November 23, 2015

Tanya's Daily Scoop
CURRENTLY TRAVELING IN: YOSEMITE NATIONAL PARK

A Yosemite Recap

GREETINGS from Yosemite National Park!!

Yosemite Falls

Hey everyone!

It's the Monday before Thanksgiving and I was suppose to be going Thanksgiving shopping (I got a really LONG list) today and tomorrow, but it looks like I'm gonna have to get it all taken care of tomorrow (of course I'll have Wednesday too - but I REALLY don't want to shop on Wednesday - I have too much cooking to do)!

So back to the here and the now, we are in beautiful Yosemite National Park. The truck is officially in the shop (read yesterdays daily to find out what happened). 

Instead of letting some drama get us down and out, we took lemons and made some delicious lemonade!

We took a bus into the Yosemite Valley and spent the day hiking around and enjoying the park!

My dear Cosette was really not happy about us taking a bus into the park.
I'm not sure why she was so against the idea...Dave certainly was stoked not to be behind the wheel and to just enjoy the ride (not to mention to be able to NAP)!

We got to enjoy the visitor center (which is all of the 6 other times that I've visited this park - this was my very first time!)

After educating ourselves about the history of the park, it was time to go take a hike and that we did!

Off we went to check out Yosemite Falls - 
​
The falls consist of three sections:

Upper Yosemite Fall: The 1,430-foot plunge alone is among the twenty highest waterfalls in the world. Trails from the valley floor and down from other park areas outside the valley lead to both the top and base of Upper Yosemite Fall.
The upper fall is formed by the swift waters of Yosemite Creek which, after meandering through Eagle Creek Meadow, hurl themselves over the edge of a hanging valley in a spectacular and deafening show of force.
Middle Cascades: Between the two obvious main plunges there are a series of five smaller plunges collectively referred to as the Middle Cascades. Taken together these account for a total drop of 675 feet, more than twice the height of the Lower Fall. Because of the narrow, constricted shape of the gorge in which these drops occur and the lack of public access, they are rarely noted. Most viewpoints in the valley miss them entirely.
Several vantage points for the cascades are found along the Yosemite Falls trail. Several hikers climbing down from the trail towards the cascades have required an expensive helicopter rescue due to steep and slippery terrain and features.
Lower Yosemite Fall: The final 320-foot drop adjacent to an accessible viewing area, provides the most-used viewing point for the waterfalls. Yosemite Creek emerges from the base of the Lower Fall and flows into the Merced River nearby. Like many areas of Yosemite the plunge pool at the base of the Lower Fall is surrounded by dangerous jumbles of talus made even more treacherous by the high humidity and resulting slippery surfaces.
(credit: wikipedia)

Photo credit: Cosette

While on past visits I have hiked to the top of the falls and have done just about every hike offered from the Valley Floor.
I knew that yesterday was more of a sampling day and that Cosette would not enjoy the very strenuous hike to the top of Yosemite Falls.

Though I'm pretty sure that both Dave and Dominic are both eager for me to take them up. That will have to be on another visit that Cosette either stays home on or one that there are some others with us who prefer not to hike it and rather stay behind and hang out with Cosette.

Half Dome

Next up we took the shuttle to stop #16 Happy Isles - to hike up to the Vernal Falls footbridge, which is listed as a moderate climb/hike, and even on this little 400ft climb, my Cosette wasn't too happy with it.

Following that we went to stop #17 for Mirror Lake. 
Mirror Lake is a small, seasonal lake located on Tenaya Creek in Yosemite National Park. Situated in Tenaya Canyon directly between North Dome and Half Dome, it is the last remnant of a large glacial lake that once filled most of Yosemite Valley at the end of the last Ice Age, and is close to disappearing due to sediment accumulation. (credit: wiki)

The trail was filled with mossy trees, and golden leaves. It was quite magical.

And then lastly, after attempting to do some souvenir shopping (we didn't find anything we liked - so WEIRD).
We went to hang out in front of the giant stone fireplace at the famous Ahwahnee Hotel.
It takes a special kind of lodging property to garner the "Premier Lodge" classification from National Park Reservations. With its grand public spaces featuring giant stone fireplaces, massive hand-stenciled beams, rich tapestries and elegant stained glass. ​This hotel, built in 1927 and on the National Historical Landmark, it is one of the most distinctive resort hotels in North America.  
(I have a few bones to pick about the management living up to this classification...more on this tomorrow.)
But it is located in the majestic, jaw-dropping main valley inside Yosemite Park near the base of Half Dome and Glacier Point which is completely awesome!!

