Tag: nature

california, Camping, Museums, national parks, outdoors, Travel, Uncategorized

Into the Yosemite Valley

thecrankycamper

"It is by far the grandest of all the special temples of Nature I was ever permitted to enter." - John Muir Yosemite Valley is the most visited area of the park, and for good reason.  Powerful granite walls and evergreen dominate the valley landscape, with massive waterfalls cascading down imposing cliffs. Many of Yosemite's most famous landmarks are found in the Valley.  Even the tunnels on Wawona Road leading in are iconic.  In every direction, there is great beauty- and much exploration fun.

american west, california, Camping, Museums, national parks, outdoors, Travel, Uncategorized

Follow Me to Tuolumne

thecrankycamper

Less visited than the Yosemite Valley, Tuolumne Meadows is a jewel along Highway 120 on the eastern side of the park, with miles of hiking trails, domes to climb, and the pristine Tuolumne River sunning through it.

california, Camping, Museums, national parks, outdoors, photography, Travel, Vacation

Yosemite National Park

thecrankycamper

Yosemite National Park is one of the oldest national parks in the US, first protected in 1864 by President Lincoln. The park sits in the Sierra Nevada mountains in central California and extends across four counties. Most of the park is considered wilderness, but its wild beauty attracts millions of visitors a year, consistently placing it in the top ten most visited national parks.

california, Camping, Hiking, national parks, photography, Travel, Uncategorized, Vacation

Ancient Bristlecone Pine Forest

thecrankycamper

Nestled in the Inyo National Forest not far from the California-Nevada border and the Eastern Sierras grow the ancient bristlecone pines. In the Ancient Bristlecone Pine Forest, these Pinus longaeva trees grow in the harsh conditions, along with limber pines. The Great Basin bristlecones have stood the test of time and are some of the oldest trees on the planet, with many thought to date over 4000 years old, surviving for millennia in conditions most other plants can't. The Ancient Bristlecone Pine Forest is accessible via U.S. 395 to CA-168, with some narrow and slightly scary parts.

california, Camping, Hiking, national parks, outdoors, photography, Travel, Uncategorized

Henninger Flats Wildflowers and a Word of Caution

thecrankycamper

A follow up to our previous Henninger Flats post, this article features photos of spring wildflowers in bloom, along with safety tips for a good hike.