Yosemite, CA - first day - 9/2/13

We arrived in Oakhurst, at the south end of Yosemite and checked into the "Couples Retreat" room we rented for the next several days. After getting things in the room we headed into Yosemite. We decided to to out Glacier Point first. Glacier Point is at an elevation of 7,214 and 3,214 feet above the floor of Yosemite Valley. From here you had a commanding view of Yosemite Valley, Half Dome Half Dome and Yosemite’s high country

A view at one of the pull off area
Half Dome from Glacier Point
Half Dome with Vernal Falls below it and to the left and Nevada Falls just to the right as seen from Glacier Point
Mike with Half Dome in the background from Glacier Point. You can also see Vernal Falls to the left of Half Dome and Nevada Falls to the right.
Vernal Falls from Glacier Point
Nevada Falls from Glacier Point
Half Dome from Glacier Point
Half Dome and valley from Glacier Point
Half Dome and valley from Glacier Point
Yosemite Valley from Glacier Point
Yosemite Valley from Glacier Point
Awahnee Hotel in the Yosemite Valley from Glacier Point
Chipmunk at Glacier Point
Susan and Mike at Glacier Point with Half Dome in the background
Mike at Glacier Point
From Glacier Point
Half Dome from Glacier Point
Susan at Glacier Point with Half Dome in background
Half Dome from Glacier Point
Susan at the 4-Mile Hike Trail from Glacier Point
Mike at 4-Mile Hike Trail from Glacier Point
Mike on 4-Mile Hike Trail from Glacier Point
The 4-Mile Hike Trail from Glacier Point
Mike took a little detour off the 4-Mile Hike Trail from Glacier Point
Mike took a detour off the 4-Mile Hike Trail from Glacier Point as he was trying to find the spot he took a group of boys from Devereaux Schools.
Along the 4-Mile Hike Trail from Glacier Point
The view you get just before you go through the Wawona Tunnel into Yosemite Valley
The view you get just before you go through the Wawona Tunnel into Yosemite Valley
The view you get from the Wawona Tunnel view area before heading into Yosemite Valley. From left to right are El Capitan, in the very back are Clouds Rest and Half Dome. Closer in with the red colored rocks are the Lower, Middle and Higher Cathedral Rocks.
From at the Wawona Tunnel view area
Bridal Veil Falls from at the Wawona Tunnel view area
Mike at the Wawona Tunnel view area
Susan and Mike at the Wawona Tunnel view area
Whenever a bear is killed by a car one of these signs is place at the spot the bear was killed as a reminder to all to drive safely
August 17th the Rim Fire was started when a hunter's illegal fire went out of control. The Fire destroyed 11 residences, three commercial properties and cost more than $127 million to fight. It was the largest Sierra blaze in recorded history. It burned for 10 weeks and ravaged 402 square miles of forest, meadows and wildlife habitat in and around Yosemite National Park, before finally been fully contained.
It was sad to learn of the fire but luckily it was far north of Yosemite Valley. The people we were going to stay in Oakhurst kept us updated on the fires. The day before we were to arrive the wind shifted and smoke filled the valley. Luckily the day we arrived there had been a shift in the wind we didn't experience any smoke during our visit.