{"id":10548,"date":"2026-04-27T22:59:40","date_gmt":"2026-04-27T14:59:40","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.huangyizhou.com\/?p=10548"},"modified":"2026-05-25T13:16:07","modified_gmt":"2026-05-25T05:16:07","slug":"20260427yosemite","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.huangyizhou.com\/index.php\/2026\/04\/27\/20260427yosemite\/","title":{"rendered":"Weekend Trip to Yosemite"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Toward the end of April 2026, I took a short weekend trip to California, where I met up with a friend for two day hikes in Yosemite National Park. <\/p>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2026\/04\/27\/DSC_8893.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2026\/04\/27\/thumbnails\/DSC_8893.jpg\" alt=\"Yosemite Valley\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Yosemite Valley<\/p><\/div>\n<p><script 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{\n\t\tfixedWidth:100,height:70,gap:10,\n\t\tfocus:'center',keyboard:'focused',\n\t\tcover:true,isNavigation:true,\n\t\tbreakpoints :{'600':{fixedWidth:55,height:38,pagination:false,arrows:false,gap:5,}},\n\t} ).mount();\n\tvar primarySlider19 = new Splide( '#splide-major-19', {\n\t\ttype:'fade',pagination:false,arrows:false,\n\t} );\n\tprimarySlider19.sync( secondarySlider19 ).mount();\n\tvar secondarySlider20 = new Splide( '#splide-thumb-20', {\n\t\tfixedWidth:100,height:110,gap:9,\n\t\tfocus:'center',keyboard:'focused',\n\t\tcover:true,isNavigation:true,\n\t\tbreakpoints :{'600':{fixedWidth:44,height:49,pagination:false,arrows:false,gap:5,}},\n\t} ).mount();\n\tvar primarySlider20 = new Splide( '#splide-major-20', {\n\t\ttype:'fade',pagination:false,arrows:false,\n\t} );\n\tprimarySlider20.sync( secondarySlider20 ).mount();\n\tvar secondarySlider21 = new Splide( '#splide-thumb-21', {\n\t\tfixedWidth:100,height:75,gap:10,\n\t\tfocus:'center',keyboard:'focused',\n\t\tcover:true,isNavigation:true,\n\t\tbreakpoints :{'600':{fixedWidth:56,height:42,pagination:false,arrows:false,gap:5,}},\n\t} ).mount();\n\tvar primarySlider21 = new Splide( '#splide-major-21', {\n\t\ttype:'fade',pagination:false,arrows:false,\n\t} );\n\tprimarySlider21.sync( secondarySlider21 ).mount();\n\tvar secondarySlider22 = new Splide( '#splide-thumb-22', {\n\t\tfixedWidth:100,height:67,gap:10,\n\t\tfocus:'center',keyboard:'focused',\n\t\tcover:true,isNavigation:true,\n\t\tbreakpoints :{'600':{fixedWidth:57,height:38,pagination:false,arrows:false,gap:5,}},\n\t} ).mount();\n\tvar primarySlider22 = new Splide( '#splide-major-22', {\n\t\ttype:'fade',pagination:false,arrows:false,\n\t} );\n\tprimarySlider22.sync( secondarySlider22 ).mount();\n} );\n<\/script><\/p>\n<p><!--more--><\/p>\n<p>Last year, a good friend of mine from the San Francisco Bay Area made a valiant attempt to hike to Upper Yosemite Falls, only to fall short. In early April 2026, I learned that he would be changing jobs at the end of the month, which meant he could take a few days off, a perfect opportunity for me to join him in Yosemite and help him finish what he had started the year before. <\/p>\n<p>After some discussion, we settled on the weekend of April 25\u201326, with me taking the following Monday off thus spending two nights outside Yosemite. Snowfall in the Sierra Nevada had been dismal this winter, so I guessed this would be roughly when Yosemite\u2019s waterfalls peak for this year. <span style=\"font-size: small;\">(Judging by the discharge rate of the Merced River, they actually peaked on May 12.)<\/span> The plan was for me to fly to the Bay Area on April 25 and then drive to Oakhurst, where we would set out on two day hikes over the next two days before I fly back to Boston on Monday night.<\/p>\n<h3><span id=\"American_Airlines_Flight_2315_and_3116_from_Boston_to_San_Jose_via_Phoenix\">American Airlines Flight 2315 and 3116 from Boston to San Jose via Phoenix<\/span><\/h3>\n<p>I had hoped to arrive in the Bay Area early enough to give us plenty of time to drive to Oakhurst and get a good night&#8217;s rest, which meant taking the earliest flights available on Saturday morning. I had two connection options: Phoenix or Dallas. While checking the seat maps during booking, I noticed that first class on the second leg of both itineraries was already quite full, so I chose to connect through Phoenix hoping to maximize potential upgrade duration. Fortunately, the gamble paid off: my upgrade cleared about a day in advance, and it seemed that everyone on the upgrade list cleared as well.<\/p>\n<p>One small anecdote from my time waiting at Boston Airport: I spotted what I am quite certain was a rat in the terminal, darting back and forth along the windows. It was a memorable addition to my airport animal sightings list, which until then had consisted solely of pigeons.<\/p>\n<p>American Airlines 2315<br \/>\nBoston, MA (BOS) &#8211; Phoenix, AZ (PHX)<br \/>\nAirbus 321neo (N403AN)<br \/>\nSeat 5F<br \/>\nScheduled Departure &#8211; 6:13am<br \/>\nActual Departure    &#8211; 6:20am<br \/>\nScheduled Arrival   &#8211; 9:00am<br \/>\nActual Arrival      &#8211; 8:49am<br \/>\n5 hours and 29 minutes<br \/>\nHere&#8217;s GPS tracking:<\/p>\n<div style=\"width:100%;aspect-ratio:3\/2;\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" frameBorder=\"0\" scrolling=\"no\" src=\"https:\/\/www.wikiloc.com\/wikiloc\/spatialArtifacts.do?event=view&#038;id=266048755&#038;measures=off&#038;title=off&#038;near=off&#038;images=off&#038;maptype=H\" width=\"100%\" height=\"100%\"><\/iframe><\/div>\n<div class=\"splide\" id=\"splide-major-1\">\n<div class=\"splide__track\">\n<ul class=\"splide__list\">\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2026\/04\/27\/20260425_061710.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2026\/04\/27\/thumbnails\/20260425_061710.jpg\" alt=\"Long Shadows before Takeoff\" \/><\/a><\/br>Long Shadows before Takeoff<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2026\/04\/27\/20260425_061714C.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2026\/04\/27\/thumbnails\/20260425_061714C.jpg\" alt=\"Boston Skyline\" \/><\/a><\/br>Boston Skyline<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2026\/04\/27\/20260425_073112.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2026\/04\/27\/thumbnails\/20260425_073112.jpg\" width=\"93.1%\" alt=\"Breakfast\" \/><\/a><\/br>Breakfast<\/br><span style=\"font-size: small;\">Biscuit Sausages<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"splide\" id=\"splide-thumb-1\">\n<div class=\"splide__track\">\n<ul class=\"splide__list\">\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2026\/04\/27\/thumbnails-s\/20260425_061710.jpg\" alt=\"Long Shadows before Takeoff\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2026\/04\/27\/thumbnails-s\/20260425_061714C.jpg\" alt=\"Boston Skyline\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2026\/04\/27\/thumbnails-s\/20260425_073112.jpg\" alt=\"Breakfast\" \/><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><noscript><br \/>\nJavascript not enabled, unable to display slideshow.