Travel Post: Yosemite National Park

We woke up early the next morning after staying at Yosemite View Lodge the previous night. We had no idea how spectacular the view was from the lodge until the morning, as it was dark when we checked in at 11pm the night before. We were greeted by the sunrise and cliff faces, and it couldn't have been a better start to the day.

You feel like you are already in the park before you technically are.

We started stopping at view points before we even entered the park as well, that's how beautiful it was. Jeremy, Katy, and I all stood on the edge of this hill, debating on if we should climb down, when Jeremy took off. He found a good route to go down, and Katy and I followed suit, but not before I could snag a pictures of him making his way down and then posing proudly on the log below.

PS - for those with cameras that want to complete similar adventures - I tuck my camera into my shirt/sweater. That way it can't swing and accidentally hit a rock as you're making your way up and down the rocks.

It was definitely worth it to make it down to the river. It was beautiful seeing the river, which was low, trinkle its way around the boulders and rocks.

We even found a big rock to climb up on, for a better view, and of course, for poses.

After our miniature adventure, we entered the park. The first sight we went to see what Bridalveil Falls.

The water all around was low, as it gets in early spring. The water will typically be at its fullest in later spring before the hot summer weather hits and dries everything out. It was neat to see the snow that sticks to the rocks from the mist of the waterfall this time of year. I also found it interesting to see that the rocks are still dark and stained from the water from when the waterfall is at its fullest. Keeping this in mind, look how wide Bridalveil Fall gets in its prime.

Jeremy and I took the short hike to the base of the waterfall, and since the water was so low, we were able to climb on the rocks within the river, getting closer to the fall itself.

If you've read my previous blog post on my trip to Yosemite in 2017, then you read where I stated that this waterfall creates its own purple hue, and it held true even with the waterfall being smaller.

It was a pretty windy day in Yosemite when we were there, as demonstrated by the waterfall in the above photograph. If you ever question the power of wind, just refer to this image and remember - it can move waterfalls!

Jeremy, Katy, and I had each purchased sweatshirts that morning at our hotel's gift shop to combat the wind that day. Obviously once we started hiking, it felt a lot warmer. I was constantly removing and putting back on my hoodie - but mine was a zip up, which made it easy enough.

As we made our way back to the car from Bridalveil Falls, I noticed how cool these stone bridges are that pass over the river from the fall. I made my way down, and I was standing on a rock just big enough for my feet to get the shot to the left.

​You can tell that there's a very thin layer of ice on top of the water where this was shot - but I still didn't feel like sticking my shoes in the water, especially since I wasn't wearing my waterproof boots!

Just as with every national park, there is more to see in Yosemite than El Capitan, Yosemite Falls, Bridalveil Falls, and the Half Dome, which are the parks biggest tourism draws.

Just about everywhere you look, you see a beautiful landscape. The evergreens appeared to be greener than usual against the yellow of the stone faced cliffs, and the golden hue of the land. 

The trees that go dormant during the winter had not quite woken up yet, which I wasn't surprised about considering it was early February, which made the evergreens stick out that much more against their surroundings.

It's interesting to me how the evergreens grow, with the branches down below becoming barren, leaving the leafy branches towards the top the only pop of green.

Before we found our way to the paved trail which leads to the base of Yosemite Falls, we stopped at this picnic area which included a bridge with an amazing view of the namesake waterfall.

I joked that since I am always the one taking photographs, that am rarely in them, so I took the picture above of Jeremy's and my shadows in humor. PS - my sister Katy does have several photos of me in the park, but unfortunately I cannot include them in the blog as they are .HEIC files.

The land was truly golden during our time in Yosemite Park, something that I'm pretty used to seeing being from Colorado. The golden hue was gorgeous against the clear river which ran from Yosemite Falls, and the greenery of the trees along with the blue of the sky. The river was so clear, that the yellowed leaves and grasses that coated the bottom gave the water a golden hue as well.

The waterfall in the distance in the shot to the left is Yosemite Falls.

Look how bundled up we all were! This is the famous paved path that leads to Yosemite Falls, and gives you a gorgeous view the entire time you are upon it.

Mom and Katy were completely bundled up in hats, scarves, the works! By this point I was pretty warmed up from walking around and had my hood down from my sweatshirt. I may or may not have made Jeremy take his hat and hood off for the selfie to the left. You couldn't see his face with them on!

Jeremy and I stood at the base of Yosemite Lower Falls with my mom and Katy. Then, thinking Jeremy was following me, I set off unto the woods to the left of the viewpoint to try to get a different angle of the waterfall. I had barely walked into the woods and turned around when I noticed he was not following me, and he was no longer within my view. He had gone somewhere else. I decided to continue hiking my way up towards the base of the fall. Eventually I made my way back out towards the open rocks, and who do I see on the other side? My bearded man.

Miraculously, he was messaging me to figure out where I was, at it turned out we had cellular service in this very random spot within the park. I shouted his name and he decided to climb across the rocks to join me on my side.

The photos to the right and below were as close as we got. At this point the rocks were becoming slippery from the mist of the waterfall, and we had been away from my family for quite some time at this point, so it seemed to be a good spot to stop. If the waterfall was in full force, we would not have been able to make this trek, but it was neat being there in February to be able to climb the river boulders to get to this view.

Jeremy took the photograph of me (below). I had taken his first to ensure my settings were correct, and then we switched places so he could take my picture. I am appreciative to have a fiance who has the patience to allow me to set my camera to have pictures of me taken. I am no longer the invisible camera woman!

My handsome goofball found a tree stump to park his rump (haha). We also found the United States District Court building within the park! Good thing my sister has a Court Badge, otherwise we wouldn't have been able to see the building :).

Towards the end of the day, Jeremy and I set out on a hike, just the two of us.

The hike was to go up to Vernal Falls, or at least the bridge where you can see it from. It's a really steep hike the entire way (the photo above is of a flat part, don't judge), and I was exhausted by the time we made it to the top. 

It was so worth it though. The views you get are incredible, just look at Yosemite Falls in the distance in the two pictures below!

We finally made it to the bridge to see Vernal Falls. We could have hiked further to actually get to the falls, but it was getting dark out and I didn't feel like being on the steep trail that had no guard rail in the dark, ya know?

Plus, like I said, I was exhausted.

I got a picture of Jeremy on the bridge, and yes, he is carrying my backpack because he's an amazing fiance. 

The bridge itself is beautiful, and I loved getting the photograph below of the bridge with the trail and woods beyond it. 

​We made our way back down the trail, just as it started to get dark, down under the trees. While I would have loved to continue hiking, I stand by the fact that it was wise to head back down so we weren't left in the dark.

We saw this fluffy coyote looking for food near one of the campsites on our way out of the park. When he realized I was watching him, he stood very still, trying to not be seen. I left him alone, of course, but I was happy to see wildlife! 

​The sunset made everything glow, and was magical to witness.

​Seeing El Capitan brightened by the sunset was the perfect way to end our day in Yosemite National Park.