Yosemite National Park--A Natural Wonder
Yosemite Holds A Special Place In My Heart
I've been visiting Yosemite almost every year since I was 7 months old and haven't missed too many years in my 62 years on the earth.This year, I'm gearing up to a trip to "Mysemite" the end of July. Many of you, like me, grew up with yearly Yosemite vacations and now you continue the tradition with your extended families. To all of you Yosemite Lovers...take a moment to reminisce.
To those of you who have never been to the Park, please take a few minutes to peruse this lens and learn about one on the country's beautiful national parks.
Table of Contents
- Remembering trips to Glacier Point
- Forgotten Tradition--See a picture of the Firefall
- Remembering Evening Get-Togethers
- Biking and Hiking the Valley Floor
- Beaches Galore--Around Every Bend of the Merced River
- Useful sites to help you plan your next trip
- My Most Prized Shots
- Magical Yosemite In The Winter
- Current Weather In Yosemite
- Yosemite Memorabilia on CafePress
- Yosemite National Park--by Wikipedia
- Yosemite photos shared by Flickr
- Are you a Yosemite Enthusiast?
- DVDs About Yosemite on Amazon
- Yosemite National Park Waterfalls On YouTube
- Great Books About Yosemite
- Do you remember the Firefall?
Remembering trips to Glacier Point
You can get to the top of Glacier Point by car or hiking. We would most often travel by car. There were some years some of our party would hike to the top. Wow, what a spectacular view at the top.In years past, we were even privileged to witness the Firefall. The Firefall is long gone and if you were not in Yosemite in the 50's and 60's or earlier, then you probably do not know what I'm talking about. It looked like a waterfall--only it was a fire being pushed over the cliff from Glacier Point. People would gather at the point and there would be a ranger naturalist program. Then we would listen as a man from Glacier Point and a man from Camp Curry communicated calling out to each other using an amplifying cone. Then we'd watch as the man pushed the large fire and coals over the cliff.
We most often observed the Firefall from the valley. Camp Curry was a popular place to observe the Firefall. There would be a ranger program there also and then the Firefall ceremony.
Tunnel lookout point (road to Glacier Point)
Forgotten Tradition--See a picture of the Firefall
- A History of the Yosemite Firefall
- A History and Personal Remembrance of the Yosemite Firefall
Remembering Evening Get-Togethers
Several evenings my parents, my brother and sisters and our extented families would meet at one of the campsites and bring our favorite dinner entries and share with the other families. We also enjoyed stories and singing around the campfire, card games and other games. 
Camp get-together for dinner
Water balloon toss or splash
Evening of card games
Biking and Hiking the Valley Floor
I remember, as a child, lots of hikes. Once during each trip my Dad would take a day and go out of the valley to fish at El Portal. When Dad went fishing Mom would walk us all over the valley. We'd pack a lunch and stop somewhere near the river for a lunch break. When we got back to camp, we would get ready for a swim at the river near our camp.In more recent years, I still enjoy the hikes but now we also take our bikes. There are paved bike paths throughout the main traffic areas of the valley.
Time out for great shot on bike ride
Favorite Campground ... Washed Out
All-Day Hike To Yosemite Falls--View From Top
Beaches Galore--Around Every Bend of the Merced River
We looked forward to our daily invigorating dip in the river each afternoon. We frequented the beach near our Lower River Campground (campground is closed since the flood). Groups of us would raft down the river together and shuttle back.Another favorite beach was below El Capitan. It was a little bit of a distance so we would drive and take our lunch and spend most of the day there.
Beach At Lower River Campground
Grab your raft and join the train
Water Play Near Shore
Useful sites to help you plan your next trip
- Yosemite Hotel Reservations and Yosemite Camping Reservations : Yosemite Park
- Book Yosemite reservations and make plans to experience this spectacular national park. View pricing information for Yosemite lodging reservations online. Check Yosemite hotel reservation availability and book your stay at YosemitePark.com. (You may book your reservations one year and a day ahead)
- Federal recreation, camping and tour reservation information - Recreation.gov
- Recreation Area Camping Reservations; Tours; Day Use; Search by Map; Wilderness Permits. (You may make camping reservations 5 months in advance)
- Yosemite National Park Camping Reservations, California
- Take the guess work out of making national park reservations; shows you exactly which dates are available in each campground. You'll still need to use the offical site to actually make your reservation.
