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Travel guide of Mirror Lake
Once we got to the top of the Half Dome, I quickly found this spot and asked my wife to go to the edge of the cliff and pose there. I got a confident NO and had to switch roles. That rare case when I’m a model and my wife is a photographer. It played pretty well.
Before the first person climbed to the top of the Half Dome in 1875, it was considered impossible to do. And then a man named George Anderson made it all the way to the top by drilling into the rock so that he could anchor bolts along the way to help him climb. . A set of cables now line the last, almost-vertical four hundred feet of the trail, anchored into the same holes Anderson drilled in the 19th century. His climb has enabled many others to accomplish the same test of strength.
When we arrived at Inspiration Point midmorning, we were a bit disappointed that the smoke from the nearby wildfire was so thick that visibility was poor. However, as the day went on, the smoke lifted and the visibility improved.
Experienced by Jesse Gardner
Since we were hiking down from Inspiration Point, we needed to wait until the next morning to catch the shuttle up. So we spent the rest of our first day in the park exploring the valley. We got lucky with a beautiful sunset.
Experienced by Jesse Gardner
Took this photo after waking up to a flat tire, at 4am on Christmas Eve. It was 14F (-10C) when I changed the tire, in complete darkness (well, I had a flashlight). I made it and was able to stop here for sunrise on my way to a garage shop.
We had just completed a strenuous hike, and all of us were so exhausted until we stumbled across deer in our path. They were just minding their business, not worried about us in anyway. I immediately snapped the photo of one of them crossing and continued to walk toward camp. It certainly was such a sweet moment!
After throwing itself off a cliff a half mile upstream, the Merced river roars under this bridge and down into the gorge beneath Glacier Point. This was taken on a trip from early May 2017. I’ve never seen the water this high. It was absolute insanity. I feel like I have to turn the volume down just looking at this picture.
3 km from Mirror Lake
After an 11 mile hike in snowshoes and lugging a sled full of gear to the mountain top, we were finally rewarded with one of the most scenic views of Yosemite from an angle rarely seen in winter. A photo well worth the exhaustion!
4 km from Mirror Lake
We were looking to capture a foggy sunrise view of Half-Dome in Yosemite, but the weather wasn’t cooperating with us. The fog that did show up was low-lying and moving quickly through the trees like a ghostly river meandering through the canyon, swirling around the tallest trees in small eddies. Like too many forests, the valley is infested with borers, which has killed thousands of trees. The splash of golden trees mixed with the green is actually really beautiful, but a sad reminder of how fragile the forest is.
4 km from Mirror Lake
Just after sunrise we found this location in the center of the valley with a beautiful view of Yosemite Falls. Right now all the waterfalls are flowing from all the snow this winter. They should be flowing year round. Five of us friends took a one day road trip to make it for sunrise at Yosemite, slept during the day in our hammocks, and then shot sunset and night photos.
4 km from Mirror Lake
Yosemite - Home of Half Dome. Yosemite is home to millions of visitors travelling across the world to see its picturesque views, and over-looming Granite Shelves. Among the most famous of them are Half Dome, sheared thousand of years ago from glaciers, this is the most famous due it is “Half” Dome appearance. Stay Adventurous! @michaelslouie
Experienced by Michael Louie
4 km from Mirror Lake
Decided to embark on a long over due trip to Yosemite National Park. Coming into the park the weather was slightly overcast and extremely foggy. There were some breaks in the fog and the views were breath taking until we came around the corner to this photo. All I could think is how lucky we are to live on such a planet. GOD has created such master pieces everywhere and I am so thankful to be able to absorb this all in and get a chance to show you all my creations.
Experienced by David Joyce
4 km from Mirror Lake
We arrived in Yosemite around 6am. After catching the sunrising over Half Dome, we started exploring the valley floor. That’s when we came across two coyotes hopping around through a field, hunting for food. We began to approach them, and thankfully they didn’t notice. I was about ten feet away when they finally looked up and saw me. One ran, but the other took a slow turn and began to walk away. He looked back only for a brief moment before trotting off.
4 km from Mirror Lake
We headed straight for Glacier Point with only a few hours of daylight left. A breathtaking view of the Half Dome awaited us as the snowfall increased and the valley became a mystery of snow and cloud. I counted myself among the few people able to witness heaven kissing earth in this spectacular moment. Officials quickly shut down the road urging everyone to make their way back to the valley.
Experienced by Andrew Charney
4 km from Mirror Lake
There is something unique about Yosemite when going during winter season. It is not as crowded, peaceful, calm, relaxing, and cold. But being in the middle of such a beautiful park makes it up for the cold
Experienced by Kevin Bosc
4 km from Mirror Lake
I’ve quickly discovered that Yosemite National Park is the Disneyland for outdoor enthusiasts and creatives. This is one of my first trips to the park after driving six and a half hours through the night from Los Angeles. At the time I was working a retail job that ended around 10:00PM at night. So I would leave with my wife after my shift and drive through the night to spend my day off at Yosemite. This was captured just after we woke up after a quick hour nap in our cramped Honda Accord. 21 24mm photos stitched together.
4 km from Mirror Lake
The combined falls are taller than the empire state building. Its pretty impressive in person and totally worth the drive out there from San Francisco. If you ever head out to Yosemite, plan for May. Peak waterfalls and lighter traffic.
Experienced by Tom Gainor
4 km from Mirror Lake
The sun was setting quickly in Yosemite Valley and we decided to take a walk across this boardwalk. My wife suddenly tells me to stop. Right in front of us were 3 coyotes hunting for mice in the meadow. One jumped on the boardwalk and i snapped this image.
8 km from Mirror Lake
They say age has a story. This gritty, HDR capture of the iconic El Capitan at Yosemite National Park personifies that. It’s incredible to wonder all the things this magnificent mountain has seen.
9 km from Mirror Lake
We were already leaving the Valley as I noticed this view from the car and stopped. I wanted to freeze everything that is static and smooth the water, so it took quite some time setting up the rig for a long exposure.