Only GOD could create such beauty

[popcornbird]

Hubby and I had the most wonderful day trip this past weekend. I had been telling him constantly, for the past year, that Yosemite was the absolute most beautiful place on earth, and he HAS TO see it this spring, when the falls and rivers are at their highest levels. Friday morning, we made sudden plans, and Saturday morning, at 6am, we were on our way.

It was my husband's first time seeing Yosemite, and he was just amazed. Its one of those places where, when you see it, you think, "WOW...ONLY GOD could create something like this." Amazing. I have been to Yosemite National Park many, many times from the time I was a child, but its the one place that never leaves my mind and heart. Even though I've been there so many times, I realized during this visit that I haven't seen more than 5 or 10% of this park's beauty...maybe even less, and it will take many more visits to see everything. It was my very first time hiking up to the TOP of Vernal Falls, and truly, an experience I will never forget.

Just thought I'd share some pics from our wonderful trip. I would love to go there someday, away from the busy life, and spend a week there in peace, in the beauty, surrounded by God's most wonderful nature.

Some pictures...

Entering the park


Beautiful Granite mountains


Upper and Lower Yosemite Falls


Beautiful Yosemite


Half Dome from the Meadows


Half Dome


A world of serenity


Upper and lower Yosemite Falls


Lower Yosemite Falls

[popcornbird]

The Merced River




Now, onto the hike!

An interesting tree


Up, up, up we went.


The hike was steep, and difficult. We started out at 1:00, and were back in the valley at around 4:30. It was only 1.6 miles, but because we were going uphill, it was difficult, and took a lot of energy. We normally walk 4 - 5 miles every weekend, but hiking uphill is something else! We thought of going just to the bridge below Vernal Falls at first, but, when we got there, we had this view of the Falls...



Gorgeous, so worth it, but not close enough. We stood on the bridge, admiring the nature for awhile, until my husband got a brilliant idea. "Maybe, if we hike JUST a bit more, we will get a much closer view!" I sighed, but decided we could go on, just a 'little' more.

So we went on...


And on...


And on...


And on...

[popcornbird]

Somehow, the more we hiked, the more our bodies got used to it. The trail got steeper and steeper, but we were enjoying it, and kept going up.



The Mist Trail was oh, so beautiful.


This little guy met us on the way and decided to say 'hi'.


After half an hour of hiking, we caught a glimpse of the fall.


Beautiful, but still not close enough.
The river was gushing with full force.


We got closer, and at this point we saw a sign. "0.3 miles to the top of Vernal Falls" We thought, "ONLY 0.3 miles? Wow! Maybe we can get up there!!" Little did we know that would be the steepest part of the hike!


"Are we really THAT high?"


Wow..


We were just about to give up and go down, when God suddenly showed us this site.

[popcornbird]

WOW! We went higher, and saw this...


And this!


By now, we were feeling the mist from the falls. In fact, it wasn't just mist. We were getting a nice cool shower. It was VERY refreshing after that long, tiresome hike. We were now determined to get to the top. Just the site of Vernal Falls, the mist, the beauty of it all made it ALL worth it.

Up, up, up we went!


My poor camera lens got soaked! We went through these rocks...


And again, saw a sight that left us in awe.


And now, we were this high.


We kept on going...


And the beauty just motivated us to continue...


And...WE MADE IT!!!

The view from above...


A little squirrel lying at the edge of the cliff, admiring the beauty of its home, and the view below, or perhaps just showing off to the humans about how beautiful his 'home' is.

[popcornbird]

The Merced River below us.


Beautiful Stellar Jay


And Vernal Falls, thundering down the mountain with such power.




Such beauty..




These magnificant mountains, rivers, waterfalls really make a person feel so tiny and powerless. I kept thinking, over and over again, "Only God could create such beauty." The feeling one experiences there is unbelievable.







Merced River before it tumbles down to the valley as Vernal Falls

[popcornbird]

Rocky mountains


It was so peaceful up there.


We sat close to Vernal Falls for half an hour, resting and admiring the beauty, thinking the hike was all worth it. Finally, we started, on our way down, and got soaked by the Falls once again.



Mist from the falls



This is the reason I love California so much. The beauty. Amazing.
That's all. Hope you all enjoyed!

[Ginger's Mom]

Wow, truly stunning. It made me dizzy hearing the rushing water and seeing those beautiful views. Thanks for sharing that. I doubt that I will ever get out that far west, so seeing Yosemite is a real treat for me.

[lizbud]

Absolutely beautiful pictures The more I see of America's west, the
more I understand the reverance & awe which the American Indians held
for their lands & fought so hard to keep.

You are right, no one but God could make such beauty.

[mugsy]

God definitely gave Mother Nature the power to do some amazing things!!!

That's very pretty...it would be difficult to leave.

[Maya & Inka's mommy]

I truly am absolutely speechless......!
Wow, never knew that Yosemite NP was so beautiful!! We've visited several NP's in 1984, like Zion, Bryce, Grand Canyon, etc... . I won't be able anymore to visit this place; but thanks to you I feel as if I was there too! Thank you SO much for sharing these fantastic pictures!!!!!

This one is my favorite! A very unique shot!!

[anna_66]

What awesome pictures, that place is truly gorgeous.

Thank you so much for sharing. I feel as if I've been there now

[Sara luvs her Tinky]

It is so completely unfair that some people get to live close to such beauty !!!!!!!


I would love more than anything to visit that place!!! YES... only GOD could create such beauty !! after looking at things like that... it only makes me wonder how some people don't believe ?!?!

[mike001]

Thanks for sharing----just fabulous scenes.