On June 7th 2008, Lis and I visited Yosemite again like we do every spring. We decided to brave the crowds of the Valley this year and explore some new areas. Lis had been sick just days before and was still recovering during the trip so some of our hiking plans were cut short. We did get a chance to venture up the upper Yosemite Falls trail, a beautiful trail that goes straight up the valley walls following a ravine all the way to the top. Yosemite Falls is the fourth highest waterfall in North America, but arguably the most dramatic. We stopped short of the top and took some great pictures of the upper falls, the normal crowds of the valley were in full force and we made every attempt to avoid them.
We found a great secluded spot on the Merced River for a bottle of wine below Half Dome, the old campgrounds and closed areas were perfect for avoiding the hordes of day trippers and tour buses. Lis has never been to Glacier Point so on our way home we made a side trip up there, Monday morning was a great time to stop at some of the normally crowded locations and vista points such as the classic tunnel view. Check out the new gallery, we took some beautiful pictures. This is obviously a place that needs to be seen in person to appreciate the scale. Everyone should make an attempt to visit Yosemite Valley during their lifetime. Obviously weekdays are much more enjoyable, but don’t shy away from the busy springtime season, the waterfalls flowing in full force are worth the hassle.
On February 18th 2007, following an early rise and a long drive, we frolicked among the remains of an ancient volcano's now-cold ejaculations. The unique interplay of Neenach Volcano and San Andreas fault is responsible for the picturesque phallic formations we see today in Pinnacles National Monument.
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Posted by squishy on Saturday, March 03 @ 22:18:09 EST (539 reads)
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Mt St Helena 2007
We discovered mine shafts, ghost towns, rock climbing routes and what can arguably be called the best view in California, during our trip on Jan 14, 2007 to the top of the Mount St. Helena in Sonoma County. Views reaching Mount Tamalpais, Mount Diablo, the Sierras, Lassen Peak, Mount Shasta, and Point Reyes reward those determined enough to reach its summit. The innards of the mountain are scarred and sliced; men have mined here since 1850 in the search of silver and Mercury.
View from Mt St Helena
Robert Lewis Stevenson was a Scottish novelist and poet famous for Treasure Island and The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. He and his wife, during their honeymoon, squatted on the side of Mt St Helena. They made the remains of the old Silverado mine site their home as they explored the area. Stevenson wrote The Silverado Squatters in 1883 documenting his adventures at the ghost mine. We found and entered this mine during our hike, it’s said this place inspired the “treasure grotto” in Treasure Island. This is a very interesting place with a rich history and unique natural wonder; it’s a fine example of California’s lesser known treasures.
The tarantula, North America's largest spider, spends most of its life in and around its underground burrow. However, when a male tarantula reaches maturity at about seven years of age, he leaves the safety of his subterranean home to risk life and limb in search of females of the species. These love struck males are the autumnal wanderers we see on Mt Diablo.
Three great links about the tarantula's of Mt Diablo:
