Tuesday, September 4, 2012

Yosemite: May 2012

David and I realized some years ago that we love National Parks.  We love to hike and enjoy different areas of the country, so when the Barber family decided on San Francisco for the family reunion site we immediately decided we would visit a National park close by:  Yosemite. We had 2 beautiful days in the park and here are some of the highlights:

Our favorite hike:  The Mist Trail to Vernal Falls.  This hike was GORGEOUS.  The best part is when you got close to the falls and there was this pretty steep hike through the mist.








Soaked from the mist and almost to the top!


 We made it!


 At the top there is a huge area to just hang out and enjoy the view







Our other favorite hike was the easy trail to Lower Yosemite Falls.  This was a level trail with wide open spaces that led to the very uncharacteristic comment by David "boys, go blaze a trail!" After they took off in the open spaces off the paved trail, it didn't take long before we lost track of them and sent out our own search party.  It took about 5 minutes of us racing around to the top of the trail and all through out the wide open spaces before we found the boys.  We didn't let David forget his comment, that led to lost boys, for the rest of the trip.











Everyone (except Sydney) enjoyed horseback riding through Yosemite.  We were supposed to ride to Mirror Lake but because of of huge rock slide, tourists cannot currently get to the lake.  Sydney was very scared of the horses and had to turn back as soon as we started.

Sydney NOT liking her horse



The last thing we did while in Yosemite is drive south to the Mariposa Grove of Giant sequoia trees.  We were so glad we took the time to do this hike.  The triplets had never seen giant sequoias and they will never forget them.





The Bachelor and 3 Graces


The Grizzly Giant:  one of the oldest trees (2700 years old).  It has branches 7 ft. in diameter
 The California Tunnel


The telescope



 We will definitely go back!




2 comments:

Sharlene, Mom, Grammy said...

WOW, WOW, WOW!! And WOW, again. Incredible pictures! You really captured the majesty of Yosemite. Amazing! You all look like you having the time of your lives. (Except for Sydney not riding the horse) :) I love the pix with the rainbow and also of the kids holding hands standing around the one tree---showing how big it is. Actually, too many favorites to list them all. Thanks for this great post!

PS – I went to Yosemite with my family when I was just 9 years old (in 1956). I have a pix that is identical to one of yours. I do remember it, but not nearly as clearly as your children will remember it--great memories for them.

joelb said...

cool.

congratulations on getting your whole family up the top of Vernal Falls -- that's a steep trail. and thanks for posting the Mariposa pics -- we'll definitely have to go there next time.