It was kinda late by the time we got back to our hotel room, and after several miles of hiking and walking we were all a bit fried - too tired to go back out, but still hungry for dinner.

Luckily we found a Chinese restaurant with good reviews, vegetarian food, and that delivered!

Cosette was literally plastered on her bed and laughing hysterically as to how she couldn't move!

Today is a new day, and we all got plenty of rest, and if all goes according to plan we should be home by late tonight.

Of course I'll let you know how it all goes in tomorrows Daily Scoop!

Tootles,
​-T

Elisa's Daily Scoop
NEXT TRIP DEPARTS IN: 25DAYS

Facts about Yosemite National Park

Hi there folks!!

What a beautiful Monday!! Sunny, chilly - great Fall day!

I just love the Fall weather.  And what's more, it makes for great hair days!

My Cuz in Yosemite...
I have to put a little something in here about Tanya's current trip to Yosemite.  I wanted to join her so bad on this National Park trip.

It just didn't work out however, with the girls' school schedule.  

In an effort to feel like I'm virtually with my cousins on this trip, I'd like to tell you 15 Facts about this amazing vacation destination!

Before you read along, you have to check out Tanya's pictures - did she capture AMAZING photos or what!!!

15 FUN FACTS ABOUT
YOSEMITE NATIONAL PARK

1. Yosemite National Park is located within California’s Sierra Nevada mountains.

2. The park was created in 1890, and is one of the oldest nature preserves in the United States.

3. It was designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1984.

4. It is most famous for its ancient giant sequoias, waterfalls, deep valleys and grand meadows.

5. Yosemite National Park spans nearly 1,200 square miles on the western slope of the Sierra Nevada mountain range in central eastern California.

6. The Ahwaneechee Native Americans lived in the Yosemite Valley for at least 4,000 years.

7. John Muir, writer and naturalist and founder of the Sierra Club, was so taken with Yosemite that he headed up an effort for its preservation and his efforts lead to the park’s establishment in 1890.

8. The park is also famed for its spectacular granite formations, its crystal-clear streams, as well as two major rivers - the Merced and Tuolumne -  and much more.

9. Yosemite Falls is the tallest in North America. Its flow peaks in May and it has a 2,425 foot drop.

10. One of the most recognizable features of the park is Half Dome, an 8,842-foot peak with a vertical cliff of plutonic granite. 

11. The Giant Sequoia tree, can live up to 3,000 years and is considered to be the largest living thing on the planet.

12. 20% of California's 7,000 plant species are found within Yosemite which also include the California Black Oak, noted for its edible acorns, and the Ponderosa Pine. Flowers include the Mariposa Lily, the Shooting Star and the Dog Wood, which is a seasonal flower (April to July) that blooms on Dog Wood trees.

13. There are at least 90 species of mammals in this park including bighorn sheep, golden eagles, peregrine falcons, black bears, mule deer, coyotes,  mountain lions as well as smaller creatures, such as squirrels and marmots. Birdwatchers will find, in addition to several nesting pairs of falcons, Red-Tail Hawks, Great-Grey Owls, Ravens and Stellar’s Jays.

14.  In 1903, president Theodore Roosevelt toured Yosemite with Muir and in 1906 the park came under the federal government’s control.

15. About 3.5 million people visit Yosemite each year.

Yesterday was spent at my sister Danielle's, where we worked on tweaking our Thanksgiving dinner menu. 

​The kids baked cookies and brownies - Dee-lish!!!

Gianna and Nolan baking cookies

Tomorrow, I'll also be talking to you about my upcoming Christmas Florida trip.  Lots on my agenda in the sunshine state!!

Visiting family can be more than just hanging out and being a couch potato.  I'm planning to be part couch potato guest and part traveler on my trip to visit mom and dad next month!

Will tell you about it tomorrow for Travelin' Tuesday!

I'll leave you with this very informative article from Smithsonian.com about John Muir, the man most credited with establishing Yosemite as a national preserve.  Enjoy!!

See ya back here tomorrow!!!

-E
xoxo