Yosemite is amazing! If you haven’t been, pull out your calendar and schedule a time.  We have all seen the same pictures, in fact you can see my pictures here, but you have to see this stuff in real life, it is majestic. I know that word sounds cheesy but there really isn’t a better word to describe it. You drive the curvy roads towards Yosemite Valley and it is almost impossible to glance at the cliffs above without seeing at least one enormous waterfall pouring down.  The hardest part is to watch the road and not allow your eyes to wander in awe. Then you get close enough to these massive granite cliffs and with your mouth hanging open you think that these could have only been created by a giant with a chisel, perfect edges, smooth surfaces, and just monstrous in size.  You stand there and feel absolutely insignificant, such power and gracefulness.  They tower before you and let you step into another world as you wait for some Lord of the Rings characters to walk past, ok maybe not that “fantasy” but the thundering waterfalls and unrivaled cliffs will make you feel like you are in another world.

We woke up before the sun on our first full day at Yosemite because even in the middle of the week in April, it is still pretty packed.  Plus it’s National Park Week, free admission! It’s hard to believe that it gets worse then this but I understand the allure. It’s a truly amazing place.  I wanted to get in a hike before the crowds took away from the scenery so I hit the popular Mist trail at 6:30am. I headed up the hill towards Veral Falls and Nevada Falls. This was my first hike without Franklin [sad face].

The river was so powerful, it actually gave me a little anxiety, like at any moment it could just jump up and swallow me whole. Giant boulders lined the river and create mini waterfalls the whole way down. When I began the ascent to the falls, I learned where the trail name comes from.  The mist from the waterfall was drenching, photographs were difficult to take without the lens getting saturated.  It had already been an hour and since this was the first hike without Franklin, I didn’t want to push my luck and I was filling a little guilty so I turned back.

We wandered the streets of Yosemite valley, then headed up to the Famous Glacier point that just happen to open that day.  From Glacier point and Washburn point you can see Half Dome and at least 2 waterfalls.  I just can’t do it justice in trying to describe it… just go ok, go.