Over the past year, I’ve had the opportunity to travel
across the country and visit some of our most beautiful national parks and
mountain ranges. These include Rocky Mountain National Park, The Great Tetons,
Yellowstone, Great Smoky Mountains, and the Sierra Nevada Mountains. To close
out the year, I wanted to do something special. Being the spontaneous person
that I am, I decided to take a camping trip to Yosemite during the week of
Thanksgiving. After hearing stories and seeing pictures of Yosemite’s famous
locations like Half Dome, El Capitan, and Camp 4, I knew I had to see it for
myself.
The drive to Yosemite itself was impressive, traveling through the
Sierra Nevada’s over the snowy Kit Carson Pass and through small California
mountain towns. I arrived in Yosemite right before daylight and made it to
Tunnel View as the sun began to rise. As the light began to illuminate the view
before me, I was awestruck by the incredible beauty of the valley. I knew this
was going to be a great week. After finding a campsite, I decided to get out
and explore. Over the next few days, I enjoyed the spectacular views of Glacier
Point, Bridal Veil Falls, and Yosemite Falls. For November, the weather
couldn’t have been more perfect with daytime temperatures in the high 60’s and
nighttime temperatures in the 40’s.
After returning home and going through my pictures, it’s
hard to find words to describe the beauty of these places. I often wonder what
the Native Americans thought when they first came upon places like this, and
how peaceful it must have been. Even now, in modern times, I think people
travel to these places seeking something similar. To appreciate their beauty,
peace, and wonder is really something special. As an outdoor educator, I’d
encourage everyone to take time to appreciate our natural wonders. Take
advantage of the close proximity to places like Yosemite and Great Basin. Go
climb a mountain, camp on the Playa, or kayak Lake Tahoe. The world is waiting
for you to explore.
"There can be nothing in the world more
beautiful than the Yosemite, the groves of the giant sequoias and redwoods, the
Canyon of the Colorado, the Canyon of the Yellowstone, the Three Tetons; and
our people should see to it that they are preserved for their children and
their children's children forever, with their majestic beauty all
unmarred."-Teddy Roosevelt
Happy Trails!
-Bigfoot
No comments:
Post a Comment