(and Professional Travelers)
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| El Capitan is a favorite for experienced rock climbers. Rising more than 3,593 feet above the Valley floor, it is the largest monolith of granite in the world. El Capitan is opposite Bridalveil Fall and is best seen from the roads in western Yosemite Valley, including Tunnel View, Bridalveil Fall area, and El Capitan Meadow. These various views are shown below -- plus more good stuff! | |
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| Yosemite Valley at El Capitan Meadow, located along one-way Northside Drive, provides a view straight up El Capitan and a great view of Cathedral Rocks, as well. | |
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| You can tell the size of El Capitan because Karen and Lee are dwarfed in the photos | |
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The backside of El Capitan
- it looks so different |
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| In Yosemite Valley, Sentinel Bridge is famous for its views of both Half Dome reflected in the Merced River. | |
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| Tunnel View provides one of the most famous views of Yosemite Valley. From here you can see El Capitan and Bridalveil Fall rising from Yosemite Valley, with Half Dome in the background. This viewpoint is at the east end of the Wawona Tunnel along the Wawona Road (Highway 41). | |
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View from the back side
of the tunnel - Lee liked the balancing rock at
the top. |
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View from the popular side
of the tunnel, known as Tunnel View - the first sign will help you identify
the different rock formations in the photos below. |
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| The photos below contain the rock formations shown in the sign above. Below are some brief descriptions. | |
| Half Dome is perhaps the most recognized symbol of Yosemite and Yosemite's most distinctive monument as it dominates most views in Yosemite Valley. Rising nearly 5,000 feet above the Valley floor, it is one of the most sought-after landmarks in Yosemite. Some people even hike or rock-climb to the top! Forces of uplift, erosion from rivers and glaciers, plus rock fall all shaped this famous feature. | |
| Sentinel Rock, like a sentry, overlooks Yosemite
Valley, along the opposite side of the Valley From Yosemite Falls. |
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| Cathedral Rocks and Spires form the eastern side of the canyon through which Bridalveil Creek flows. Some people think these rocks, just opposite of El Capitan, are even more impressive than El Capitan! | |
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Cloud's Rest |
Looking down |
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| Views from hiking up Inspiration Trail - we actually hiked up higher than the elevation of Bridalveil Fall. Strangely enough, we got cell phone service up here (so we called our grand-daughter), but we did not get cell phone service down in other areas of Yosemite National Park, and not in the campground either. | |
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The two RV Gypsies decided
to hike up Inspiration Trail. Below is the top of the mountain where they hiked to. |
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And now - here are actual
photos from the hike up Inspiration Trail |
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| Although the trail is just over one mile each way, it is a very steep, rocky trail and a bit strenuous. But the breath-taking view is well worth the hike. | |
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Another view from the trail |
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There is a light rain,
thus water spots on camera lens in these photos |
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The two RV Gypsies are
getting rained on as they hike and the fog is settling in again |
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Despite the weather, there
are beautiful wild flowers along the trail to be enjoyed. |
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| Thank you for viewing the
photos of El Capitan - please continue on to view the other 3 photo sections
below. (menus help the photos load faster - in case you have a slower computer) |
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El Capitan |
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| AFTER you have viewed all 4 photo sections above, please continue on to San Francisco, California |