Tioga Lake in Yosemite National Park

Tioga Lake is located just east of the Yosemite Park Entrance.

These pictures were taken just after sunrise. Stunning!

Ellery Lake

One of the biggest challenges to visiting Yosemite National Park is finding a place to sleep!
This year, many of the campgrounds and even one of the lodges were still closed in July on account of snow! There has also been a big scam with the online booking for campgrounds - someone bought up all the Yosemite campsites within minutes of the website opening - and then they were scalping them at outrageous prices on Craigslist (I heard the story on NPR).
I had carefully researched campgrounds on the outer fringes of the park. We knew it would be nearly impossible to find a spot, but we timed our arrival around noon (check out time for campgrounds). Even though the sign at Ellery Lake Campground said it was full, we took a chance and drove in to look around. Surprisingly, there were only 14 spots in the entire campground, but there were two open ones!
We felt very lucky to have a place to pitch our tent. And it was a beautiful spot, too! These pictures were taken at dawn the morning we left.

Picnic in Yosemite National Park

We found this stump a ways off the road in Yosemite, where we set up our little barbeque grill and cooked some burgers. No need for a picnic table!

We drove past Tenaya Lake four times.
We didn't do the hike around the lake.

Taft Point in Yosemite National Park

The two mile hike to Taft Point was another favorite for us.
This trail took us out to one of the tall cliffs across from El Capitan.

With great valley views.

These cracks or fissures, well eroded - were really interesting. They seem to run through the entire vertical surface.

This view shows El Capitan across the Yosemite Valley. (both above and below)

An amazing overlook!

Yosemite on the Ground

Ice Plant, and unidentified blue flowering bush.




Granite Dome - near Olmsted Point.

Wild Rhododendrons in Yosemite

While we were hiking through the Merced Grove of Giant Sequoias, we also were treated to a large fragrant patch of wild azaleas (also known as rhododendrons).
So delicate - the flowers fade fast. We were lucky to see them in full bloom!

Giant Sequoias

While in Yosemite, we took the time to hike 3 miles to reach the Merced Grove - a small grove of very large trees!



That's me next to a couple of huge sequoias!

Me again, with a giant sequoia.

Merced River

The Merced River winds through Yosemite Valley. Water was high, and there were a lot of people enjoying it when we visited.

Half Dome

I don't know how many pictures I took of Half Dome . . . many . . . .it changes with each vantage point and the light!

Yosemite Lupine

This burn area was awash with tall lupine in full bloom. We had to stop so I could get some pictures! These plants were about chest high!

Yosemite Falls

We walked to the base of Yosemite Falls.
This view of Yosemite is from Swinging Bridge.

Bears in Yosemite

We saw bears in the park every day. This one, we saw from a hiking trail. I didn't have my telephoto lens with me on the hike, so the pictures are less than stellar. Still - these are the best pictures of a bear I have ever taken.

Sunset in Yosemite