Beauty to Ashes

For those who are eligible don't delay.
On August 28, 2017, the price of the 
America the Beautiful – The National Parks and 
Federal Recreational Lands Senior Pass will increase 
from $10 to $80. This pass is an amazing deal and
 we have saved hundreds of dollars.

One more trip through Yosemite before we leave!

A rock slide on El Portal road.

They built two temporary bridges to navigate around it.

Arch Rock is the west entrance into Yosemite.

We headed across Yosemite on Tioga Pass road that 

just opened up a few weeks ago once they 

removed the snow.

Another beautiful sight at Olmsted Point.

To the right of the tree is Half Dome and the left is Clouds Rest.

Can you see the hikers?

Those are not ants! It takes an average 12 hours for this hike!

This is beyond our capabilites.

Tenaya Lake 

Tenaya Lake's water was cold and clear.

In Tuolumlne Meadow a buck heads in our direction!

It was thrilling to see him that close as he ran 

across the road into the forest. 

Tuolumne River winds through the meadow.

There are still piles of snow around Tioga Lake.

Tioga Lake

The snow melt is still creating beautiful waterfalls.

Mono Lake
This body of water has been the backdrop of many 
Hollywood and television productions. 
We turned around and went back through Yosemite. 

When the sign says no commercial trucks - they 
mean it! We waited about 20 minutes while this semi 
maneuvers back and forth to turn around 

and he just missed the sign.

 Soaking in the beauty.

Relaxing around Tuolumne River. 

At 9,000 ft. elevation the temperatures were in the 60's.

 We could see the smoke from the Detwiler fire near
  Mariposa on Highway 49 as we headed home.

This picture was taken from our deck the next day.  A few 

hours later they had mandatory evacuations for the city of 

Mariposa. Smoke has also covered Yosemite, where we were

the day before, and includes many miles around us. Those 

evacuated are in Oakhurst which is the town 

just north of us where we do our grocery shopping.

The fire continues to grow. It currently has burned

 76,000 acres.

 Our car was covered in ashes when we lefts on Friday.

Firefighters are heroes.

"A hero is an ordinary individual who finds the strength

 to persevere and endure in spite of overwhelming obstacles."

Christopher Reeve