A three year drought and a number of raging wildfires have taken their toll on Yosemite’s neighboring valley, Hetch Hetchy.  The magnificent granite cliffs once dotted with deep green are now marbled with grays and browns of burned or drought stressed trees.  Everywhere in the park system they continually remind us that forest fire is a good thing.  It maintains a natural balance.  Here in Hetch Hetchy it just looks sad.

The reservoir still holds a great deal of water…San Francisco looks to be in good shape…I just hope it isn’t all going to green lawns and golf courses. There are a lot of mighty pines up here that could put it to better use.

Our shuttle bus driver mentioned a new fire in the area today. Turns out it must be growing pretty quickly.  As we drive home from Wawona, billows of smoke rise from the valley to the west.  In the darkening night it looks like lava flowing down the mountainsides.  It isn’t very close so it’s not really scary, just sad to see.  US 140 out of the park is closed and Yosemite Valley is filled with smoke that is obscuring the anticipated full moon views.  We will check at the ranger station in the morning to get the real story on how it got started and how it is progressing.

Pinks and oranges bounce off the high scattered clouds.  Lovely.

Kent took the opportunity to get some instruction from the Ansel Adams Studio on digital photography.  While all the terminology is the same, there are substantial differences and capabilities between film and digital photography.  The future will tell if the instruction makes a substantial difference in the end product but, he now has a better understanding of the capabilities of his digital camera.  It was a fun afternoon.

Strolling and sitting. Studying intently, sometimes even through binoculars.  Taking it in almost passively just letting the eye wander from soaring heights of Yosemite Falls (bone dry by the way) and Cathedral Mountain to the river side meadows cradling the meandering river.  The common place deer, woodpeckers, jays, and ravens, and the rarer, mama black beer and her cubs shared my day.  It does for the brain and the spirit what a hot tub soak does for the body.   I highly recommend it.

We found ourselves perched on the towering cliffs of the south wall of Yosemite Valley.  From Taft Point, El Capitan and Cathedral Spires towered as our equals in the brilliant sun.  From Sentinel Dome we got a bird’s eye view of Half Dome against a clear blue sky.  Glacier Point provides that perfect perspective for a breathtaking Half Dome at sunset.

The trek to the views is an experience itself.

The Taft Point trail starts out pretty benign; a quiet walk through, fragrant, shade cooled, thick forested terrain with enormous granite boulders scattered about where ancient glaciers lay them. Step out from among the trees and emerge on a rugged, sun baked point.  It’s clear where the trail leads, out to the edge of the cliffs that mark the valley walls.  Along the way great fissures give glimpses into the depths below.  At the cliffs edge I had to kneel down to be brave enough to peek over.  The world is huge from here.

Sentinel Dome is one of a handful of smooth topped granite monoliths that bring a special character to Yosemite landscape.   By the way, you’ll find that they aren’t really all that smooth when you set foot on them.  They are spaulding off layers like an onion peeling and pretty irregular under foot.  Steep switch backs followed by a breath robbing clamber up the actual dome are rewarded with views, especially of Half Dome, not possible from the valley floor.

Glacier Point is a bit easier to experience. It is a ¼ mile walk from the parking lot to a perfectly situated overlook that has long been enjoyed as an ideal place for a Yosemite sunset.  Today’s sunset was not spectacular yet still amazing in the way the ever changing light bounces off rock and sky to illuminate entire distant mountain chains as well as the nearer Half Dome.

A charter bus from Illinois had a bit of a rougher Glacier Point experience.  The driver attempted a turn-around, got stuck in the loose sand, and hung high center cross-wise of the road.  There it sat when we emerged from our hike to Sentinel Dome around 4PM and it was still mired in the sand as we headed down after sunset.  Passengers all the while cooling their heels.  The 1^st tow truck to arrive managed only to pull off their front bumper.  A larger truck was on its way…estimated to be 2 ½ hours out.  Bummers!