<\/p>\n<style type=\"text\/css\">\n#splide-major-1, #splide-thumb-1 { display:none; }\n<\/style>\n<details>\n<summary>Click here to display photos of the slideshow<\/summary>\n<p><div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2026\/04\/27\/20260425_061710.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2026\/04\/27\/thumbnails\/20260425_061710.jpg\" alt=\"Long Shadows before Takeoff\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Long Shadows before Takeoff<\/p><\/div><br \/>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2026\/04\/27\/20260425_061714C.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2026\/04\/27\/thumbnails\/20260425_061714C.jpg\" alt=\"Boston Skyline\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Boston Skyline<\/p><\/div><br \/>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2026\/04\/27\/20260425_073112.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2026\/04\/27\/thumbnails\/20260425_073112.jpg\" alt=\"Breakfast\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Breakfast<\/br><span style=\"font-size: small;\">Biscuit Sausages<\/span><\/p><\/div><br \/>\n<\/details>\n<p><\/noscript><\/p>\n<p>Here&#8217;s a video of the takeoff:<br \/>\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" width=\"600\" height=\"338\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/XNpvIPnRFg4\" title=\"YouTube video player\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p>Unfortunately, I hadn&#8217;t slept well the night before (packing the suitcases was as hectic as ever), and I had to wake up early to catch the flight, so I spent most of it drifting in and out of sleep.<\/p>\n<p>Still, one unmistakable highlight was the view of the southern end of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains, with Wheeler Peak rising as the highest mountain in New Mexico. I already had a trip to New Mexico planned for late June, with a hike up Wheeler Peak on the itinerary, along with visits to nearby Taos and the Rio Grande Gorge. Now, I was treated to an aerial preview.<\/p>\n<div class=\"splide\" id=\"splide-major-2\">\n<div class=\"splide__track\">\n<ul class=\"splide__list\">\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2026\/04\/27\/20260425_083027C.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2026\/04\/27\/thumbnails\/20260425_083027C.jpg\" width=\"87%\" alt=\"Spanish Peaks\" \/><\/a><\/br>Spanish Peaks<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2026\/04\/27\/20260425_083032.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2026\/04\/27\/thumbnails\/20260425_083032.jpg\" width=\"87%\" alt=\"Culebra Range Mountains before Sierra Blanca Massif\" \/><\/a><\/br>Culebra Range Mountains before Sierra Blanca Massif<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2026\/04\/27\/20260425_083511C.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2026\/04\/27\/thumbnails\/20260425_083511C.jpg\" width=\"81.9%\" alt=\"Taos Ski Valley\" \/><\/a><\/br>Taos Ski Valley<\/br><span style=\"font-size: small;\">Wheeler Peak, New Mexico&#8217;s highest mountain, in the right of this shot.<\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2026\/04\/27\/20260425_083525.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2026\/04\/27\/thumbnails\/20260425_083525.jpg\" width=\"87%\" alt=\"Mountains around Taos Ski Valley\" \/><\/a><\/br>Mountains around Taos Ski Valley<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2026\/04\/27\/20260425_083651.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2026\/04\/27\/thumbnails\/20260425_083651.jpg\" width=\"87%\" alt=\"Taos, New Mexico\" \/><\/a><\/br>Taos, New Mexico<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2026\/04\/27\/20260425_083822.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2026\/04\/27\/thumbnails-m\/20260425_083822.jpg\" width=\"49%\" alt=\"Rio Grande Gorge\" \/><\/a>&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2026\/04\/27\/20260425_083837.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2026\/04\/27\/thumbnails-m\/20260425_083837.jpg\" width=\"49%\" alt=\"Rio Grande Gorge\" \/><\/a><\/br>Rio Grande Gorge<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2026\/04\/27\/20260425_084413.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2026\/04\/27\/thumbnails\/20260425_084413.jpg\" width=\"87%\" alt=\"Abiquiu Reservoir\" \/><\/a><\/br>Abiquiu Reservoir<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"splide\" id=\"splide-thumb-2\">\n<div class=\"splide__track\">\n<ul class=\"splide__list\">\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2026\/04\/27\/thumbnails-s\/20260425_083027C.jpg\" alt=\"Spanish Peaks\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2026\/04\/27\/thumbnails-s\/20260425_083032.jpg\" alt=\"Culebra Range Mountains before Sierra Blanca Massif\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2026\/04\/27\/thumbnails-s\/20260425_083511C.jpg\" alt=\"Taos Ski Valley\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2026\/04\/27\/thumbnails-s\/20260425_083525.jpg\" alt=\"Mountains around Taos Ski Valley\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2026\/04\/27\/thumbnails-s\/20260425_083651.jpg\" alt=\"Taos, New Mexico\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2026\/04\/27\/thumbnails-s\/20260425_083822.jpg\" alt=\"Rio Grande Gorge\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2026\/04\/27\/thumbnails-s\/20260425_084413.jpg\" alt=\"Abiquiu Reservoir\" \/><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><noscript><br \/>\nJavascript not enabled, unable to display slideshow.<\/p>\n<style type=\"text\/css\">\n#splide-major-2, #splide-thumb-2 { display:none; }\n<\/style>\n<details>\n<summary>Click here to display photos overlooking New Mexico.<\/summary>\n<p><div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2026\/04\/27\/20260425_083027C.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2026\/04\/27\/thumbnails\/20260425_083027C.jpg\" alt=\"Spanish Peaks\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Spanish Peaks<\/p><\/div><br \/>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2026\/04\/27\/20260425_083032.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2026\/04\/27\/thumbnails\/20260425_083032.jpg\" alt=\"Culebra Range Mountains before Sierra Blanca Massif\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Culebra Range Mountains before Sierra Blanca Massif<\/p><\/div><br \/>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2026\/04\/27\/20260425_083511C.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2026\/04\/27\/thumbnails\/20260425_083511C.jpg\" alt=\"Taos Ski Valley\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Taos Ski Valley<\/br><span style=\"font-size: small;\">Wheeler Peak, New Mexico&#8217;s highest mountain, in the right of this shot.<\/span><\/p><\/div><br \/>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2026\/04\/27\/20260425_083525.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2026\/04\/27\/thumbnails\/20260425_083525.jpg\" alt=\"Mountains around Taos Ski Valley\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Mountains around Taos Ski Valley<\/p><\/div><br \/>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2026\/04\/27\/20260425_083651.