Yosemite National Park

El Capitan (left) and half dome (centre)

Visiting Yosemite was actually a change of plans, but we are so glad that we did. Originally we had thought that we may not be able to visit because of the weather, but that is only for some of the passes further into the park.

The Jenkoz crew at Yosemite NP.

Once we arrived, the adults wanted to walk and the kids wanted to....well we weren't sure what they wanted to do but it wasn't walking that was for sure!

The kids enjoyed the snow again.

Paige with her pet block of snow.

We DID manage to make a short walk to a trail known as Mirror Lake. Getting there was a chore for Jill as the girls were very reluctant to move faster than a crippled snail. Also the road was covered in hard packed ice in places which made it slippery.

Mirror Lake walk.

Mirror Lake Walk.

There wasn't actually that much snow around the park - except for in the campgrounds where the tall pines kept it cold and snow ploughs made big enough mounds to battle any heat that may melt them.

Our cold camp for 2 nights.

Yes there was snow in our campsite.

At Yosemite the bdears NEVER go away so they are a potential threat all year round. For that reason there are food lockers provided for every individual campsite. Campers are warned not to leave ANY food or scented items in their tents, campers or cars. If rangers find that food has been left (presumably because a bear has attacked their van to get at it) they will impound the food and impose fines up to $5000! Already in the year to date over $6000 of damage had been done by bears looking for food in vehicles and campers.

Bear warning sign.

Food locker some 10 metres away from campsite.

Ash with rock throwing stick. Patent pending?

The cherubs in the snow.

Everywhere we walked there were spectacular views of the surrounding mountains. I began to think that we would come away with permanent kinks in our necks!

Peek-a-boo!

Upper Yosemite Falls.

The second day of our stay had gorgeous sunny weather, and we were even hot when we were away from our campsite. We took the shuttle and got off at the Ansell Adams gallery. It was VERY hard to resist the temptation to buy some of his images. We walked along to the visitor information centre and Indian Museum which was quite interesting and a little sad to think that the original inhabitants had been removed.