YOSEMITE NATIONAL PARK, CALIFORNIA

YOSEMITE NATIONAL PARK, CALIFORNIA - JUNE 2, 2025

September 20, 2025

YOSEMITE NATIONAL PARK, CALIFORNIA

JUNE 2, 2025

On June 2nd we took a scenic drive to Yosemite National Park. We weren't exactly close to the park from our camping spot - but felt like making the drive. It took us almost 2 hours to get there, but it was well worth the drive.

We found a fantastic audio tour App that we ended up purchasing, as it has audio tours for many locations. We bought the National Parks package and it has been worth the price. The audio tour relates stories and information about the parks, history, geologic information, inhabitants both animal and human, and how the park became a National Park. We highly recommend you check it out for all of the amazing tours it offers. Here is the link:

ACTION TOUR GUIDE

Yosemite National Park was founded as a National Park in 1890. John Muir, the famous farmer, inventor, naturalist, philosopher, writer, botanist, zoologist, geologist and environmentalist, also known as "John of the Mountains" and "Father of the National Parks" led the movement to motivate Congress to establish the Yosemite Valley and its surrounding area as a National Park. He was an early advocate for the preservation of the wilderness of the United States. He obviously was a very intelligent man.

Most people are familiar with Muir quotes. Here are some that are well-known.

The mountains are calling and I must go.

Come to the woods for here is rest.

And into the woods I go, to lose my mind and find my soul.

The sun shines not on us, but in us.

One can also find many books authored by John Muir, as well as books about John Muir.

Long before Yosemite was even considered being named a National Park, as far as back as 8,000 years, there were people living in the Yosemite area. Evidence found by archeologists suggests the earliest people ground seeds on flat stones and hunted using spears and atlatls (a handheld throwing device that uses lever action to propel a dart or spear). At that time, Yosemite was called Ahwahnee (gaping mouth-like place). The people called themselves Ahwahneechee. Over time the early inhabitants were replaced by another. Oral histories and traditions were passed down through generations.

The most popular spots of Yosemite are El Capitan, Yosemite Valley and Yosemite Falls. There are actually 10 beautiful waterfalls in the park.

El Capitan is the world's largest granite monolith at 3,000 feet high. Looking up at the granite monolith certainly can make one feel small.

We recently watched a movie called "The Dawn Wall" If you haven't seen it, I recommend it, unless you are fearful of heights. The movie follows Tommy Caldwell and Kevin Jorgeson as they attempt to successfully make the first-ever big wall "free-climb" on the historic southeast face of El Capitan. "Free-Climb" means to ascend the route relying only on the climbers' personal strength and skill, using only natural holds and features for upward progress. The ropes, harness and other gear is used solely for the purpose of safety against falls. The gear did not assist with any of their movements. The documentary is available on Netflix for subscribers.

The drive through Yosemite took several hours and we took our time to stop and see the amazing scenery. There is always something to see at every turn. Over the last few million years, or so, powerful glaciers carved the landscape, rock fall shaped the valley, and erosion shaped the canyons and valleys.