Click on any picture for a larger view, a potential story, and a print/frame order form. The FAQ button on the left refers to Yosemite National Park if available.
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Yosemite National Park, CA

Yosemite National Park is one of the top United States National Parks to visit. As such, you need reservations well in advance. It's got everything - massive cliff and waterfall scenery, wildlife, bicycling, and hikes. Yosemite is famous for Half Dome, a huge rock structure that watches over the valley. You can camp or stay in a posh hotel. Fly into Fresno and it's less than 1.5 hours north. Winter is beautiful, too, as long as the roads are open.
MickTravels World Travelog - Antarctica, Alaska, Australia, Galapagos, Peru, Maui, Greece, Israel, USA, panoramas
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Half dome looms in the background at Yosemite National Park. This shot is easily taken from the southern entrance to the park on the way into the valley.

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Half Dome is in the background on the left, Bridal Veil Falls is in the shadows on the right. This shot is easily taken from the southern entrance to the park on the way into the valley.

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Approaching Bridal Veil Falls from the road. There's a convenient parking lot from where you can embark on a short hike to the base of the falls.

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It's an easy hike to the base of Lower Yosemite Falls. If you want to see the top of the Upper Falls, you're in for a steep hike that will last at least half the day, probably longer.

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A buck tries to get some rest just off the Lower Yosemite Falls trail.

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A doe looks surprised to see all the people taking the easy Lower Yosemite Falls trail.

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Close-up of Half Dome from the valley. This was taken in October. During the summer you can take an incredible 12-mile (one way) hike to the top, the final section of which is a climb up the rounded side with the help of a pair of cable railings. I've done this hike twice in my younger years.

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A buck scrounges for food before winter sets in.

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Several climbers became trapped on the face of El Capitan when we were there. 2 Japanese men died in the freak freezing weather. Here a rescue helicopter prepares for anothter try to get the last person down safely.

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Several climbers became trapped on the face of El Capitan when we were there. 2 Japanese men died in the freak freezing weather. Here you can just make out a climber on the sheer face of the infamous rock.

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Several climbers became trapped on the face of El Capitan when we were there. 2 Japanese men died in the freak freezing weather. Here a rescue helicopter takes off and makes a gradual spiral ascent towards the top.

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The rescue copter reaches the top and will soon duck out of sight.

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The rescue helicopter got someone! Or something. Can't tell from here. We didn't see any action on the face of El Capitan. The helicopter disappeared over the top and then came out again with a dangling payload.

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Rescue helicopter presumably with a very thankful bundle of rescued climber dangling below.

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Bridal Veil Falls from the valley road.

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Bridal Veil creek along the short, easy trail to the falls.

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Bridal Veil creek along the short, easy trail to the falls.

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On the Yosemite Valley floor looking southwest, probably.

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HalfDome with the Merced River in the foreground. There's a much better panorama of this scene in my panorama section.

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Closeup of Half Dome.

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Yosemite Falls is immense. The water is still flowing in October. You can easily see the upper falls here, but did you notice the lower falls towards the bottom right? Notice also the cars for perspective.

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Upper Yosemite Falls doesn't pump the water out in October like it will in the spring.

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Peaceful view of Yosemite Falls behind the Merced River.

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If you make your reservations WELL in advance, you can can married in a church in Yosemite Valley.

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At the south entrance is a large sequoia grove. There are plenty of huge trees here and plenty of fun hikes. If you came here and missed Sequoia National Park, you'd be fine.\n\nHere is the base of a fallen sequoia tree with a normal-size fence on the right for perspective. These trees are incredible.

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At the south entrance is a large sequoia grove. There are plenty of huge trees here and plenty of fun hikes. If you came here and missed Sequoia National Park, you'd be fine.

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At the south entrance is a large sequoia grove. There are plenty of huge trees here and plenty of fun hikes. If you came here and missed Sequoia National Park, you'd be fine.\n\nThis is a closeup of a typical sequoia tree.

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