Thursday in Yosemite

The waterfalls in the valley area are wonderful. People say they have never seen as much water in them. I decided to try to show something of the power of the water in this telephoto shot.

It has not been too hot today, but temperatures have been plesasanty in the high 70s.

I met some lovely people who all wanted to chat. Some visitors are Californians who come here regularly. Tomorrow the Park expects a huge influx because it is Memorial Day on Saturday. There are warnings of 2 -3 hour traffic jams. You can't turn around once you enter the park, because of the one way system.

There were so many people at Yosemite Falls today that we ditched the idea of visiting. This was after driving around the massive car park and not finding a space. We will try tomorrow very early.

After a short afternoon break, we returned to visit El Capitan meadow. The late light on the trees was lovely.

My extra is from this morning when I found horsetails in another meadow.

Lots of people come and bring their binoculars to watch the climbers. One local woman told me that the fastest climbers can ascend El Capitan in 3 hours, "running" up the rocks using fingers and toes and with no safety equipment.

Last night we stopped the cars in the dark and got out to look up to the climbers who were staying on the mountain overnight. I counted 10 head torches and there may have been more. Hard to imagine sleeping when you are swining around near a vertical rock face.