- Yosemite National Park (U.S. National Park Service)
- The Official park website has all of the information you are looking for to plan your visit to Yosemite National Park.
My Most Prized Shots
Beauty Under The Clouds
Gateway To The Valley
Magical Yosemite In The Winter
Having no pictures of my own, I share some pictures--compliments of Photo Bucket and you can see what I mean about the "magical" element of Yosemite in the winter.
Current Weather In Yosemite
Current weather conditions in Yosemite Natl Park, CA (95389)
Local Pollen Reports
59°F (Feels like 59°F)
Last update: 7/13/09 1:30 AM PDT
Humidity: 34%Visibility: 10.0 mi
Dew Point: 30°F
UV Index: 0 (Lawn and Garden Weather)
Barometer: 30.32in falling
Moon: Rush Hour Traffic
Wind: 9mph From: Airport Conditions
Tonight
Low
Low: 56°F
Sunrise: 5:47 AM
Sunset: 8:21 PM
Monday
Jul 13
Sunny
High: 86°F
Low: 59°F
Sunrise: 5:48 AM
Sunset: 8:20 PM
Tuesday
Jul 14
Sunny
High: 90°F
Low: 60°F
Sunrise: 5:48 AM
Sunset: 8:20 PM
Wednesday
Jul 15
Sunny
High: 91°F
Low: 60°F
Sunrise: 5:49 AM
Sunset: 8:19 PM
Yosemite Memorabilia on CafePress
Yosemite Rectangle Magnet
Price: 5.49 
El Capitan Yosemite Valley Mini Poster Print
Price: 10.00
Yosemite National Park (Arch) Value T-shirt
Price: 14.99
Lembert Dome, Yosemite Women's Cap Sleeve T-Shirt
Price: 21.99
Yosemite National Park Ceramic Travel Mug
Price: 21.99
Yosemite National Park--by Wikipedia
Yosemite National Park ( ) is a national park spanning eastern portions of Tuolumne, Mariposa and Madera counties in east central California, United States. The park covers an area of 761,266 acres or 1,189 square miles (3,081 km²) and reaches across the western slopes of the Sierra Nevada mountain chain.Harris, Geology of National Parks (5th ed), p. 324. Yosemite is visited by over 3.5 million people each year, many of whom only spend time in the seven square miles (18 km²...
Yosemite photos shared by Flickr
The Falls
Stone
Meadow
Contrast
Obscured
The Falls
The Falls
The Falls
Rising
Spider Webs
Are you a Yosemite Enthusiast?
Please take a minute to answer my poll.
DVDs About Yosemite on Amazon
Discovering Yosemite National Park 2: Second Edition 2 DVD Set
Amazon Price: (as of 07/13/2009)
Camp Curry Memories, Yosemite National Park
Amazon Price: (as of 07/13/2009)
Yosemite, Vol. 5
Amazon Price: (as of 07/13/2009)
Yosemite: The Seasons
Amazon Price: (as of 07/13/2009)
Yosemite National Park Waterfalls On YouTube
Great Books About Yosemite
The Photographer's Guide to Yosemite
Amazon Price: (as of 07/13/2009)
Best Easy Day Hikes Yosemite National Park, 2nd (Best Easy Day Hikes Series)
Amazon Price: $7.95 (as of 07/13/2009)
Hiking Yosemite National Park, 2nd (Hiking Guide Series)
Amazon Price: $10.17 (as of 07/13/2009)
Rock Climbing Tuolumne Meadows, 4th (Regional Rock Climbing Series)
Amazon Price: $22.50 (as of 07/13/2009)
Do you remember the Firefall?
Please share your feelings about Yosemite.
kiwisoutback wrote...
Beautiful work, once again. I'd love to see this lens added to the National Parks Group! Stop by and submit it if you have a moment, it would be a great addition.
Posted March 10, 2009
Rgrewell99 wrote...
Brought back good memories of a vacation there with my two sisters and all our families. Very nice site!
Thanks and God Bless!
Ron Grewell
Posted February 17, 2009
Such a great Lens 5* and welcome to Travelmania Group.
Tapir Travel
Posted August 04, 2008
kiwisoutback wrote...
Nice work! I love Yosemite, one of my favorite National Parks. My favorite parts are the tunnel view and Tolumne Meadows, the views are outstanding. I've never been this late in the year though, I'd imagine the traffic is pretty bad. One time we went and the valley was flooded, it was a strange site to see the falls flowing out to the valley floor.
Posted July 30, 2008
