California 2017 - Day 8 - Sequoia National Park to Yosemite National Park
Saturday
Route
We have thoroughly enjoyed our time in Sequoia and made one more stop for the Big Stump Trail. In the 19th century these trees were regularly felled at a logging station here.
The Mark Twain Stump is all that remains of a tree that was felled because people didn't believe trees could grow that big! One cross section was sent to a Museum in New York and one to the British Museum, it had to be cut into chunks that could be transported by railway. This is one of the things that ended the practice of felling these giant trees.
Goodbye Sequoia and one more photo opportunity at the National memorial stone near the entrance to the park. The weather is much warmer at the lower altitude and the ground becomes much more arid.
On our way to Yosemite we can upon evidence of a recent forest fire that had ravaged the forest.
We stopped for our picnic lunch by the riverside at Wawona inside Yosemite National Park. They had a nice collection of old stage coaches that looked very uncomfortable!
We then took the winding road to Glacier Point. The panorama here is breathtaking with the incredible Half Dome towering over the Yosemite Valley. Waterfalls and mountains are shaped by several glacial periods, at one point the ice reached 7000 ft.
Unfortunately this awesome vista attracts thousands of tourists just like us, some peace and quiet would enhance the experience greatly. Perhaps it's because of the weekend but it is so busy here!
We stopped a couple more times as we descended into the valley - at Tunnel View we got a different view of Half Dome and our first glimpse of El Capitan and then again at Bridesveil falls for a short stroll.
Another awesome day on this holiday.
Route
We have thoroughly enjoyed our time in Sequoia and made one more stop for the Big Stump Trail. In the 19th century these trees were regularly felled at a logging station here.
The Mark Twain Stump is all that remains of a tree that was felled because people didn't believe trees could grow that big! One cross section was sent to a Museum in New York and one to the British Museum, it had to be cut into chunks that could be transported by railway. This is one of the things that ended the practice of felling these giant trees.
Goodbye Sequoia and one more photo opportunity at the National memorial stone near the entrance to the park. The weather is much warmer at the lower altitude and the ground becomes much more arid.
On our way to Yosemite we can upon evidence of a recent forest fire that had ravaged the forest.
We stopped for our picnic lunch by the riverside at Wawona inside Yosemite National Park. They had a nice collection of old stage coaches that looked very uncomfortable!
We then took the winding road to Glacier Point. The panorama here is breathtaking with the incredible Half Dome towering over the Yosemite Valley. Waterfalls and mountains are shaped by several glacial periods, at one point the ice reached 7000 ft.
Unfortunately this awesome vista attracts thousands of tourists just like us, some peace and quiet would enhance the experience greatly. Perhaps it's because of the weekend but it is so busy here!
We stopped a couple more times as we descended into the valley - at Tunnel View we got a different view of Half Dome and our first glimpse of El Capitan and then again at Bridesveil falls for a short stroll.
Another awesome day on this holiday.
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