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2026\/04\/27\/thumbnails\/20260425_083651.jpg\" alt=\"Taos, New Mexico\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Taos, New Mexico<\/p><\/div><br \/>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2026\/04\/27\/20260425_083822.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2026\/04\/27\/thumbnails-m\/20260425_083822.jpg\" width=\"49%\" alt=\"Rio Grande Gorge\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\">&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2026\/04\/27\/20260425_083837.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2026\/04\/27\/thumbnails-m\/20260425_083837.jpg\" width=\"49%\" alt=\"Rio Grande Gorge\" \/><\/a><\/br>Rio Grande Gorge<\/p><\/div><br \/>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2026\/04\/27\/20260425_084413.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2026\/04\/27\/thumbnails\/20260425_084413.jpg\" alt=\"Abiquiu Reservoir\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Abiquiu Reservoir<\/p><\/div><br \/>\n<\/details>\n<p><\/noscript><\/p>\n<p>Here&#8217;s a video of the landing, one of the smoothest landings I had experienced:<br \/>\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" width=\"600\" height=\"338\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/Lqe565_TgYU\" title=\"YouTube video player\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><br \/>\n<span style=\"font-size: x-small;\">The first minute of the video was sped up 2x.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>I only had a brief one-hour layover in Phoenix. Interestingly, during that short time, the airport reversed its runway configuration.<\/p>\n<p>American Airlines 3116<br \/>\nPhoenix, AZ (PHX) &#8211; San Jose, CA (SJC)<br \/>\nAirbus 319 (N758US)<br \/>\nSeat 8F<br \/>\nScheduled Departure &#8211; 10:05am<br \/>\nActual Departure    &#8211; 10:18am<br \/>\nScheduled Arrival   &#8211; 12:06pm<br \/>\nActual Arrival      &#8211; 11:54am<br \/>\n1 hour and 36 minutes<br \/>\nHere&#8217;s GPS tracking:<\/p>\n<div style=\"width:100%;aspect-ratio:3\/2;\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" frameBorder=\"0\" scrolling=\"no\" src=\"https:\/\/www.wikiloc.com\/wikiloc\/spatialArtifacts.do?event=view&#038;id=266048686&#038;measures=off&#038;title=off&#038;near=off&#038;images=off&#038;maptype=H\" width=\"100%\" height=\"100%\"><\/iframe><\/div>\n<p>Here&#8217;s a video of the takeoff:<br \/>\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" width=\"600\" height=\"338\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/gEbYniI4nXs\" title=\"YouTube video player\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/p>\n<div class=\"splide\" id=\"splide-major-3\">\n<div class=\"splide__track\">\n<ul class=\"splide__list\">\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2026\/04\/27\/20260425_102010.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2026\/04\/27\/thumbnails\/20260425_102010.jpg\" alt=\"Overlooking Downtown Phoenix\" \/><\/a><\/br>Overlooking Downtown Phoenix<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2026\/04\/27\/IMG_20260425_103404.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2026\/04\/27\/thumbnails\/IMG_20260425_103404.jpg\" width=\"93.1%\" alt=\"Snack and Drink Services\" \/><\/a><\/br>Snack and Drink Services<\/br><span style=\"font-size: small;\">Both featuring American Airlines&#8217; centennial logo.<\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2026\/04\/27\/IMG_20260425_111900.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2026\/04\/27\/thumbnails\/IMG_20260425_111900.jpg\" width=\"93.1%\" alt=\"Flying over Central Valley\" \/><\/a><\/br>Flying over Central Valley<\/br><span style=\"font-size: small;\">Lots of clouds over Sierra Nevada mountains.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"splide\" id=\"splide-thumb-3\">\n<div class=\"splide__track\">\n<ul class=\"splide__list\">\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2026\/04\/27\/thumbnails-s\/20260425_102010.jpg\" alt=\"Overlooking Downtown Phoenix\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2026\/04\/27\/thumbnails-s\/IMG_20260425_103404.jpg\" alt=\"Snack and Drink Services\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2026\/04\/27\/thumbnails-s\/IMG_20260425_111900.jpg\" alt=\"Flying over Central Valley\" \/><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><noscript><br \/>\nJavascript not enabled, unable to display slideshow.<\/p>\n<style type=\"text\/css\">\n#splide-major-3, #splide-thumb-3 { display:none; }\n<\/style>\n<details>\n<summary>Click here to display photos of the slideshow<\/summary>\n<p><div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2026\/04\/27\/20260425_102010.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2026\/04\/27\/thumbnails\/20260425_102010.jpg\" alt=\"Overlooking Downtown Phoenix\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Overlooking Downtown Phoenix<\/p><\/div><br \/>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2026\/04\/27\/IMG_20260425_103404.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2026\/04\/27\/thumbnails\/IMG_20260425_103404.jpg\" alt=\"Snack and Drink Services\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Snack and Drink Services<\/br><span style=\"font-size: small;\">Both featuring American Airlines&#8217; centennial logo.<\/span><\/p><\/div><br \/>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2026\/04\/27\/IMG_20260425_111900.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2026\/04\/27\/thumbnails\/IMG_20260425_111900.jpg\" alt=\"Flying over Central Valley\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Flying over Central Valley<\/br><span style=\"font-size: small;\">Lots of clouds over Sierra Nevada mountains.<\/span><\/p><\/div><br \/>\n<\/details>\n<p><\/noscript><\/p>\n<p>The flight from Phoenix to San Jose was largely uneventful. Clouds hung over both cities, and the sky remained overcast for almost the entire flight.<\/p>\n<p>Here&#8217;s a video of the landing:<br \/>\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" width=\"600\" height=\"338\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/ij3Um2KahM0\" title=\"YouTube video player\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><br \/>\n<span style=\"font-size: x-small;\">The beginning of this video up to 1:06 was sped up 2x.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>Remarkably, I got my checked bag only 10 minutes after our gate arrival at San Jose, far more efficient than my usual stereotype of American Airlines&#8217; baggage handling.<\/p>\n<p>My friend from the Bay Area picked me up at the airport. Having been spoiled by the region&#8217;s usual sunshine, he complained about the unusually cloudy weather. We had lunch nearby and then set off for Oakhurst.