Pleasantly Annoyed…

Yosemite is a beautiful park, filled with towering, polished granite rock domes, 1000 foot sheer cliff walls, fairytale waterfalls, and a MILLION people.  Our campground last night, right outside park borders, was quiet and not quite full.  We thought naively that that might mean the Park would be similarly quiet.  Not even close… Our first stop inside the Park was Glacier Point for some early morning photos.  Our luck was great.  We arrived just in time to view the first 2008 launching of the Yosemite Paragliding Club, straight off a 1,500 foot cliff.  Tim was designated as the adopted photographer for the group – these pictures are going to them tonight – so we got the best spot on the cliff to witness the takeoffs. It was impressive. These guys are old school, in their 50’s, not atheletes, but they will run straight off a 20 degree pitch over a cliff edge without hesitating. It was down right inspiring.  Click on the picture for more details of the morning adventure in Tim’s words. After sending the paragliders on their way, we drove up into Yosemite Valley. This is where the crowds started….

Now being from the Yellowstone/Grand Teton area, we’re pretty used to a lot of people because every trip in the Parks you’re surrounded by people.  But in Yellowstone, it just takes walking about a half mile off the main road and you’re by yourself.  No luck in Yosemite.  There are just so many people they overflow everywhere.  We took this photo about a mile into a steep hike up to Vernal Falls. It was like driving in rush hour. The train of hikers would come to a dead stop while people merged, passed on the right, and rubbernecked.  It was a beautiful hike, but as Tim appropriately termed it, “pleasantly annoying”. We wrapped up our Yosemite experience with a trip into the Ansel Adams Gallery. There are three original prints for sale, one of which was his famous shot of the Tetons from Snake River Overlook. It was a cool reminder of home, though we passed on the $60,000 bargain price tag. We ended the day with a drive out the northeast entrance of the Park. It has just opened for the year and we were able to get away from the crowds. We are now settled in for the night on the shores of Mono Lake just outside the Park. Our internet is back, cell service is at maximum bars. It’s good to be connected again!