My only time to Yosemite was on the July 4th weekend in the mid 1970s. The
local radio stations had been broadcasting warnings about extreme crowding
and were encouraging people to stay away. When we hit the valley floor it
was crowded so we drove up to Glacier Point and there were only a few people
there. When we came back down to the valley everyone had apparently gone to
the campgrounds and we almost had the place to ourselves. The scenic valley
is so small the people are simply concentrated with no room to disperse. On
top, the country is very open and people can wander all over the place
without being so crowded. The valley is certainly beautiful and is something
everyone should try to see. My brand-new OM-1 got some action there. /jmac
-----Original Message-----
From: olympus-owner@xxxxxxxxxx [mailto:olympus-owner@xxxxxxxxxx]On
Behalf Of Winsor Crosby
Sent: Saturday, February 18, 2006 8:55 AM
To: olympus@xxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [OM] Re: (OM) OT Yosemite Park
What a good response, Moose. The only thing I would add is that the
range is the result of a rift with it being pushed up over the
substrata of the valley to the east. The approach from the west is
gradual and the first view of the Yosemite is almost shocking with
its glacially eroded vertical walls and half tube side valleys. The
eastern slope of the range is steep and precipitous. It has Mt.
Whitney which was the tallest peak in the US before Alaska and Denali
were added. When I was was hiking there were some glacial remnants in
the more shaded parts of upper peaks, Palisade Glacier for one. I am
not sure if it is still there. Probably melted away.
My first view of the Rocky Mountains were a disappointment to me. The
peaks all seemed so far away. I was used to mountains being up close
and "in your face" like the Sierras.
There was some volcanic activity accompanying the upward push which
produced the basaltic columns of the Devil's Postpile as well as some
of the piles of volcanic "bombs" in Owens Valley which have not yet
been covered by eroded material from the mountains. There are still
large hot springs not far from Mammoth Lakes and off course there are
the frequent flurries of earthquakes that come dozens a day for weeks
at a time and cause panic in the throngs of real estate speculators
at the resort.
Yosemite Valley is a beautiful place from almost any viewpoint, but
is almost loved to death by the crowds of visitors people who visit
every summer. Other seasons and higher elevations have become much
nicer.
Interestingly the elevation of the Yosemite Valley floor is about the
same elevation as Joshua Tree National Park which is a desert to the
south.
Winsor
Long Beach, California, USA
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