<\/p>\n<p>Originally, our plan for the next two days was to hike Upper Yosemite Falls on Sunday, April 26, and Mariposa Grove on Monday, April 27. The latter was less strenuous, which would have given us plenty of time to drive back to the Bay Area afterward. Unfortunately, the weather forecast was far from ideal, calling for rain, snow, and persistent cloud cover over the next two days. As of Sunday morning, the weather models predicted thicker low-hanging clouds on Sunday, while both days were expected to receive similar amounts of light precipitation. Since the chief attraction of Mariposa Grove was its towering trees, which depended less on clear visibility than the dramatic cliffs of Yosemite Falls overlooking the valley below, we decided to reverse the order of our plans and visit Mariposa Grove first.<\/p>\n<h3><span id=\"Mariposa_Grove\">Mariposa Grove<\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Here&#8217;s GPS tracking:<\/p>\n<div class=\"mobile-hide\" style=\"width:100%;aspect-ratio:6\/5;\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" frameBorder=\"0\" scrolling=\"no\" src=\"https:\/\/www.wikiloc.com\/wikiloc\/spatialArtifacts.do?event=view&#038;id=266047848&#038;measures=on&#038;title=off&#038;near=off&#038;images=off&#038;maptype=H\" width=\"100%\" height=\"100%\"><\/iframe><\/div>\n<div class=\"desktop-hide\" style=\"width:100%;aspect-ratio:3\/5;\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" frameBorder=\"0\" scrolling=\"no\" src=\"https:\/\/www.wikiloc.com\/wikiloc\/embedv2.do?id=266047848&#038;measures=on&#038;elevation=on&#038;title=off&#038;near=off&#038;images=off&#038;maptype=H\" width=\"100%\" height=\"100%\"><\/iframe><\/div>\n<p>During the summer, a shuttle operated between Mariposa Grove&#8217;s Welcome Center, which had a large parking lot, and the upper trailhead near the giant sequoias. Although we saw a sign stating that the shuttle was supposed to operate &#8220;from late April&#8221;, it was not running during our visit. As a result, our hike gained an extra 3.3km (2.1mi) each way. <span style=\"font-size: small;\">(Vehicles with disabled parking permits could still access the smaller parking lot at the upper trailhead.)<\/span> The stretch of trail connecting the two trailheads was quite unremarkable (p1\u20132 below).<\/p>\n<p>Once at the upper trailhead, we decided to solve a &#8220;Traveling Salesman Problem&#8221;, treating the trailhead and every marked tree as vertices that required visitation. The outing began with a cluster of tall sequoias beside the trailhead, set along a boardwalk (p3\u20136 below).<\/p>\n<div class=\"splide\" id=\"splide-major-4\">\n<div class=\"splide__track\">\n<ul class=\"splide__list\">\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2026\/04\/27\/IMG_20260426_104349.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2026\/04\/27\/thumbnails\/IMG_20260426_104349.jpg\" alt=\"Trail\" \/><\/a><\/br>Trail<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2026\/04\/27\/IMG_20260426_105519.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2026\/04\/27\/thumbnails\/IMG_20260426_105519.jpg\" alt=\"Trail\" \/><\/a><\/br>Trail<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2026\/04\/27\/20260426_112646.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2026\/04\/27\/thumbnails\/20260426_112646.jpg\" alt=\"Sequoias\" \/><\/a><\/br>Sequoias<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2026\/04\/27\/20260426_113105.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2026\/04\/27\/thumbnails\/20260426_113105.jpg\" width=\"96.3%\" alt=\"Boardwalk\" \/><\/a><\/br>Boardwalk<\/br><span style=\"font-size: small;\">Trees felt very symmetric along this boardwalk.<\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2026\/04\/27\/20260426_113205.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2026\/04\/27\/thumbnails\/20260426_113205.jpg\" alt=\"Sequoias\" \/><\/a><\/br>Sequoias<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2026\/04\/27\/DSC_8821.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2026\/04\/27\/thumbnails\/DSC_8821.jpg\" width=\"89.1%\" alt=\"Sequoias along Trail\" \/><\/a><\/br>Sequoias along Trail<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2026\/04\/27\/DSC_8822.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2026\/04\/27\/thumbnails\/DSC_8822.jpg\" width=\"89.1%\" alt=\"Trail\" \/><\/a><\/br>Trail<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"splide\" id=\"splide-thumb-4\">\n<div class=\"splide__track\">\n<ul class=\"splide__list\">\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2026\/04\/27\/thumbnails-s\/IMG_20260426_104349.jpg\" alt=\"Trail\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2026\/04\/27\/thumbnails-s\/IMG_20260426_105519.jpg\" alt=\"Trail\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2026\/04\/27\/thumbnails-s\/20260426_112646.jpg\" alt=\"Sequoias\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2026\/04\/27\/thumbnails-s\/20260426_113105.jpg\" alt=\"Boardwalk\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2026\/04\/27\/thumbnails-s\/20260426_113205.jpg\" alt=\"Sequoias\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2026\/04\/27\/thumbnails-s\/DSC_8821.jpg\" alt=\"Sequoias along Trail\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2026\/04\/27\/thumbnails-s\/DSC_8822.jpg\" alt=\"Trail\" \/><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><noscript><br \/>\nJavascript not enabled, unable to display slideshow.<\/p>\n<style type=\"text\/css\">\n#splide-major-4, #splide-thumb-4 { display:none; }\n<\/style>\n<details>\n<summary>Click here to display photos of the slideshow<\/summary>\n<p><div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2026\/04\/27\/IMG_20260426_104349.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2026\/04\/27\/thumbnails\/IMG_20260426_104349.jpg\" alt=\"Trail\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Trail<\/p><\/div><br \/>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2026\/04\/27\/IMG_20260426_105519.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2026\/04\/27\/thumbnails\/IMG_20260426_105519.jpg\" alt=\"Trail\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Trail<\/p><\/div><br \/>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2026\/04\/27\/20260426_112646.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2026\/04\/27\/thumbnails\/20260426_112646.jpg\" alt=\"Sequoias\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Sequoias<\/p><\/div><br \/>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2026\/04\/27\/20260426_113105.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2026\/04\/27\/thumbnails\/20260426_113105.jpg\" alt=\"Boardwalk\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Boardwalk<\/br><span style=\"font-size: small;\">Trees felt very symmetric along this boardwalk.<\/span><\/p><\/div><br \/>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2026\/04\/27\/20260426_113205.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2026\/04\/27\/thumbnails\/20260426_113205.jpg\" alt=\"Sequoias\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Sequoias<\/p><\/div><br \/>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2026\/04\/27\/DSC_8821.