Our last full day in Yosemite was a bit of a mixture. We had a few more “must sees” on our list but we were also starting to feel the effects of our long vacation. It had been a long trip and we were getting tired. LOL
The first thing on our list was heading up to Glacier Point before all of the crowds arrived.
“People have been coming to Glacier Point for generations to see one of the most spectacular views on earth. For a panoramic vista of Yosemite Valley, walk along the trail to Glacier Point, located 1/4 mile from where you’re now standing.”
The view of Yosemite was beautiful as the sun rose and burned off the fog that covered the mountains.
It was pretty darn cold up there – 40s maybe?
While we stood at Glacier Point taking pictures, a news crew was off to the side filming a segment about the big Yosemite Rim Fire that occurred in August 2013. That fire was the largest wildfire on record in the Sierra Nevada and was the third largest wildfire in California’s history.
We were very thankful to be in Yosemite and not experience a wildfire.
Within days of leaving Yosemite, a meadow fire in Little Yosemite Valley started by lightening and burned nearly 4,800 acres before it was contained almost a month later. Here is a time lapse of that fire:
The boys enjoyed spotting and chasing these little salamander-y things around. I have no idea what they really were. Maybe a gecko?
“From this vantage point, you can see about one-quarter of Yosemite National Park. The pointed peaks in the distance were unglaciated. Although glaciers quarried rocks from their sides, they never rode over their tops (the peaks would be smooth and rounded if they had). At the height of the Ice Age, which spanned some 2 million years, ice filled Yosemite Valley and reached a height of 700 feet above where you are standing. The shape of the valley below you is a result of the carving action of those ancient ice fields.”
“As glaciers retreated from the Valley, they left piles of rock and gravel debris (called moraines) in their path. Behind the moraines, the waters of the Merced River collected, creating the ancient Lake Yosemite. The lake gradually filled with river-carried sediment leaving behind the flat Valley floor. Yosemite Guardian Galen Clark, and other residents, dynamited the moraine in 1890 to lower the water table. As the ground became less saturated, more trees grew and the Valley meadows began to shrink. Ancient Yosemite Creek cascaded thousands of feet into a deep, V-shaped canyon carved by the Merced River. During the Ice Age, glaciers gouged out the canyon into an even steeper U-shape with vertical walls. Yosemite Creek was left hanging 2,600 feet above the valley floor. The creek now plummets over the precipice as Yosemite Falls. When the winter’s snowmelt disappears, usually by late summer, Yosemite Falls dwindle and often dry up completely.”
It’s hard to see in the picture above but Overhanging Rock jutted out over the Valley below.
This 1901 photo, compliments of the Library of Congress, captures the rock much better than my angle. LOL
President Theodore Roosevelt and John Muir posed together on the rock in 1903 with Yosemite Falls in the background (Library of Congress). “Muir was able to convince both Roosevelt and California Governor George Pardee, on that excursion, to recede the state grant and make the Valley and the Mariposa Grove part of Yosemite National Park. This joining together of the 1864 state grant lands with the 1890 national park lands occurred during Roosevelt’s presidency in 1906.”
After checking out Glacier Point, we began the hour drive back down the mountains to the Valley Floor.
http://youtu.be/_HS4voqPAN4
This video shows us driving through the Wawona Tunnel and driving past the Tunnel View overlook:
http://youtu.be/uWnTQ-lDqgM
We pulled off to hike to the base of the Bridalveil Falls.
The waterfall was down to a trickle.
http://youtu.be/oZAWnf9XyYc
Some people were climbing the rocks to get right to the base of the Falls. Ian and Matthew weren’t very happy about not being allowed out there but the rocks were so smooth and slippery that some people were climbing barefooted. Ugh, I don’t think so. LOL
After Bridalveil Falls, we decided to stop at Swinging Bridge (which is wooden and does not swing) to let the boys play in the Merced River.
Can you imagine what a sight this would be if Yosemite Falls wasn’t dry?
http://youtu.be/u91uIHd_C4w
On one side of swinging bridge was a wooded area with picnic trees, a bathroom area, and small parking lot. The other side was this: bike/walking path, meadow, trees, and insanely steep rock walls.
After all of our adventures, we grabbed some lunch then took the boys swimming for like 3-4 hours. We wrapped the day up by beginning to pack, having dinner at the restaurant at our hotel, and then doing a kids educational program at our hotel (they took a walk about the hotel and learned about the various trees in Yosemite).
Out of all the souvenirs we bought this vacation, I think Mike’s tshirt was one of my favorites. 🙂
The next day we began our journey back to Buffalo….
LOVED THIS ONE! The views are awesome.
Your video of the drive shows exactly why I will never be able to go there and why I’m glad you did : )
The video was fascinating & scary.
The picture of Teddy Roosevelt was very cool & made me wish that there wasn’t a drought & you could have seen water going over the falls.
Loved the videos of the boys and Matthew saying it was a perfect vacation : ) While I was watching the one where the boys were playing in the river, I kept thinking that it’s just a matter of time before Matthew falls. And he did! Your dad wanted to know what I was laughing about.
Thanks for taking the time to blog! Love you!!!