Today is February 1st, which means it is time to flip your calendar :-) In addition to the video and calendar flip, I wanted to share some insights for your next visit to Yosemite National Park. If you are looking for a good day hike, iconic photographs to recreate, or just want to brainstorm ideas for your next trip to Yosemite, this is the blog for you.
Story Behind February Calendar Photograph
Why did I select this image:
Since this month is February, aka Valentines Day is almost here, I wanted to share an image that conveyed the feeling of love, happiness, and freedom. What better way to show this off than a couple dancing during sunrise at one of America's most iconic locations, Glacier Point. With Yosemite's Half Dome in the background, Victoria and Bryce dance on the diving board. All in all, this image captures the loving, playful vibe I wanted to convey for the month of February in celebration of Valentine’s Day.
Location:
If you decide that you want to visit this location, please make sure that you are careful as this location is dangerous for those who are unfamiliar with standing on a cliffs edge.
Directions to Glacier Point in Yosemite National Park
Make sure to check road conditions before going, this spot closes due to snow seasonally: https://www.nps.gov/yose/planyourvisit/glacierpoint.htm
Ideas for Your Next Yosemite National Park Trip
Five great day hikes:
1) Vernal and Nevada Falls via Mist Trail
2) Half Dome via John Muir Trail (make sure to get permits)
5) Sentinel Dome and Taft Point Loop
Day-hiking gear/resource recommendations:
-Perfect STARTER camera… this was my first set up!!
Other Classic Images to Recreate:
Glacier Point Road
Skateboarding Glacier Point at sunrise in Yosemite National Park, CA.
In the land of awe, trademarked by granite monoliths, Glacier Point is one of those places you can sit and stare, probably for a lifetime. As a climber, Yosemite is a place I often visit in search of testing my skills and endurance on rock. The Yosemite climbing culture has an obsession with pushing your limits and finding your current capacity. These climbers come from all walks of life, but a few common threads are lacing us all together; dirtiness, commitment, vitality. If you have the chance to visit this place, make sure to look beyond the awe and find a place to play.
Yosemite Falls
Yosemite Falls reflection in Yosemite Valley, CA
Yosemite National Park is a national icon that attracts a record number tourists annually. Luckily, most tourists enjoy their morning cup of coffee, warm shower, and time with a significant other. If you are chasing the sights, skip the shower, convince your partner to join you, and hike with your coffee to see the beautiful reflections that are abundant during a flood year in the late spring of Yosemite Valley. Most likely, you will only see a few others who brave the morning chill.
Current Waterfall status: https://www.nps.gov/yose/planyourvisit/waterfalls.htm
Driving Directions: https://goo.gl/maps/MabaSecTbNwYYSug6
Mirror Lake
The perfect reflection of Mirror Lake in Yosemite National Park, CA
Mirror Lake is famous for its perfect reflection of Half Dome and Washington Column. For those who are not climbers, the lesser known Washington Column, photographed here, sits directly across the valley from Half Dome and has been the proving ground for many aid climbers throughout climbings history because of it’s steep walls and large ledge in the middle, allowing climbers to sleep without a porta-ledge. Throughout the year, sediment collects in the bottom of Mirror Lake, making this once iconic stop for hikers less common. If you want to see Yosemite’s Mirror Lake in it’s full grandeur, make sure to plan your visit during the spring, or early summer.
Little Yosemite Valley
Little Yosemite Valley of Yosemite National Park dusted with a recent snow in December.
Slugging a pack over my shoulder filled with snowshoes, multiple puffy jackets, two sleeping pads, two sleeping bags, my food, and a few other essential items, I headed into Yosemite’s backcountry for a few solo nights among the snow and granite. The movement was slow, but I dreamed of walking alone to clear my head. Searching for nothing, each step brought greater solace. The air was cold, the days were short, but I wandered without a shirt for the pack load was making me sweat. After a full day of incline, I turned around, only to find a moody, snow-dusted, little Yosemite Valley standing stoic, as it has for thousands of years. For the next few days, this would be my home away from home and the search for nothing was found.
Lodging Options:
-Places to stay inside of the National Park
Final Thoughts:
Exploring Yosemite National park has become one of the most important outings in my life to date. Since graduating college, this American landscape has taught me the importance of planning, shown me the power of community and solitude, and transformed my thinking from a desire to work a job from 9-5 into a nomadic life. Often, I revisit Yosemite to ground myself, stretch my creative juices, and find comfort in the discomfort of physically exercise. Year-round, the Sierra Nevada Mountains can be a playground for those who seek adventure. It doesn’t matter if you want to climb a big wall or go for a day hike, Yosemite Valley can inspire all those who take the time to settle into its awe-inspiring landscapes.
LASTLY, thank you for everyone who purchased a calendar this year, your support allows me to take my creative pursuits further!