I still had a weeks vacation and we were running out of available time to take it. We wanted to do something special for number national park #50 and picked Yosemite National Park. Yosemite is consistently rated in the top 10 of US National Parks and is a mecca for hikers and backpackers. Since we were going in early December we planned to hike in the valley and cross country ski in the mountains.
OK, let’s just say it this is a lot for a week, start and end point was LAX (YUCK)For some reason we just can’t get enough of Death ValleyThe Whytes brought rain to the desert, we hiked through some boot sucking mud, not fun at all.We decided to do a hike to Dante’s Ridge and to the top of Mt Perry. This is looking back down the ridge.Destination is on the back left, weather was not too good. It was really windy when we started.Blue sky is tryingLeann on Mt. Perry, weather and views were great by the time we got to the topHeading back downSalt flats with waterI wonder how many National Natural Landmarks there are in the US? HmmmPlanet of the Apes was filmed here
RED ROCK CANYON STATE PARK
Places like Red Rock are why I Iove road trips. We didn’t know anything about the place but drove by and decided to stop. Red Rock turned out to be a very nice state park: great scenery, trails and campsites tucked into the rocks. We will have to go back.Back on the road, the Almond trees were in full bloom. We had just turned on the road we were taking to Yosemite, and discovered the road was closed. I stopped to turn around and happened to glance left and saw these guys: Burrowing Owls. Leann was pretty excited#50. We stayed at a hotel in the park, first day we skied and then we did some hikes in the valley. This was more of a scouting trip to see what we liked, didn’t like and what we would do on a return trip.
We were surprised that there not many people cross country skiing but the downhill section was busy. I guess we live in a down hill kind of world.We did see one guy that was heading for the backcountry to downhill ski. He was trudging along the trail using his downhill boots and skis. He did not look like he was having funDon’t wander off the groomed trail, the snow is very deep
Half domeYosemite ValleyEl Capitan, this sheer granite wall is a mecca for climbersThis is our hotel for the visit, we had a first floor room with a patio and a nice view of the valley#51, full disclosure: we liked this better than Yosemite.We just planned to be here for one day and decided to do the High Peaks Trail. The weather was great and the scenery was even better. Big bonus: Leann got to add a species to her life list of birds. Happy wife, happy lifeOur first view, we thought we knew the species, when they got close no doubt: Condors!
We lucked out since we visited on a windy day and that’s when the Condors like to fly and glide. They were flying so close we could hear the wind rushing through their wings. Went to the Condor sanctuary on a previous trip, didn’t see anything. Go to Pinnacles and they are all over the place.FYI; these are not Condors but they taste really good, deep fried in late November…..I found it very relaxing to just look at the Lake, not a ripple on it
After the hike we headed back to LA for our flight home the next day. What will be number 52?