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2026\/04\/27\/thumbnails\/DSC_8821.jpg\" alt=\"Sequoias along Trail\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Sequoias along Trail<\/p><\/div><br \/>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2026\/04\/27\/DSC_8822.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2026\/04\/27\/thumbnails\/DSC_8822.jpg\" alt=\"Trail\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Trail<\/p><\/div><br \/>\n<\/details>\n<p><\/noscript><\/p>\n<p>At the end of the boardwalk was the dramatic root system of a fallen sequoia tree, named &#8220;Fallen Monarch&#8221;, a striking presence as if arranged as a museum exhibit.<\/p>\n<div class=\"splide\" id=\"splide-major-5\">\n<div class=\"splide__track\">\n<ul class=\"splide__list\">\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2026\/04\/27\/20260426_113046.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2026\/04\/27\/thumbnails\/20260426_113046.jpg\" alt=\"Roots of Fallen Monarch Tree\" \/><\/a><\/br>Roots of Fallen Monarch Tree<\/br><span style=\"font-size: small;\">Feeling very dramatic.<\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2026\/04\/27\/20260426_113031.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2026\/04\/27\/thumbnails\/20260426_113031.jpg\" width=\"96.8%\" alt=\"Roots of Fallen Tree\" \/><\/a><\/br>Roots of Fallen Tree<\/br>\n<div style=\"font-size: smaller;text-align: left\">Next to &#8220;Fallen Monarch Tree&#8221;. This one seemed recently fallen, with the root system still holding onto large quantities of soil.<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"splide\" id=\"splide-thumb-5\">\n<div class=\"splide__track\">\n<ul class=\"splide__list\">\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2026\/04\/27\/thumbnails-s\/20260426_113046.jpg\" alt=\"Roots of Fallen Monarch Tree\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2026\/04\/27\/thumbnails-s\/20260426_113031.jpg\" alt=\"Roots of Fallen Tree\" \/><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><noscript><br \/>\nJavascript not enabled, unable to display slideshow.<\/p>\n<style type=\"text\/css\">\n#splide-major-5, #splide-thumb-5 { display:none; }\n<\/style>\n<details>\n<summary>Click here to display photos of the slideshow<\/summary>\n<p><div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2026\/04\/27\/20260426_113046.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2026\/04\/27\/thumbnails\/20260426_113046.jpg\" alt=\"Roots of Fallen Monarch Tree\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Roots of Fallen Monarch Tree<\/br><span style=\"font-size: small;\">Feeling very dramatic.<\/span><\/p><\/div><br \/>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2026\/04\/27\/20260426_113031.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2026\/04\/27\/thumbnails\/20260426_113031.jpg\" alt=\"Roots of Fallen Tree\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Roots of Fallen Tree<\/br><\/p>\n<div style=\"font-size: smaller;text-align: left\">Next to &#8220;Fallen Monarch Tree&#8221;. This one seemed recently fallen, with the root system still holding onto large quantities of soil.<\/div>\n<p><\/p><\/div><br \/>\n<\/details>\n<p><\/noscript><\/p>\n<p>Farther along, I spotted a few deer just off the trail, their quiet presence complementing the birdsong and lending an added sense of life to our hike. As if understanding my excitement, they lingered long enough for me to pull my camera from my backpack and capture a few photos before vanishing deeper into the woods.<\/p>\n<div class=\"splide\" id=\"splide-major-6\">\n<div class=\"splide__track\">\n<ul class=\"splide__list\">\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2026\/04\/27\/DSC_8815C11.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2026\/04\/27\/thumbnails\/DSC_8815C11.jpg\" width=\"75%\" alt=\"Deer\" \/><\/a><\/br>Deer<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2026\/04\/27\/DSC_8816C11.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2026\/04\/27\/thumbnails\/DSC_8816C11.jpg\" width=\"75%\" alt=\"Deer\" \/><\/a><\/br>Deer<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2026\/04\/27\/DSC_8819C11.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2026\/04\/27\/thumbnails\/DSC_8819C11.jpg\" alt=\"Deer\" \/><\/a><\/br>Deer<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"splide\" id=\"splide-thumb-6\">\n<div class=\"splide__track\">\n<ul class=\"splide__list\">\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2026\/04\/27\/thumbnails-s\/DSC_8815C11.jpg\" alt=\"Deer\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2026\/04\/27\/thumbnails-s\/DSC_8816C11.jpg\" alt=\"Deer\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2026\/04\/27\/thumbnails-s\/DSC_8819C11.jpg\" alt=\"Deer\" \/><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><noscript><br \/>\nJavascript not enabled, unable to display slideshow.<\/p>\n<style type=\"text\/css\">\n#splide-major-6, #splide-thumb-6 { display:none; }\n<\/style>\n<details>\n<summary>Click here to display photos of the slideshow<\/summary>\n<p><div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2026\/04\/27\/DSC_8815C11.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2026\/04\/27\/thumbnails\/DSC_8815C11.jpg\" alt=\"Deer\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2026\/04\/27\/DSC_8816C11.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2026\/04\/27\/thumbnails\/DSC_8816C11.jpg\" alt=\"Deer\" \/><\/a><\/br><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2026\/04\/27\/DSC_8819C11.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2026\/04\/27\/thumbnails\/DSC_8819C11.jpg\" alt=\"Deer\" \/><\/a><\/br>Deer<\/p><\/div><br \/>\n<\/details>\n<p><\/noscript><\/p>\n<p>Next came a few named sequoias, beginning with the &#8220;Grizzly Giant&#8221; (p1\u20133 below). Even from a distance, it was unmistakable for its colossal size and its many outreaching branches. Officially, the tree was named for its resemblance to a grizzly bear, though I could hardly see the connection. To me, \u201cmutated octopus\u201d would have been a more fitting description of its sprawling limbs.<br \/>\nA short distance away stood the &#8220;California Tunnel Tree&#8221; (p4\u20136 below), aptly named for the opening in its base. A light drizzle began while we were in the area, and for a moment the tunnel beneath the tree felt like a perfect shelter.<br \/>\nThen, after a bit more walking, we reached the &#8220;Clothespin Tree&#8221; (p7\u20139 below), whose narrower, taller tunnel made it look almost like a pair of human legs. In a fantasy movie, this tree could easily have risen up and walked.<\/p>\n<div class=\"splide\" id=\"splide-major-7\">\n<div class=\"splide__track\">\n<ul class=\"splide__list\">\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2026\/04\/27\/DSC_8825.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2026\/04\/27\/thumbnails\/DSC_8825.jpg\" width=\"89.1%\" alt=\"Grizzly Giant Tree\" \/><\/a><\/br>Grizzly Giant Tree<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2026\/04\/27\/DSC_8826.