Its Only (Something to Post)

I know, I know it keeps being longer and longer between posts, but I hope that will be coming to an end and I will start walking around more. In between that happening is this postcard from Oct. 17th from an overlook on the Glacier Point Road. We were blessed with an amazing sunset and so we all had to stop to take it in. It appears you are looking out across the sierra foothills and beyond into the central valley. Enjoy this one today and tune in again for some winter landscapes coming soon- before all the snow we got disappears.

Trail Open! (Alpine Training)

So, while using up the last of my vacation, it became a good idea to go outside again. With Jim along (it was his suggestion) we strolled up the 4 Mile trail to Glacier Point, then down the Panorama trail past Nevada and Vernal. It has snowed a few times at the higher elevations, so we came prepared to do battle with the elements- me with crampons and Jim with Yaktraks for the shoes. Luckily, tennis shoes and thick socks were only needed for the (at most) 5 inches of packed down snow we encountered. Still, our number 1 ally of the day proved to be the trekking poles and the most dangerous part of the trail was on mile 13 heading down from Nevada on the Muir trail. I can't believe the gate is still open as these sheets of ice of today's postcard give witness to. Make it past three or four sections of this style of trail, then continue on past another 3 or 4 sections of sheer ice and then you find yourself safe. Still its all alpine training as I said; Jim saying he didn't want to make it too easy. But if we can make it up, we can make it down. And always in tennis shoes. Enjoy whomever reads this thing.

The Best Seat in the House

So, a late afternoon stroll took me over to the lower Falls and a meander around the stream coming from it. It was getting towards dark and then I took some more pictures, really liking this one. The gentleman and his friend (out of the picture) were taking some snapshots of each other and I was focusing on the bench with the falls behind it when he sat down in my frame. I rather like it- his dignified posture sitting on the rock, while the best seat in the house is open, the bench. Plus, the head scarf adds a little touch of color, similar to the trees. And then there's the beautiful waterfall in the background. Enjoy.

Valley Roads

In keeping with the theme of posting things just a few days old, we will now offer up this postcard from Thursday. A snapshot taken from good old Columbia Point going up the Yosemite Falls trail and looking down into the valley. This little part of the road is passed shortly after leaving Yosemite Lodge and Camp 4 heading out of the park. You have it all almost: the grey granite rockfall, the color of the fall trees, a nice scenic road next to a river leading towards a green forest....Now if there was only some traffic!!! Or carhorns!!! Enjoy everyone, or someone.

Falling on the Mist Trail..

Okay, okay, so it's been awhile (again)...Hopefully, this will start back up. I was out and about the past couple days with my old cohort Rojo, and found some motivation. Here's a couple snapshots of the Merced River along the Mist Trail on the way to Vernal Falls. We did the loop around Vernal- up the Muir Trail to Clark Point, then dropped back down the Mist Trail. Still beautiful mid 70s or higher in temperature and beautiful scenery. These postcards go out to our friend Chris from Benzinger Wines in Glen Ellen (www.benzinger.com), who spent the early part of the week here for the Vitner's Holidays, and walked this same pathway the day before us. I'd like to say he broke it in for us, making the steps easier. Thanks Chris, from Yosemite.

It's Been a Long, Long, Long Time...

So it has been, as George Harrison sang on the White Album, a long, long, long time since I've posted anything and that should begin to change again. Starting tomorrow we will be wandering the streets of the valley floor (and hopefully the valley rim) for some last fall season postcards before it disappears. And they will be taken daily and posted daily- so be on the look out. This snapshot was taken from Glacier Point looking at the diving board where Ansel stood and took his famous face of Half Dome photo on Wednesday, the day we finished vacating the GP store for the season. Enjoy everyone.

The 3rd 13neer

It was off to the races with Jim last Friday, after weeks of talking about it and planning it over beers. The goal was to find our way up the last of the three 13,000 ft peaks within the boundaries of Yosemite; we had both already been to Mt. Lyell and Mt. Dana, and now was the day for Kuna Peak. To get there you have to hike out of the park over Parker Pass, then work your way up Koip Peak Pass (the second postcard) which tops out at 12,250 ft!. After catching your breath, you then summit Koip Peak (the first postcard) 20 ft. shy of 13,000, then descend and follow the ridge over to the top of Kuna. What's interesting is that you are not in the park boundaries until your at 13,002 ft., marking the summit of Kuna and the park entrance again. Between the two peaks is wreckage scattered about from a military plane crash in the 40s or 50s, which you can see in the third postcard. A little spooky, and when you add the sonic booms that were occupying the airspace around us going up Koip Peak Pass from bombs being detonated across the desert in Nevada (we could see the smoke rising), it made the day a little more weird at times. Still, a beautiful day in the Sierras, which is all Jim and I were looking for. Enjoy everyone.