Yosemite National Park is very beautiful and busier than I expected as the main season hasn't started yet (Memorial Day is the official start of the busy season and that's still two weeks away). Even though all of the open campgrounds and hotels are sold out a lot of services (restaurants, horseback riding,etc.) are not open yet. I don't think I'd want to visit Yosemite in the middle of the summer --- I know Ed wouldn't like it at all. One interesting thing about visiting Yosemite is that it feels like the United Nations, every where you go you hear many different languages being spoken.

20160513-20160511__7D_4557_8_9.jpg
Several years ago there was a fire in and around Yosemite. There are many burnt dead trees, a number of slightly burnt live trees and new growth --- shrubs, young trees and grasses abound.

20160513-20160511__7D_4658.JPG
A view across Yosemite Valley from Tunnel View.

May and June are good months to visit Yosemite National Park if you want to see waterfalls. Melting snow in the mountains guarantees lots of water in the waterfalls. The water rushes over the falls so hard and fast that at times it sounds like thunder.

20160513-20160511__DX_0479_80_81.jpg 20160513-20160511__7D_4671_2_3.jpg
Bridal Veil Falls. Not sure which rock this is.

20160513-20160511__DX_0531.JPG
An art shot of the river at the bottom of Bridal Veil falls.

20160513-20160511__7D_4722_3_4.jpg
I just like this photo.

20160513-20160511__7D_4690_1_2.jpg 20160513-20160511__7D_4800_1_2.jpg
Upper Yosemite Falls can be see from many places in the valley but you can only see Upper and Lower Yosemite Falls together from one trail.

20160513-20160511__DX_0565_6_7.jpg
El Capitan is a vertical rock formation. The granite monolith extends about 3,000 feet from base to summit along its tallest face and is one of the world's favorite challenges for rock climbers and BASE jumpers.

20160513-20160511__DX_0649.JPG
Upper Yosemite Falls and me. Occasionally there needs to be a photo where I'm the main subject.

20160513-20160511__DX_0706_7_8.jpg 20160513-20160511__DX_0740.JPG
We hiked about three quarters of the way up to the top of Vernal Falls (once we got equal to the falls we decided we had gone far enough) following a trail called the Mist Trail. Part of the hike was like being on the Maid of Mist at Niagara Falls. We were pretty wet by time we stopped hiking. The second photo is me on the way down. I'm the blue person --- I dug my raincoat out of my backpack (didn't make me any drier but kept me warmer).

20160513-20160511__DX_0887.JPG
This deer found some tasty food near the entrance to the Lower Yosemite Trail (a very busy area). People were excited and followed it around a bit keeping their distance. The deer didn't care. She ignored everyone and kept eating. The animals that are around Yosemite Village are not afraid of people. In fact, I saw one fast young man reach out and touch a squirrel on it's head.