Welcome to Yosemite!

We made it! This was the third time we've planned to visit Yosemite, and it finally happened! It's really impossible to adequately describe this national park. It's grand, every towering mountain, every waterfall, the raging river, the beautiful lakes. Grand. The scale is mind-blowing. It's hard to even take a photo of what you're seeing because you have to be so far away to capture the whole scene.

We spent 10 days camped with our friends just outside of the park and came into the park almost everyday. Our plan for day one: hike the Lower Yosemite Falls trail. Before we even reached the trailhead, we stopped to explore the meadow beneath Horsetail Falls. For two weeks in February, when the conditions are right, it's possible to see the sun reflect on this waterfall causing it to glow like fire.

Lower Yosemite Falls is an easy hike which takes you right up to the base of the falls, so close the mist will hit you!

The trail passed a campground and an area that's popular for climbing. 

Again, the size of this waterfall is hard to convey. It's the tallest waterfall in North America at 2,425ft, combining the two falls and cascades in between. Fifth tallest in the entire world! To give you a sense of scale, look at the people in the photo on the left. Then look at the photo on the right. The fall starts at the top of that mountain! Amazing!

Along the trail I found quite a few Black-headed Grosbeaks, and this squirrel who appears to have a question...

It was nice that even as our path took us away from the falls, we still came to spots with excellent views.

Then we took the Cook's Meadow Loop for more great views.

Heading towards Half Dome

Great views of Half Dome from this bridge. We saw a few people rafting the Merced River below.

Before heading home, we stopped at the Visitor Center to get the kids their Jr Ranger badges. On the way there, Asher spotted this Gilbert's Skink!

Stellar's Jays were pretty plentiful along our hike, and while at the Visitor Center I spotted some White-headed Woodpeckers (lifer)! Didn't get a great photo, but hey, it's proof I saw them!