formariz 11,987 #1 Posted July 7, 2022 We have been at Yosemite for a few days. Incredible sights. 5 6 1 13 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ebinmaine 67,484 #2 Posted July 7, 2022 Just incredible pics Caz. We'd love to see the giant trees and that beautiful terrain. 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Pullstart 62,854 #3 Posted July 7, 2022 Amazing stuff! I’d like to see the redwoods, and the kauri trees in New Zealand! 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Sparky-(Admin) 21,315 #4 Posted July 7, 2022 Incredible! Thanks for the pics! I can see why the panoramic setting was the best way to go for most of your shots 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
peter lena 8,625 #5 Posted July 7, 2022 @formariz we did a lot of national parks , go to this site , https://www.npbooksonline.com/ for the actual photo / story albums , when we wet to CRATER LAKE / OREGON in june years ago , the snow was telephone pole high ! we followed bulldozers pushing caterpillar powered blowers to the lake base , incredible. the lake was formed by the volcano that inverted into the earth . over 1000 feet deep . also did JEDADIA SMITH N/P calif , parks make you feel very insignificant , like a speck of sand , and that you can't explain / tell anyone about what you saw , like HOUSE ON FIRE UTAH , glad you went , pete 3 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
SylvanLakeWH 25,557 #6 Posted July 7, 2022 It is an amazing place… Here’s my son seeing El Cap in a way most don’t… he’s climbed it twice, Half Dome once… The selfie was his Birthday “card” to me halfway up El Cap… 4 3 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
rmaynard 15,458 #7 Posted July 7, 2022 (edited) Cas, I envy you. Yosemite was one of our favorite trips. Here is a picture of Half Dome taken from Yosemite Valley in September 2013. Edited July 7, 2022 by rmaynard 5 2 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
formariz 11,987 #8 Posted July 7, 2022 Photos don’t really capture the magnitude of the beauty in this place. We were years ago also at the Sequoia National Forest which is right next to Yosemite. We spent a lot of time wondering through the several sequoia groves. It is a humbling experience being next to something that has lived for up to three thousands years and are basically the only ones that survive all the fires as evidenced by their scars and all the dead fallen enormous pines. Some of those fallen pines on photos are over 4 feet in diameter. Thinking and realizing that humans almost cut them to extinction is a sobering and awakening thought of what kind of ignorant and reckless beings we are but fortunately there were enough of us with the common sense and fortitude to stop and preserve these irreplaceable giants. 4 6 5 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
stevasaurus 22,738 #9 Posted July 7, 2022 Love the Rocky's, Great pictures Cas. 2 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
EB-80/8inPA 1,641 #10 Posted July 7, 2022 It’s nice to see you’re enjoying some of the beautiful moments life has to offer after such a trying year. Thanks for sharing the pics. Inspiring. 1 1 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
tunahead72 2,412 #11 Posted July 8, 2022 12 hours ago, SylvanLakeWH said: ... Yo Jim, please don't do that to me again! It took me a second to realize what that first photo was about, didn't really get it until I saw the second. And now I'm sweatin' profusely, my heart's acting weird... I need a minute. Seriously, that's awesome! Nice photos, gentlemen! 3 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Stormin 9,981 #12 Posted July 8, 2022 Such beautiful scenery. Also not over run with people like we get in the Lake District in my county. Thanks for sharing. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
953 nut 55,224 #13 Posted July 8, 2022 Thanks for sharing your trip with us, we are blessed to have so many magnificent areas like Yosemite that have been preserved for future generations to enjoy. I bet that one made a sound even if no one was there at the time! How many board feet would you guess that tree is? 2 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
dcrage 628 #14 Posted July 8, 2022 4 hours ago, Stormin said: Such beautiful scenery. Also not over run with people like we get in the Lake District in my county. Thanks for sharing. Unfortunately the Valley floor is overfilled with people. I believe you need reservations to visit. The beauty and grandeur of Yosemite is …….,….! Everyone should get to experience this par. 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
