Mariposa Grove of Giant Sequoias and Falls.....More from Yosemite!

We stayed near the south entrance, CA Hwy 41, as it was close to the Mariposa Grove of Giant Sequoias (and easy access for us coming from the south!), and visiting this grove was on our list, especially after visiting the Redwoods a couple of years ago.  The Redwood is taller than the Giant Sequoia, but the Giant Sequoia is the 3rd longest-lived tree species with the oldest known specimen to have been 3,266 years old in the Converse Basin Grove of Giant Sequoia National Monument. Now the oldest tree, the bristlecone pine, we knew about as several years ago we visited the Great Basin National Park (although it wasn't a National Park at that time) with Lindy's parents, both of whom grew up near that location--in Ely, Nevada. Lindy's mom did the guiding services. Isn't it interesting how connections appear over time?

We were the first and only car in the parking lot...! We left the dogs in the car, as it was cool (no sun shining yet!). The Grizzly Giant (isn't that a fun name?!) was .8 of a mile, with the California Tunnel Tree just beyond. These became our goal.

Using Hill walking strategies from ChiWalking, we began. The walk, although steep, was beautiful. We learned to recognize Sequoias, and later in the week when we walked to the falls, we noticed a few in the Valley.

Along the way to the Grizzly Giant:

And then, the Grizzly Giant!

Estimated at 1,800 years old, think of how many fires this tree has experienced with an average fire frequency o 5-20 years.

The California Tunnel Tree!  Not as big as the one we drove the jeep through in the Red Woods...but still fun!  It was cut in 1895 to allow horse-drawn stages to pass through.

The hike continued: the Faithful Couple, Clothespin Tree, and more, from an evaluation of 5,800 feet to 6,600 feet (total 3 miles from parking lot) --but we had dogs in the car....another time with better preparation for such a hike!

We SHALL return!

Back to the jeep and on to the Valley for walks to Bridalveil Fall and Lower Yosemite Fall.

 Bridalveil Fall was first....and yes, I had to tuck my camera under my sweatshirt to keep it as dry as possible...!





The dogs loved the walk and the cool air!

On the left is Lower Yosemite Fall....and again, I had to tuck the camera away from the mist....

We enjoyed our visit to Yosemite...and will return! That is the beauty of being roving riders in our house on wheels--we get to go where we want to, when we want to, as often as we want...!

Yosemite in the fall would be good! Yosemite when Glacier Point Road is open would be good! Yosemite in early spring to see Frazil Ice would be good! I think we shall be a little cautious regarding a winter visit...!

Hope you enjoyed YOUR visit through ours!

Later!
Roving Riders, Swirvin on down the road....