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pj67coll · #22 04-25-2012, 11:20 AM

Nice Canyon Photo's there MBeige. Better than any I've ever managed. I dabble in landscape photography myself but for some reason I've never really succeeded at the Canyon.

If this is your first time at Yosemite I have a few suggestions. You are going at the right time of the year for the waterfalls. The snow melt should be strong enough to have them running at full spate and they are an incredible sight. Unfortunately the valley floor will be horribly congested, you just have to deal with it. For a quite unforgettable experience I strongly suggest you try the Mist trail. It goes from the valley floor up past two waterfalls, Vernal and Nevada falls and provides incredible scenery at literally every step. Be warned though that although it's not long it's steep. You are basically climbing straight up the side of the valley and you will be soaked so bring some kind of light poncho/rain protection. And make sure you can keep your camera dry or at least protect the lens. I'll try to post some pic's I took back in 93 so you might have an idea what I mean. Can't do that from work though as I can't access photobucket from here.

There is another trail called "Artists Point". Look it up online. I've not done it myself but I want to.It's right above the tunnel. As you enter the valley thru the tunnel, assuming you are coming from the south you emerge to see a stunning scene. There is a car park on both sides of the road right outside the tunnel exit. Park on the right, not the left where the tourists all oggle at the view and there is a trail that starts right at the edge of the parking lot. It's also a steep switchback kind of trail but not very long and takes you up to an apparently even better view of the valley than you will see from the parking lot down by the tunnel itself.

You can take a shuttle ride around the valley floor which takes you to some of the sites, including the tunnel.

Yosemite is the one place I've been in my life so far where it's literally just jaw droppingly gorgeous where every you look at every moment. I'm sure you'll have a great time. By the way if you walk right up to the base of Yosemite falls it can be freezing cold witih the spray from the falls literally sucking the heat out of the air. Like a gigantic mister system.

- Peter.