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Yosemite

Yosemite in June 2013, crossing the park on Tioga Road: snowy meadows, Half Dome from Olmsted Point, El Capitan up close and Lower Yosemite Fall.

We came into Yosemite the back way in June 2013, over the Tioga Pass from Mammoth Lakes, which means the park introduces itself twice: first the high country of meadows and snow patches, then the valley with its mile-high walls.

Yosemite National Park entrance sign mounted on a stone pillar beside a stop sign
In through the Tioga Pass entrance, the highest road into the park.

The high country

A small alpine lake ringed by pines below peaks streaked with June snow along Tioga Road
June, and the high country still wearing its snow.
A river winding through an alpine meadow below a snow streaked mountain beside Tioga Road
Meltwater doing the landscaping.
A still pond among lodgepole pines with fallen silver logs on the bank
Ponds like mirrors between the lodgepole pines.
Bare granite domes rising above a bright green meadow and conifer forest
The granite starts showing off long before the valley.
Inga beside a lone pine growing out of bare granite at Olmsted Point, with Half Dome visible in the far distance
Olmsted Point: one very determined pine, and Half Dome photobombing on the left.
Inga and Dileep sitting together on smooth pale granite slabs under a deep blue sky
Granite slabs, warmed all morning. The best seats in California.

Down into the valley

Selfie of Inga and Dileep smiling in front of the sheer granite face of El Capitan
El Capitan, three thousand feet of vertical granite, reduced to a selfie backdrop.
Sheer grey granite walls rising above pine trees and a green meadow on the Yosemite Valley floor
The valley floor: meadows, pines, and walls that make your neck ache.
Inga in sunglasses in front of Lower Yosemite Fall pouring down a granite cliff
Lower Yosemite Fall in June, fat with snowmelt. The spray reaches the path, and so did we.
Dileep standing in the doorway of a cone shaped cedar bark house among tall trees in Yosemite Valley
A cedar bark house at the reconstructed Indian Village behind the valley museum.

We gave Yosemite one long day and it plainly deserved a week. Next time we bring boots, a tent and no schedule.