Alaska 2013, Day 10, Yosemite

Tuesday June 11, 2013

Today we went up top to the Glacier Point drive to take a couple hikes. Sunny and warm today.  A few clouds had come in by the time we got up top.

We stopped at a meadow pull off half way out.  The meadow was full of spring flowers.  Spring was late up here this year.

Washburn Point

This is the first Half Dome pull off overlook you come to when heading  out to Glacier Point.  It is a small overlook but has a great view of Half Dome and Nevada and Vernal falls.  Great view but most people go on to Glacier Point.

Glacier Point

Just before you get to Glacier Point there is a hairpin turn with a fantastic view of Half Dome and the falls, no place to stop along here though.

Glacier Point is a large overlook at the end of the road.  There is a large parking lot and two overlooks.  One overlook has the same view as Washburn Point; Half Dome and the falls.  Glacier Point is the cliff over the valley.  From here you can see Half Dome the valley and Yosemite Falls.  We ate lunch on top the bolders out at the end of Glacier Point.  This is the best view of any National Park. Very crowded though.

Taft Point

On the way back we stopped at Taft Point/Sentinel Dome.  We walked out to Taft Point.  Either hike is ~ 1 mi.  Taft Point hike goes through a meadow and woods, across some boulders and out onto a cliff ledge.  Lots of cliff edges here.  Only about a half dozen people were out at the point.  Met a family with one son doing sketches of the valley and the other playing indian flute.  The indian flute really adds to the atmosphere of the point! The son with the flutes showed the kids all his flutes (8) he was carrying with him and showed them how to play them.  Pretty neat.

Lots of boulders all over for the kids to climb.

Lots of snow blooms (red mushrooms) along the trail and road up.

Saw some Stellars Jays and a Black Headed Grosbeak (looks like a cross between a Robin and an Orchard Oriole) in the campground this morning..

- Jon

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