Yosemite 2011

This has got to be one of the most difficult posts in that there were so many pictures to choose from, and I wanted to express the feeling of beauty and majesty we felt with only a handful of the pictures. Our trip to Yosemite this year was just as amazing as last year. We saw the same sites, but they were all uniquely new as there was more snow this year and more snow-pack melting. The rivers were swollen and the waterfalls so swift and powerful. The sights took my breath away all over again. Kelly's brother, Kevin, and his wife, Beth, joined us on day two. It had been several years since they had been in Yosemite, and it had been later in the summer/early fall, so the water levels were down. The sights were just as powerful for them as they were for us. Here is a smattering of the pictures from our trip...

One of three deer we encountered just hanging out in the middle of the Disneyland-like crowds.

The view from our trailer door. Our campsite was amazing and situated just so that we didn't have neighbors to the left of us. It was unreal to wake up to the sound of the water every morning and fall asleep to that sound every night.

There are many cars and day-trip travelers, but those who camp bring bikes. It is so easy to get around to the little village and neighboring trails/waterfalls on a bike. I've never had such a stunning view while riding my bike as I have in the Yosemite valley.

Our first waterfall was the Lower Yosemite Fall. This is the "little" part of the two falls. Ha. The roar of this water was enough to make me nervous!

Our next hike was the Mist Trail going to Vernal Fall and then on to Nevada Fall. It was 7 miles round trip up some very steep rock, but SO worth it.

Here are the girls on the trail to Nevada Falls. You can see the steep climb as well as how large and powerful this waterfall was.

Day three with Kevin and Beth found us at Glacier Point. The entire valley is visible as well as the glaciers not visible from the valley floor. There was a ton of snow still on these glaciers (some is visible to the right of Half-Dome in this photo).

Glacier Point is over 7,000 feet and the view across to Half-Dome (above) at 8,000 feet is amazing. Below you can see the Vernal and Nevada Falls we hiked to as well as the Upper and Lower Yosemite Falls.

Vernal and Nevada Falls

Upper and Lower Yosemite Falls

The Merced River was like having a swimming pool in our backyard for five days. The girls couldn't get enough of it. Kelly joined them a few times while I, without a wet suit, could not stand the water for very long without losing feeling in my extremities. This was melted snow people!

On our last night, Kevin and Beth gave Heather her birthday presents. She got some darling clothes, a Justice gift card, and Just Dance 2 for the Wii. Heather was in Heaven!

Most evenings we sat around the campfire recuperating from our hikes and/or playing games. Both our families love to play games so we have lots of willing players. This was such a great trip that we can't help but want to make it a yearly tradition.