Day 2: we braved the crowds and hiked the Mist Trail to Vernal Fall, on to Nevada Fall, then back to the valley floor via the John Muir Trail. And it was crowded; we had to work hard to keep the hordes of people out of the shot.
First view of Vernal Fall.
On the first bridge over the Merced River.
The Mist Trail.
| This guy sat there for at least 10 minutes, with his laptop out, posing for a picture that his wife was taking. |
Doing some trail maintenance.
Posing in front of Vernal Fall.
| Dicier part of the Mist Trail. |
| The apparently calm top of Vernal Fall. Just a few weeks earlier, three hikers were caught in the current here and went over the fall. |
| The Silver Apron; an inviting water slide that everybody warns you not to try (see above about hikers going over the fall). |
Nevada Fall!
The trail to Nevada Fall features some impressive stone work.
Some all-stone switchbacks.
Looking down from the top of Nevada Fall. It's 600 feet to the bottom.
Heading up and away from Nevada Fall.
A beautiful and well-maintained piece of the John Muir Trail takes us along a ridge and then back down into the valley.
| Looking back to Nevada Fall. |
Even the squirrels shop at Trader Joe's.
In awe of El Capitan.
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A well-deserved cocktail at the Ahwahnee Hotel.
A climbing party on El Cap.
Swimming in the Merced River.
