite National Park in California. Luckily, I was there in the height of the fall season so that the colours of the changing leaves were stunning. Two of the best known features in the Yosemite Valley are El Capitan, which is a 3000-ft vertical granite cliff (a very popular rock-climbing location) and the majestic Half Dome. I found their presence awe inspiring, making me feel so insignificant.
Sometimes, it was hard for me to watch, through binoculars, the climbers scaling what seemed to be totally impossible routes up the cliff.
In the evening we drove up to Glacier Point, high above Yosemite Valley to see Half Dome lit up by the setting sun. We were lucky that evening, it was spectacular!
The pristine Merced River which runs through Yosemite Valley. Near where it exits the park, there are places where there are some huge boulders which for me really made the scene extraordinary particularly with the fall colours.
The following day we visited the Tuolumine Grove of Giant Sequoias and had a few hours of pure delight walking among these giants which can be as old as 3000 years!
Further along the Tioga Road, we spent a long time exploring Omstead Point which is a very impressive because of the large expanses of bare granite and the presence of huge boulders strewn around. I was amazed that so many of the trees seem to grow out of the cracks in the granite and somehow survive and thrive in this very harsh environment. It was awe inspiring!
I love this view from Omstead Point looking at the back of Half Dome which has such a powerful presence.
My last day in Yosemite, I visited Upper and Lower Yosemite Falls and on the way there these gorgeous trees towered high above.
I sure hope that I have an opportunity to visit Yosemite again as it truly is a beautiful park.