Yosemite Valley

2023-05-21

A recovery day on the way to San Francisco. Absolutely bonkers seeing the amount of flooding in the park and pouring water in the falls. A lot of old-timers seemed to agree that this year was exceptional with the amount of snowfall that landed in the Sierra. Apologies for the repeat photos, still in awe at the novelty of it all.

Only had a day so I went up Yosemite Falls and around Lost Arrow Spire, then another hike to check out Nevada Falls, and then Mirror Lake. Glacier Point was closed this season for construction and higher up the valley still had a ton of snow on trail so I was quite limited where I could roam.

yosemite-2.jpg The classic tunnel view, never gets old

yosemite-1.jpg Bridalveil Falls (how many waterfalls are named that in America lol) against the Cathedral Rocks

yosemite-3.jpg Another angle

yosemite-4.jpg Ribbon Falls to the west of El Capitan

yosemite-5.jpg El Capitan

yosemite-6.jpg Another angle

yosemite-7.jpg The Merced River raging

yosemite-8.jpg Notice this walkway is completely flooded over

yosemite-9.jpg More flooding

yosemite-10.jpg Yosemite Falls in the back

yosemite-11.jpg Closer up

yosemite-12.jpg Even closer - man that thing was powerful

yosemite-13.jpg Yosemite Valley from the top of Yosemite Falls. Probably really tough getting up to Glacier Point given that the road was closed and Four Mile Trail was probably still snowed over. Peep the snow on top of Sentinel Dome.

yosemite-14.jpg And the snow still lingering on Half Dome

yosemite-15.jpg Far peaks of the Western Sierra

yosemite-16.jpg Climber on Lost Arrow Spire

yosemite-17.jpg Half Dome with Royal Arches in front now

yosemite-18.jpg Quite busy at Lower Yosemite Falls

yosemite-19.jpg Merced River raging along the Mist Trail

yosemite-20.jpg Vernal Falls - I could not clean the camera lens faster than it would get sprayed

yosemite-21.jpg Getting SOAKED on these steps

yosemite-22.jpg Just gotta deal with being wet the rest of the day

yosemite-23.jpg

yosemite-24.jpg Mount Broderick with Half Dome obscured in the back

yosemite-25.jpg Liberty Cap

yosemite-26.jpg More soaking getting up to Nevada Falls

yosemite-27.jpg Powerful

yosemite-28.jpg One of many sections of flat trail that were completely flooded

yosemite-29.jpg Another angle of Liberty Cap - I did hear a bit of thunder today

yosemite-30.jpg Feeding Nevada Falls

yosemite-31.jpg Half Dome, Liberty Cap, and Nevada Falls

yosemite-32.jpg Royal Arches

yosemite-33.jpg

yosemite-34.jpg Lots more flooding seen around the park in the bus

yosemite-35.jpg El Cap climber dead center if you squint

Notes

  • This was probably ~22 miles and ~6800 feet of vertical gain in a little under 8 hours.
  • Man always a good time coming back to the valley and reminiscing all of the good times.