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2026\/04\/27\/thumbnails\/DSC_8826.jpg\" width=\"89.1%\" alt=\"Base of Grizzly Giant Tree\" \/><\/a><\/br>Base of Grizzly Giant Tree<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2026\/04\/27\/20260426_115253.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2026\/04\/27\/thumbnails\/20260426_115253.jpg\" alt=\"Grizzly Giant Tree\" \/><\/a><\/br>Grizzly Giant Tree<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2026\/04\/27\/DSC_8830.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2026\/04\/27\/thumbnails\/DSC_8830.jpg\" width=\"89.1%\" alt=\"California Tunnel Tree\" \/><\/a><\/br>California Tunnel Tree<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2026\/04\/27\/DSC_8831.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2026\/04\/27\/thumbnails\/DSC_8831.jpg\" width=\"89.1%\" alt=\"California Tunnel Tree\" \/><\/a><\/br>California Tunnel Tree<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2026\/04\/27\/DSC_8832.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2026\/04\/27\/thumbnails\/DSC_8832.jpg\" width=\"89.1%\" alt=\"People Crossing under California Tunnel Tree\" \/><\/a><\/br>People Crossing under California Tunnel Tree<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2026\/04\/27\/20260426_121959.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2026\/04\/27\/thumbnails\/20260426_121959.jpg\" alt=\"Clothespin Tree\" \/><\/a><\/br>Clothespin Tree<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2026\/04\/27\/20260426_122006.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2026\/04\/27\/thumbnails\/20260426_122006.jpg\" alt=\"Clothespin Tree\" \/><\/a><\/br>Clothespin Tree<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2026\/04\/27\/IMG_20260426_134823.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2026\/04\/27\/thumbnails\/IMG_20260426_134823.jpg\" alt=\"Clothespin Tree\" \/><\/a><\/br>Clothespin Tree<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"splide\" id=\"splide-thumb-7\">\n<div class=\"splide__track\">\n<ul class=\"splide__list\">\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2026\/04\/27\/thumbnails-s\/DSC_8825.jpg\" alt=\"Grizzly Giant Tree\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2026\/04\/27\/thumbnails-s\/DSC_8826.jpg\" alt=\"Base of Grizzly Giant Tree\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2026\/04\/27\/thumbnails-s\/20260426_115253.jpg\" alt=\"Grizzly Giant Tree\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2026\/04\/27\/thumbnails-s\/DSC_8830.jpg\" alt=\"California Tunnel Tree\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2026\/04\/27\/thumbnails-s\/DSC_8831.jpg\" alt=\"California Tunnel Tree\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2026\/04\/27\/thumbnails-s\/DSC_8832.jpg\" alt=\"People Crossing under California Tunnel Tree\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2026\/04\/27\/thumbnails-s\/20260426_121959.jpg\" alt=\"Clothespin Tree\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2026\/04\/27\/thumbnails-s\/20260426_122006.jpg\" alt=\"Clothespin Tree\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2026\/04\/27\/thumbnails-s\/IMG_20260426_134823.jpg\" alt=\"Clothespin Tree\" \/><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><noscript><br \/>\nJavascript not enabled, unable to display slideshow.<\/p>\n<style type=\"text\/css\">\n#splide-major-7, #splide-thumb-7 { display:none; }\n<\/style>\n<details>\n<summary>Click here to display photos of a few named Sequoia Trees in Mariposa Grove.<\/summary>\n<p><div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2026\/04\/27\/DSC_8825.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2026\/04\/27\/thumbnails\/DSC_8825.jpg\" alt=\"Grizzly Giant Tree\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Grizzly Giant Tree<\/p><\/div><br \/>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2026\/04\/27\/DSC_8826.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2026\/04\/27\/thumbnails\/DSC_8826.jpg\" alt=\"Base of Grizzly Giant Tree\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Base of Grizzly Giant Tree<\/p><\/div><br \/>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2026\/04\/27\/20260426_115253.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2026\/04\/27\/thumbnails\/20260426_115253.jpg\" alt=\"Grizzly Giant Tree\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Grizzly Giant Tree<\/p><\/div><br \/>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2026\/04\/27\/DSC_8830.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2026\/04\/27\/thumbnails\/DSC_8830.jpg\" alt=\"California Tunnel Tree\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>California Tunnel Tree<\/p><\/div><br \/>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2026\/04\/27\/DSC_8831.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2026\/04\/27\/thumbnails\/DSC_8831.jpg\" alt=\"California Tunnel Tree\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>California Tunnel Tree<\/p><\/div><br \/>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2026\/04\/27\/DSC_8832.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2026\/04\/27\/thumbnails\/DSC_8832.jpg\" alt=\"People Crossing under California Tunnel Tree\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>People Crossing under California Tunnel Tree<\/p><\/div><br \/>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2026\/04\/27\/20260426_121959.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2026\/04\/27\/thumbnails\/20260426_121959.jpg\" alt=\"Clothespin Tree\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Clothespin Tree<\/p><\/div><br \/>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2026\/04\/27\/20260426_122006.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2026\/04\/27\/thumbnails\/20260426_122006.jpg\" alt=\"Clothespin Tree\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Clothespin Tree<\/p><\/div><br \/>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2026\/04\/27\/IMG_20260426_134823.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2026\/04\/27\/thumbnails\/IMG_20260426_134823.jpg\" alt=\"Clothespin Tree\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Clothespin Tree<\/p><\/div><br \/>\n<\/details>\n<p><\/noscript><\/p>\n<p>But the most amusing trees of the day were certainly &#8220;Bachelor and Three Graces&#8221; (p2 below) and &#8220;Faithful Couple&#8221;. The former consisted of four large sequoias arranged in a &#8220;3+1&#8221; composition. Interestingly, earlier along the boardwalk section of the trail, I had noticed another group of smaller sequoias in the same formation (p1 below), which I took to be their junior version. More intriguingly, later on the trail we came upon yet another cluster of four giant sequoias (p3\u20135 below). This time, two of them shared nearly the same lower half, like conjoined twins; these were officially named the &#8220;Faithful Couple&#8221;. The other two stood across the road. I imagined that the bachelor from earlier had finally chosen one of the three graces and formed a &#8220;faithful couple&#8221;, while the remaining two looked on sadly from the other side of the road.