Back to the Park
I got back to the park this month. I was able to secure two nights at Camp Curry for about $18 per night (righteous!), so I couldn’t pass that up.
Before arriving at the park, I stopped in and around Fresno to look up some locations related to James Savage (you know, the guy that lead the Mariposa Battalion into Yosemite back in 1851. See my post of October 12, 2015).
Half Dome with Elm in Winter
In Reedley, I found the stone marker showing where (roughly) he was killed. I also found where he is currently buried (at Hensley Lake). I also found “Fresno Crossing” which is an area with a bridge over the Fresno River. At this place (or near it, the actual site doesn’t seemed to be marked) is where Savage had his third Trading Posting. Savage was buried at the “Reedley” site at a place called Poole’s Ferry. This is pretty much where he fell when killed by Judge Marvin in 1852. Then in 1855, his grave was move to Fresno Crossing where it remained until 1973 and was also the site of his third trading post. In 1973, the grave was moved to the Hensley Lake site. I updated the Post to use the pictures I took. I still can’t find the site of his second trading post. It is supposed to be just south of the town of Mariposa, but, alas, I could not find anyone (so far) that knows where it was.
One of the “agenda items” while at the park was to grab photos of the head “stones” l missed on my last trip. Which I almost did, but I still need a good shot of the Pete Hilliard marker (marker number 44). It’s just a stone with his name lightly chiseled on it, but it was too covered with snow to get a good shot. I also picked up a copy of the Guide to the Yosemite Cemetery. I hadn’t done it until now because I thought it was just small, photo copy of the one made in 1959 by Lloyd Brubaker, Laurence Degnan and Richard Jackson, which is available oline[1].
As it happens, it uses the same cover, but has been enhanced and supplemented by Hank Johnston and Martha Lee in 1997. There were just two left at the museum (the visitor center was out of them) and I got one. It turns out they do NOT plan to replenish them. So hurry, if you want one. I got mine on January 16, 2016. If you go there and find the last one, then that might give you a clue as to how popular they were (or, that the stock was indeed replenished, and I was lied to). Anyway, I found fascinating all the new information they had added.
Half Dome from Sentinel Bridge
I was bummed out that the artist’s gallery exhibit was closed. I was hoping to get another look at the hotel register they had on display from the 1800s. There won’t be a new display in that room before February. But, as it is, there is the main display room showing baskets and other Yosemite Miwok artifacts.
I planned to get some pictures of some of the places where the old village buildings and habitats were located before everything moved to the north side of the river during the late 50s and early 60s (of the 20th century). I got some, but am still trying to figure out if they are “telling” enough to use in a post.
Our Lady of Half Dome
I was expecting that it would be raining all day (with partial clearing on Sunday). Instead, I was treated to “partial clearing” on Saturday. Upon arriving, I was shocked (Shocked! I tell you), to find snow on the ground! What’s up with that? I was told we’re in a drought! Well, I guess, no one told the little fella[2] so he showed up and dumped between 12 and 18 inches of snow on the valley floor recently. Not to worry. It did make for some nice scenery and the roads were clear, so it was comparatively easy to get around. Parking was problematical. But I don’t want to think about that. I’ll just do the “Zen” thing and move on to more peaceful tableaus.
One of my favorite scenes is Half Dome from Cook’s Meadow and if I can get the Elm in there, then all the better.
It is difficult to take a “bad” picture of Half Dome from the Sentinel Bridge. Though the best shots may be those taken at sunset when the atmosphere is just right. But then again this image with ground fog, some puffy clouds and snow on the ground makes me happy.
The Valley View in Snow
John Muir once made reference to one of “…nature’s rarest and most precious mountain temples…[3]” So, to commemorate that thought, I give you Our Lady of Half Dome. The “snow lady” is not my doing. I found her there in the midst of a snowball fight with, I suppose, an imaginary friend and took advantage of her positioning.
Valley View is probably my most favorite of all of Yosemite. It has a waterfall, El Capitan, the River, a meadow and, in this case, snow and white puffy clouds.
Tunnel View from the end of Pohono Trail
One of the most iconic scenes in Yosemite is Tunnel View (sometimes called “Inspiration Point”). It is so called because it is at a turnout just past the tunnel when coming up into the valley from the south entrance. It was recently renovated by improving the rock wall and removing some trees[4]. Aside from the fact that it was a tree and a living thing, which I found comforting, it was also useful as framework for the scene itself. Not to be out done, I was able to find a new framing tree on the side of the hill behind the scene which also allowed me to eliminate the multitudes that gathered at the now unobstructed view.
Pastel at Ahwahnee Meadow
I was looking for Stoneman meadow when the scene at the Ahwahnee Meadow caught my eye. There were a group of people hanging among the trees. I waited for a while, hoping they’d move on, but, alas, they didn’t. So I took the picture anyway and with the help of photo editing software I was able to “wish them to the cornfield”.
All in all, it was a nice visit.
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[1] See Guide to the Yosemite Cemetery as digitized by Dan Anderson, April 2007, from a copy at San Diego State University. These files may be used for any non-commercial purpose, provided this notice is left intact.
—Dan Anderson, www.yosemite.ca.us
[2] El Niño
[3] Actually, he was referring to Hetch Hetchy Valley, but, it is the thought that counts.
[4] Arrrrrrrggggggggggggggggg!
