Back to One of My Favorite Little Corners of the World!!!

In the beginning of May we joined friends in beautiful 

Yosemite National Park

Having lived in Mammoth those 4 years, we were used to entering the park

from Tioga Pass, on the eastern side of the park.

This time, we were staying on the western side of the park,

near Glacier Point.

So it was a very different perspective of Half Dome than I was used to!

Being early in the season, the falls were quite powerful...

...and the Dogwood were in bloom.

This was our picnic spot for lunch!

I'm sure these aren't the first folk to climb that rock and wall for a photo...

but I sure as heck wouldn't do it!!!

(it's a l-o-n-g way down!!!)

Getting my Ansel Adams mojo on... 

Looking down on the valley floor.

A couple more crazy folk throwing caution to the wind!!!

Proof positive the pine cone came from Yosemite!!!

Nice spot for a music video!!!

Our second full day started out a bit dreary...

...but made for some interesting shots by the house we stayed in!!!

A smaller Dogwood bloom...and pale yellow!!!

At least I think it's still a Dogwood!

We still headed into the valley...

I loved the ethereal look of the fall through the fog.

And what better way to spend a dreary day in Yosemite 

than having lunch at the beautiful (former) Ahwhanee Hotel dining room!

Yeah...I know...it's now called the Majestic Yosemite Hotel...

but I refuse to call it that!

To me it will always be the Ahwahanee Hotel.

Yes...the National Park service lost a legal battle with 

a former concessionaire.  The Park service did not renew the concessionaire's 

contract.  Unfortunately for us, the government did not copyright the name,

but the concessionaire did.  So after a lengthy battle, the concessionaire

won the battle and retained the rights to the name.

While legally it was ostensibly the correct decision...

I think it was unethical and basically

"criminal" on the part of the concessionaire.

The hotel is a national treasure and the concessionaire

essentially stole the historical context of the name from us, 

the people who love this beautiful park and its history.

***Disclaimer***

Sorry...I had to include this one!

I took this the first time I went down to Yosemite from Mammoth

in the summer of 2011...the year after the most incredible snow year...

with incredible snow melt!

It's my favorite photo of Bridal Veil!!!

And of course...being a devotee of Ansel Adams...

I had to turn it into a Black and White too!!!

Click on the images below to visit more little corners of the world...