[Leica] Day 3 in Yosemite

[Aram Langhans]

We started out with the big hike up the Vernal Falls trail.  At the 
start of the trail there is a tree with exposed roots  by the Merced 
River that I always use to gauge the flow of water.  On a good high 
water year those roots are mostly under water.  With all the talk of 
good snow and rain in the Sierra's I was surprised to see how low the 
water was.  A good 2-3 feet below my root indicator, so maybe a average 
to slightly below average year for spring runoff.  None of the meadows 
were flooded this year, either.

Tree Roots Merced River-1006550.jpg | Aram Langhans | Flickr 
<https://www.flickr.com/photos/24330215@N06/55254346572/in/album-72177720333481183/lightbox/>

My new knee and Margie's aching knees made it to the bridge with only a 
few stops along the way.  Muscles were really complaining. About 0.8 
miles and 550 ft elevation, but we are starting out at 4000 ft. at the 
base of the trail.

Vernal Falls Bridge-1006556.jpg | Aram Langhans | Flickr 
<https://www.flickr.com/photos/24330215@N06/55255477109/in/album-72177720333481183/lightbox/>

Another quarter mile and few hundred feet up is what we call Bob's Rock, 
after Margie's dad who has been coming to the park since the 50's.  I 
think it is the best view of Vernal falls short of the mist trial.

Vernal Falls from Bobs Rock-1619.jpg | Aram Langhans | Flickr 
<https://www.flickr.com/photos/24330215@N06/55255235066/in/album-72177720333481183/lightbox/>

You can see some people up on the mist trail.

Vernal Falls from Bobs Rock-1623.jpg | Aram Langhans | Flickr 
<https://www.flickr.com/photos/24330215@N06/55255382953/in/album-72177720333481183/lightbox/>

We did not attempt the mist trail though I wanted to.  I fear my muscles 
are not recovered enough from my new knee to handle the stairs that are 
definitely NOT OSHA approved.

After lunch and a rest we went to Mirror Lake which is about a 3 mile 
round trip hiking from the campground and not nearly so much of a climb.

Here is Half Dome from the lake.  Can you see the angel and the bear on 
the face of Half Dome?

Mirror Lake-1006587.jpg | Aram Langhans | Flickr 
<https://www.flickr.com/photos/24330215@N06/55254347087/in/album-72177720333481183/lightbox/>

Mirror Lake-1006592.jpg | Aram Langhans | Flickr 
<https://www.flickr.com/photos/24330215@N06/55255235396/in/album-72177720333481183/lightbox/>

And the iconic shot of Mt. Wilkins reflected in mirror lake.  I have an 
old slide somewhere from here with a lovely girl in a skimpy bathing 
suit posing for someone on that rock which on a good water year you have 
to sort of get your feet wet to get to.

Mirror Lake-1006595.jpg | Aram Langhans | Flickr 
<https://www.flickr.com/photos/24330215@N06/55255235496/in/album-72177720333481183/lightbox/>

There.  That is day 3.  One more day to go....

Comments and critique welcome.

Aram


-- 
Aram Langhans
(Semi) Retired Science Teacher
& Unemployed photographer
  
“The Human Genome Project has proved Darwin more right than Darwin himself would ever have dared dream.”   James D. Watson