vacation pictures!!!!

[jimpierce7]

oh? did you think that one little post was all? Oh no no no. I feel bad I only took 375 pictures!!! We drove up there Sunday, left Wednesday morning. I could have taken more!!! Don't worry, I'm not going to post them all!!
I will say that just like every time I have been to Yosemite I leave feeling small. I find it to be a very spiritual place.
At the southern end of yosemite park is the very first "national" park. Mariposa Grove. Giant Sequoia. Monster Redwoods.

the first one is "clothes pin" tree. Due to many many fires over the centuries, the hart wood was burned out leaving this tree looking like this. Sitting in the tram looking at it the guide lets us know the optical illusion of distance. The hole looked as if I could walk threw it and easily touch both sides............ nope. I could drive a pick up threw it easily.



in the late 1800's folks weren't so smart yet and they cut a hole threw the tree to walk threw. Here we are standing in front of one. Inside the hole, the tree is "bleeding" still. The sap looks like blood.



here is this groves icon tree. Grizzley giant they call it. It has branches as big as many of the trees. When they first found the tree it was believed to be 8000 years old. Then they found a more acurate way of finding the age and said it was closer to 2400 years old. They are even better now. The tree is about 1800 years old. Redwoods live about 3000 years. These giant Sequoia have greater mass then the coastal redwoods so are the largest tree in the world. Not the tallest. Thats my coastal Redwood. I did a photo stitching, which is real cool!!!

[jimpierce7]

after the Redwoods we drove to a place called Glacier Point. Its the top of the wall of rock that is behind where our canvas cabin is. The first pic is of the swimming pool and concession area. No zoom. The second pic is with 12x zoom. Our canvas cabin is to the right in these pictures half way to the big parking lot off on the right.



see the white spots in the trees on the right of the photo? Thats where I was camped. lol



now for some of the more awe inspiring photos. These really don't convey the majesty of what I saw or the iminsity of it all. But heck I tried. This is what one sees driving down the road to Yosemite as you get close to the valley.



with a little zoom

[jimpierce7]

here is a photo of Half Dome. 12x zoom from glacier point. There is something imparticular I was hoping to capture but 12x wasn't enough...........



so when I got home I used my digital image suite so we could see sort of what I was aiming for



I've made up my mind, and Kelly laughs, but next year I am going to the top of the dome!!!

here are a couple of panoramic stitching of the view from Glacier Point.

[Sally]

We have been there several times and it NEVER gets old, seeing the beauty of the rock and trees etc. It takes my breath away. The SMELL of the redwoods.... I remember the clothspin tree too. Those trees are amazing. Thank you for the photo's, they put tears in my eyes. I miss being there! I love fall and when it gets cold there. The leaves change.... It is so wonderful.

[Tommaso]

Those are breath taking pictures!! We use to go to Yosemite every year. We use to hike and camp out deep in the majestic mountains. Anyway, thanks for sharing, it brought back wonderful memories.

Morena

[ROYJOY]

yery nice. my fathers people settled near mariposa before it was claimed by the government for a park. i love that area for many reasons.

[sparkysmom]

Those are some really nice pics you got! You must have had a great time!!

[Buteo]

Great pics!
I was there 20 years ago and while the scenery is still awesome, I am saddened to see smog effects showing up even there.

[Nazir's]

Oh my! Thanks for sharing those pictures. They are very beautiful and lets me know just how in need of a vacation I am. I enjoyed them. Thanks

[jimpierce7]

Originally Posted by Buteo

Great pics!
I was there 20 years ago and while the scenery is still awesome, I am saddened to see smog effects showing up even there.

I hear that!! It has been so dry this year that the haze was every where. Sure wish the thunderstorms would have produced some rain!!