Mist Trail John Muir Hike

Rainbow under Vernal Falls

Headed out to lead our group to the #1 day hike in Yosemite.  The Mist Trail up to Vernal and Nevada Falls and down the John Muir Trail for spectacular views of the valley.  After a good rainy season, the Mist Trail was back to being the Mist Trail.  After so little water the past couple of years I thoroughly enjoyed getting my rain jacket out once we started to get hit by the spray of Vernal Falls.  I highly recommend crossing over the top of Nevada Falls and taking the John Muir Trail down.  Loop trails are always more interesting than out and backs and the views are spectacular! 

Looking back at Half Dome, Liberty Cap, and Nevada Falls

Glacier Point Cross Country Ski

Yosemite is my favorite national park in the U.S.  Thank goodness it is a little over 3 hours away.  Winter closes Tioga Pass and Glacier Point Road.   This Saturday I was excited to try cross country skiing for the 1st time.  I got to Badger Pass Parking Lot early, as I had no clue how long 21 miles of cross country skiing would take.

Glacier Point

At times easy, at times very challenging, cross country skiing was a fun new adventure.  As you weave through the forest the anticipation grows as you know that spectacular views lie ahead.  In the summer one can drive out to Glacier Point...however in the winter time a 21 mile round trip is needed to obtain the spectacular views of Half Dome and the snow-covered valley.  

Half Dome covered by fresh snow

Lunch at Glacier Point with a few hearty souls was terrific.  The fresh snow blanketed the Yosemite Valley and high country.  A very full, yet rewarding day trying a new sport for the 1st time!

Eagle Peak, Yosemite Falls Snowshoe

Yosemite is spectacular in winter.  Henry and I drove down early to the valley to go up the Yosemite Falls trail to Upper Yosemite Falls.  The trail had tons of ice so we had to hike up the edge of it.  The views on this trail are simply spectacular.  Upon reaching the rim we put on our snowshoes.  There was plenty of fresh powder from the previous few days.  

Final destination of Eagle Peak

From the top of the ridge the entire snow-covered valley sprawls out beneath you.  We continued on for several more miles until reaching Eagle Peak.  The views were incredible.  Not a footprint in sight as we had the north rim entirely to ourselves.

 We headed back down in a race against the sunset.  The Yosemite Falls trail was super slick, so we ended up going down much of it on our backside or on the more crunchy snow just off the trail.  Some microspikes would really help to get down this trail.  An absolutely awesome day!

Tunnel up to Badger Pass

Frozen Bridalveil Falls

Top of Yosemite Falls

Mount Dana, Tioga Peak