formariz 11,987 #15 Posted July 8, 2022 11 hours ago, 953 nut said: How many board feet would you guess that tree is? Not a Sequoia but another prominent tree species here, the Sugar Pine, a wood that I am extremely familiar with. To understand a little the effects of uncontrolled logging in this area up to the 30s one has only to look at the two photos below. Today sugar pine is really only available with widths of about 12 inches . Anything more than that is very rare if found at all and extremely expensive. About 35 years ago I was able to obtain some rare 30 “ boards totally clear and that was very rare then already. The fallen tree on photo is about 40 inches in diameter and over 200 years old. It was always in a protected area and survived until a wind storm last year. The table top on second photo is close to six feet wide and although cracked it is one single board. Try finding a board like that today. That tree was probably over 600 years old when cut. There probably will never be another one like it. Hopefully we have learned something and will not keep destroying this planet with our reckless greed and lack of respect for its resources. 3 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
formariz 11,987 #16 Posted July 9, 2022 11 hours ago, dcrage said: Unfortunately the Valley floor is overfilled with people. I believe you need reservations to visit. The beauty and grandeur of Yosemite is …….,….! Everyone should get to experience this par. Yes one notices that in the Valley since most camping is done there and there lots of amenities. They however control it pretty well with the necessary reservations. They gave to be made well in advance at least two months. That is to access park between 6AM and 4PM. If it’s not done that much in advance the closest two months to the desired date is unavailable, availability for each day announced in advance starting at 8 AM . Well , site becomes immediately flooded with people trying. I can tell you that 2000 openings went in less than two minutes. You have to be pretty good with a computer to get in on time and make reservations. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
rjg854 11,361 #17 Posted July 9, 2022 (edited) @formariz Read today about a fire there. It's burned 250 acres in the vicinity of the Sequoias, but not threatening them so far. Are you still there, Caz? Edited July 9, 2022 by rjg854 Add 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
wh500special 2,179 #18 Posted July 9, 2022 1 hour ago, formariz said: Hopefully we have learned something and will not keep destroying this planet with our reckless greed and lack of respect for its resources. I’m not optimistic. In some ways it seems like society is doing better. The air and water in developed western nations is generally cleaner than at any time since the industrial revolution gained momentum. And yet when we look around at the plastic pollution, the destruction of wilderness and disappearance of species, the general waste of scarce resources, and the lack of interest in curbing greenhouse emissions it’s easy to see that we are leaving really big footprints behind. Most animals know not to relieve themselves where they eat, but we at the top of the food chain continue to struggle with that fundamental lesson. great pictures! Have a great trip. Steve 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
formariz 11,987 #19 Posted July 9, 2022 (edited) 2 hours ago, rjg854 said: @formariz Read today about a fire there. It's burned 250 acres in the vicinity of the Sequoias, but not threatening them so far. Are you still there, Caz? We left yesterday and are in San Francisco today. We were in that exact area on our last day there. Sad to hear it. Unfortunately it seems to be a normal occurrence here. Everything is extremely dry. Last year they had a terrible wind storm with up to 120 mph winds that toppled many trees. Lots of stuff to burn on the ground. Thank you for asking. Edited July 9, 2022 by formariz 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
lynnmor 7,305 #20 Posted July 9, 2022 I met this guy on a trail in Yosemite . 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Stormin 9,981 #21 Posted July 9, 2022 Bob Cat. Bet he didn't let you tickle his ears. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
lynnmor 7,305 #22 Posted July 9, 2022 5 hours ago, Stormin said: Bob Cat. Bet he didn't let you tickle his ears. I met him in the middle of a narrow foot bridge, glad he jumped off the side. There are quite a few of them in Yosemite keeping the rodents under control. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
peter lena 8,625 #23 Posted July 9, 2022 @Horse Newbie IF you are ever in the san Francisco area , only 32 miles away is , SAN JOSE , calif , https://www.winchestermysteryhouse.com/ you have just got to see this. incredible is just the start , we always had a go to pad , while in an area , could be food , aerodrome , spectacular drive , whale watching , etc , lots to see , pete 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
formariz 11,987 #24 Posted July 9, 2022 Reading news from park sadly the area where I posted photos from is engulfed in flames. They wrapped the trunks of the sequoias I took photos of, with flame resistant blankets to help them resist fire. Hopefully they will be able to control fire soon. 1 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
formariz 11,987 #25 Posted July 10, 2022 Sadly this fire is expanding. They are on a desperate mission to save sequoias by wrapping trunks with fire resistant blankets and installing sprinklers around them to keep ground wet. 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