<\/p>\n<div class=\"splide\" id=\"splide-major-8\">\n<div class=\"splide__track\">\n<ul class=\"splide__list\">\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2026\/04\/27\/20260426_112529.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2026\/04\/27\/thumbnails\/20260426_112529.jpg\" width=\"93.9%\" alt=\"Sequoias\" \/><\/a><\/br>Sequoias<\/br>\n<div style=\"font-size: smaller;text-align: left\">This group was unnamed, but featured the same \u201c3+1\u201d composition as \u201cBachelor and Three Graces Trees\u201d. So maybe this was their junior version.<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2026\/04\/27\/20260426_114206.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2026\/04\/27\/thumbnails\/20260426_114206.jpg\" alt=\"Bachelor and Three Graces Trees\" \/><\/a><\/br>Bachelor and Three Graces Trees<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2026\/04\/27\/20260426_121047.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2026\/04\/27\/thumbnails\/20260426_121047.jpg\" width=\"96.4%\" alt=\"Sequoias along Trail\" \/><\/a><\/br>Sequoias along Trail<\/br><span style=\"font-size: small;\">Faithful Couple Tree on the left, two unnamed trees on the right.<\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2026\/04\/27\/20260426_121113.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2026\/04\/27\/thumbnails\/20260426_121113.jpg\" width=\"96.4%\" alt=\"Sequoias along Trail\" \/><\/a><\/br>Sequoias along Trail<\/br><span style=\"font-size: small;\">For a moment, we thought these were &#8220;Faithful Couple Tree&#8221;.<\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2026\/04\/27\/20260426_121240.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2026\/04\/27\/thumbnails\/20260426_121240.jpg\" alt=\"Faithful Couple Tree\" \/><\/a><\/br>Faithful Couple Tree<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"splide\" id=\"splide-thumb-8\">\n<div class=\"splide__track\">\n<ul class=\"splide__list\">\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2026\/04\/27\/thumbnails-s\/20260426_112529.jpg\" alt=\"Sequoias\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2026\/04\/27\/thumbnails-s\/20260426_114206.jpg\" alt=\"Bachelor and Three Graces Trees\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2026\/04\/27\/thumbnails-s\/20260426_121047.jpg\" alt=\"Sequoias along Trail\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2026\/04\/27\/thumbnails-s\/20260426_121113.jpg\" alt=\"Sequoias along Trail\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2026\/04\/27\/thumbnails-s\/20260426_121240.jpg\" alt=\"Faithful Couple Tree\" \/><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><noscript><br \/>\nJavascript not enabled, unable to display slideshow.<\/p>\n<style type=\"text\/css\">\n#splide-major-8, #splide-thumb-8 { display:none; }\n<\/style>\n<details>\n<summary>Click here to display photos of the slideshow<\/summary>\n<p><div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2026\/04\/27\/20260426_112529.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2026\/04\/27\/thumbnails\/20260426_112529.jpg\" alt=\"Sequoias\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Sequoias<\/br><\/p>\n<div style=\"font-size: smaller;text-align: left\">This group was unnamed, but featured the same \u201c3+1\u201d composition as \u201cBachelor and Three Graces Trees\u201d. So maybe this was their junior version.<\/div>\n<p><\/p><\/div><br \/>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2026\/04\/27\/20260426_114206.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2026\/04\/27\/thumbnails\/20260426_114206.jpg\" alt=\"Bachelor and Three Graces Trees\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Bachelor and Three Graces Trees<\/p><\/div><br \/>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2026\/04\/27\/20260426_121047.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2026\/04\/27\/thumbnails\/20260426_121047.jpg\" alt=\"Sequoias along Trail\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Sequoias along Trail<\/br><span style=\"font-size: small;\">Faithful Couple Tree on the left, two unnamed trees on the right.<\/span><\/p><\/div><br \/>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2026\/04\/27\/20260426_121113.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2026\/04\/27\/thumbnails\/20260426_121113.jpg\" alt=\"Sequoias along Trail\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Sequoias along Trail<\/br><span style=\"font-size: small;\">For a moment, we thought these were &#8220;Faithful Couple Tree&#8221;.<\/span><\/p><\/div><br \/>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2026\/04\/27\/20260426_121240.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2026\/04\/27\/thumbnails\/20260426_121240.jpg\" alt=\"Faithful Couple Tree\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Faithful Couple Tree<\/p><\/div><br \/>\n<\/details>\n<p><\/noscript><\/p>\n<p>Farther on, as we gained elevation, the landscape grew ever more deeply covered in snow, while the trees became increasingly veiled in mist as we climbed into the cloud ceiling. The precipitation, too, shifted from drizzle to snow, though it remained very light, and I have to say I appreciated the variety of colors in view. In addition, only a small number of people visiting Mariposa Grove seemed to venture beyond the Grizzly Giant Loop, so the upper reaches of the grove offered a wonderful sense of solitude.<\/p>\n<div class=\"splide\" id=\"splide-major-9\">\n<div class=\"splide__track\">\n<ul class=\"splide__list\">\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2026\/04\/27\/20260426_121536.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2026\/04\/27\/thumbnails\/20260426_121536.jpg\" width=\"96.7%\" alt=\"Sequoias along Trail\" \/><\/a><\/br>Sequoias along Trail<\/br><span style=\"font-size: small;\">A very symmetrical composition.<\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2026\/04\/27\/20260426_123449.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2026\/04\/27\/thumbnails\/20260426_123449.jpg\" width=\"96.7%\" alt=\"Trail\" \/><\/a><\/br>Trail<\/br><span style=\"font-size: small;\">Another very symmetrical composition.<\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2026\/04\/27\/20260426_123457.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2026\/04\/27\/thumbnails\/20260426_123457.jpg\" alt=\"Trail\" \/><\/a><\/br>Trail<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2026\/04\/27\/20260426_123230.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2026\/04\/27\/thumbnails\/20260426_123230.jpg\" alt=\"Mariposa Tree\" \/><\/a><\/br>Mariposa Tree<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2026\/04\/27\/IMG_20260426_123813.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2026\/04\/27\/thumbnails\/IMG_20260426_123813.jpg\" width=\"96.7%\" alt=\"Sequoias along Trail\" \/><\/a><\/br>Sequoias along Trail<\/br><span style=\"font-size: small;\">A giant opening in the tree on the right.<\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2026\/04\/27\/IMG_20260426_123906.