9. Yosemite National Park
Today we’re talking about YOSEMITE. This is a very special park for me as it was the first national park trip I planned in my adult life. Before I get into my adventure, I’d like to mention how I initially wanted to paint Yosemite for my map project but didn’t think I could make a scene fit in California's shape. It was shortly after I finished the 50 states series that a client commissioned this park painting and I found a way to make it fit. This scene is from tunnel view. Yosemite was the US third ever national park established on oct 1st 1890 or 5th if you count the two that have since been decommissioned.
The trip I took out to California in 2015 with my mom and two younger siblings was probably the moment in my life that started opening my eyes to the national parks more seeing one as an adult. I remember saying I don’t care how busy that park is, it's not overrated. We only had two days in the park. One in the valley, seeing El Cap, Mirror Lake, the iconic half dome and of course Yosemite Falls. On the second we saw the incredible wide views from tunnel view, Glacier point and sentinel Dome where a distant storm was rolling in. It’s one of my favorite memories from the park as we got away from the crowds and just took in those crazy granite giants. I dream of going back and one day doing the half dome climb. Another thing I’d love to see are the sequoia groves as they were under restoration the year we went. Though we did travel to a nearby state park to see a sequoia for the first time
John Muir well known for his writing and activism, helped to establish Yosemite as a National Park and his legacy continues to inspire people to appreciate nature to this day..
Yosemite is well known for its many waterfalls and a few are record holders. Yosemite falls is one of the US tallest falls at 2,425 feet with just 3 separate steps or drops. I regret not doing a hike to the upper falls on my trip. Some sites say Yosemite falls is the tallest but there is a 13 step falls in North Cascades that is said to be taller. Ribbon Falls however does hold the record for the highest single drop of water in all North America at 1,612 feet tall. Unfortunately I didn’t get to see this one on my trip as it doesn’t flow in late summer.
One more falls to mention is Horsetail fall where every February and sometimes in October we see a rare phenomenon called the firefall. I’d recommend looking it up if you’ve never heard about it.
I could talk a lot more about this park but the videos have to stay under 3 minutes. We can nerd out in the comments! Let me know Have you been to Yosemite yet or what would you most want to see if you went?
Shop my Yosemite National Park art here!
