Yesterday, sunday, climbed the “Four Mile Trail” from Yosemite Valley to Glacier Point, a grueling hike, 3200 ft climb in 4.8 mi. The climb was hard, like climbing out of the Grand Canyon. Climbing is always doable if you take lots of brakes. A Grandma, carrying her 18 mo. grandson on her back passed me about halfway up. Tried to keep up with her, ... but no, she was to fast for me. It took me 2:45 hrs to get to the top.  But the way down, that was really hard, my knees don't like that level of downhill. Downhill took me 3 hrs. Today will give my sore knees a break, will just do an easy pace bicycle ride around the Valley.

Day 5 in Yosemite Valley. Had forgotten how spectacular Yosemite NP is. The last time I was here was 39 yrs ago. As you know part of my retirement plan is to go visit all the National Parks. But there is 5 or 6 in Alaska that I will skip. They are quite remote. But did visit Denali NP back in summer 2010, with some of my high school class on a cruise to Alaska (you may look at the archives, July 30, 2010). So, this will make the 23rd National Park I have visited. Then will go To Kings Canyon NP, and Sequoia NP, and then to Pinnacles NP on this trip. Then home to hangout with friends once again.

Iconic Yosemite, Half Dome on the right, Washington Column to the left, and Royal Arches to the left with North Dome above it. On the Washington Column about half way up, at night from the campground could see lights from climbers bivouacked, they take 3 to 5 days to climb to the top.

Another iconic monument of Yosemite, El Capitan, people from all over the come here to do the multi-day El Capitan climb. Click the links if you want to know more.

On one of my hikes, spotted a bobcat stalking a ground squirrel. If you look at the center in the photo, you can make him out.

On the right, thru a telescope from one of the volunteers, we have one of the climbers on El Capitan. You can see the climbing bag, the volunteer is a climber, and told me El Capitan is a 3 to 5 day climb, and the bag easily weighs in at 150 lbs. The day before, a climber dropped about 30 ft, banged his head hard on the rock and had to be rescued, click here.

One morning met up with two very nice young ladies, Mallory and Elizabeth from San Diego way. We spend the day checking out some of the sights. A hike to Vernal Falls. Normally the falls covers the entire side of the rock.

Yosemite Falls without water. Went on another hike to Mirror Lake, below, again no water, a dry lake.

To see water in Yosemite this days need to come in the spring after rains and snow melts.

Will probably not be able to publish this blog till after I leave the NP next Sat. WiFi here is not very good.

Also met some very nice people from Berkley Ca., that is across the bay from “home”, Mountain View Ca. Kept running into them, a mom and her twenty something daughter I would guess. They both have an adventurous spirit, and love hanging out and hiking the sites in Yosemite NP. They come often. We had most enjoyable conversations and camaraderie, it does not get better than that. You must come and visit this most awesome place of our USA. ... !!!! AND GET IN SHAPE FOR THE HIKES !!!!