Los Angeles Photographer - Kelvin Kuo » Yosemite

Yosemite – Glacier Point

Kelvin Kuo — Sun, 23 Aug 2009 17:48:03 +0000

So I forgot to update my panorama picture that I took last week. There were so many views of the Valley that were breathtaking, but this one was specially interesting due to the fact that we were able to see the distance we covered the previous day. I hope I will be able to visit another day, and try to visit all these parks in the future – the national parks of the United States.

After glacier point, we decided to find somewhere we could swim for a bit. We found a nice watering hole that was about 15 feet deep and a nice ledge to jump off of.

Yosemite – Half Dome

Kelvin Kuo — Thu, 13 Aug 2009 07:56:35 +0000

Half Dome is a 16 mile hike round trip which is described as an extremely strenuous hike. Hikers are usually suppose to eat twice as much in a day and consume at least 3 liters of water. We were a little unprepared for this hike, with me only taking a liter nalgene but we did have enough food. The beginning is an easy hike up to Vernal falls, which is a beauty from far away.

These are the steps, or an example of the steps that we had to walk up for nearly half the way. It was truly exhausting due to the fact of me carrying all the food, some water, and my tripod. It wasn’t the fact that the hike was hard for me, just all the weight that was bearing down on my legs and back.

On the top of the falls is truly amazing. The pool was crystal and also the falls is simply beautiful.

Our trail then led us to a wonderful view of two peaks. It is Half Dome and unknown to me for the other. Wonderful views have blessed our group, and it was a breath taking hike, both due to the physicality and also due to the picturesque views.

Nevada falls was next up, but out of the way for picture taking. Hidden by trees from the Mist trail, I was forced to take this angle. But the trees do add a touch to this picture. Looking back, we took advantage of all the views we could.

We arrived at the top of Nevada Falls to find a pool forming from the river. It looked so refreshing that I decided to have my feet take a dip. A group picture ensued.

What a beauty, the site of Half Dome. If you zoom into this picture, you can see the cables that run up on the left that allow us to summit this rock face. Simply amazing how the rangers were able to construct this.

Finally at the top, everyone was excited and exhausted. Marisa and Mitch decided to take a nap, while Melody is just trying to hide her sunburned face from the sun.

We rested and took a picture of us at the top. I wasn’t able to get the effect that I wanted to show that we were indeed on top of a half dome.

The crazy cables that I was talking about earlier, instead we were climbing down this time. Peoples needed to sit as we waited for people going up so it is better to sit then stand due to the intense angle of the rock face.

At the end of the day, we were all exhausted from our hike. We needed some nourishment and water due to our situation so we decided to get two large pizzas, the same as the day before. After, I convinced the family to go for some star gazing and were able to see lots of activity from the Perseid Meteor Shower. I wish I had a better foreground picture, but this is what we got with the location we were gazing from.

Yosemite – Mirror Lake

Kelvin Kuo — Wed, 12 Aug 2009 04:16:46 +0000

So as we headed back to Melody’s home in Yorba Linda, we are soon turned to a new destination of Yosemite. There have been many fires recently in the park, so the sky has not been treating the views kindly. Instead haze is spread around, reducing the view to become not so ideal. Well, here is the view of Yosemite Valley right outside of the tunnel – known as tunnel view.

Next, we were determined to visit Mirror lake, undeterred by the news of low water levels. As we walk across the valley floor, we are still able to see the peak of the half dome, tomorrow’s destination. Excited and worried, we hope to be prepared by then.

Our easy hike to mirror lake was not disappointing, instead educational and also somewhat of a hook to our imaginations. It has steered me to try to visit more national parks and also at more appropriate times. Hopefully next time I will be fortunate enough to be presented with a full lake.