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2026\/04\/27\/thumbnails\/IMG_20260426_123906.jpg\" width=\"96.7%\" alt=\"Unnamed Tunnel Tree\" \/><\/a><\/br>Unnamed Tunnel Tree<\/br><span style=\"font-size: small;\">Guess this tunnel was too small to be named.<\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2026\/04\/27\/IMG_20260426_124040.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2026\/04\/27\/thumbnails\/IMG_20260426_124040.jpg\" alt=\"Trail\" \/><\/a><\/br>Trail<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2026\/04\/27\/IMG_20260426_124514.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2026\/04\/27\/thumbnails\/IMG_20260426_124514.jpg\" alt=\"Sequoias\" \/><\/a><\/br>Sequoias<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2026\/04\/27\/IMG_20260426_124543.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2026\/04\/27\/thumbnails\/IMG_20260426_124543.jpg\" alt=\"Sequoias\" \/><\/a><\/br>Sequoias<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"splide\" id=\"splide-thumb-9\">\n<div class=\"splide__track\">\n<ul class=\"splide__list\">\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2026\/04\/27\/thumbnails-s\/20260426_121536.jpg\" alt=\"Sequoias along Trail\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2026\/04\/27\/thumbnails-s\/20260426_123449.jpg\" alt=\"Trail\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2026\/04\/27\/thumbnails-s\/20260426_123457.jpg\" alt=\"Trail\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2026\/04\/27\/thumbnails-s\/20260426_123230.jpg\" alt=\"Mariposa Tree\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2026\/04\/27\/thumbnails-s\/IMG_20260426_123813.jpg\" alt=\"Sequoias along Trail\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2026\/04\/27\/thumbnails-s\/IMG_20260426_123906.jpg\" alt=\"Unnamed Tunnel Tree\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2026\/04\/27\/thumbnails-s\/IMG_20260426_124040.jpg\" alt=\"Trail\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2026\/04\/27\/thumbnails-s\/IMG_20260426_124514.jpg\" alt=\"Sequoias\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2026\/04\/27\/thumbnails-s\/IMG_20260426_124543.jpg\" alt=\"Sequoias\" \/><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><noscript><br \/>\nJavascript not enabled, unable to display slideshow.<\/p>\n<style type=\"text\/css\">\n#splide-major-9, #splide-thumb-9 { display:none; }\n<\/style>\n<details>\n<summary>Click here to display photos of the slideshow<\/summary>\n<p><div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2026\/04\/27\/20260426_121536.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2026\/04\/27\/thumbnails\/20260426_121536.jpg\" alt=\"Sequoias along Trail\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Sequoias along Trail<\/br><span style=\"font-size: small;\">A very symmetrical composition.<\/span><\/p><\/div><br \/>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2026\/04\/27\/20260426_123449.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2026\/04\/27\/thumbnails\/20260426_123449.jpg\" alt=\"Trail\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Trail<\/br><span style=\"font-size: small;\">Another very symmetrical composition.<\/span><\/p><\/div><br \/>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2026\/04\/27\/20260426_123457.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2026\/04\/27\/thumbnails\/20260426_123457.jpg\" alt=\"Trail\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Trail<\/p><\/div><br \/>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2026\/04\/27\/20260426_123230.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2026\/04\/27\/thumbnails\/20260426_123230.jpg\" alt=\"Mariposa Tree\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Mariposa Tree<\/p><\/div><br \/>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2026\/04\/27\/IMG_20260426_123813.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2026\/04\/27\/thumbnails\/IMG_20260426_123813.jpg\" alt=\"Sequoias along Trail\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Sequoias along Trail<\/br><span style=\"font-size: small;\">A giant opening in the tree on the right.<\/span><\/p><\/div><br \/>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2026\/04\/27\/IMG_20260426_123906.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2026\/04\/27\/thumbnails\/IMG_20260426_123906.jpg\" alt=\"Unnamed Tunnel Tree\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Unnamed Tunnel Tree<\/br><span style=\"font-size: small;\">Guess this tunnel was too small to be named.<\/span><\/p><\/div><br \/>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2026\/04\/27\/IMG_20260426_124040.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2026\/04\/27\/thumbnails\/IMG_20260426_124040.jpg\" alt=\"Trail\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Trail<\/p><\/div><br \/>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2026\/04\/27\/IMG_20260426_124514.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2026\/04\/27\/thumbnails\/IMG_20260426_124514.jpg\" alt=\"Sequoias\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Sequoias<\/p><\/div><br \/>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2026\/04\/27\/IMG_20260426_124543.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2026\/04\/27\/thumbnails\/IMG_20260426_124543.jpg\" alt=\"Sequoias\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Sequoias<\/p><\/div><br \/>\n<\/details>\n<p><\/noscript><\/p>\n<p>With the cloud ceiling hanging low, we decided to skip the spur to Wawona Point, since it likely would have offered no view at all. Not far beyond the junction stood the Galen Clark Tree (p3 below), a named but inconspicuous tree that took us a while to find its marker. (It&#8217;s along Perimeter Trail, whereas other named trees in the area were on Guardians Loop Trail.)<\/p>\n<div class=\"splide\" id=\"splide-major-10\">\n<div class=\"splide__track\">\n<ul class=\"splide__list\">\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2026\/04\/27\/IMG_20260426_125847.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2026\/04\/27\/thumbnails\/IMG_20260426_125847.jpg\" alt=\"Sequoias with Basal Hollows\" \/><\/a><\/br>Sequoias with Basal Hollows<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2026\/04\/27\/20260426_130033C9.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2026\/04\/27\/thumbnails\/20260426_130033C9.jpg\" width=\"96.7%\" alt=\"Sequoia with Branches\" \/><\/a><\/br>Sequoia with Branches<\/br><span style=\"font-size: small;\">An almost rectangular branch, a bit like the Grizzly Giant earlier.<\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2026\/04\/27\/20260426_130208.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2026\/04\/27\/thumbnails\/20260426_130208.jpg\" alt=\"Galen Clark Tree\" \/><\/a><\/br>Galen Clark Tree<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2026\/04\/27\/IMG_20260426_130608.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2026\/04\/27\/thumbnails\/IMG_20260426_130608.jpg\" alt=\"Sequoias along Trail\" \/><\/a><\/br>Sequoias along Trail<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2026\/04\/27\/IMG_20260426_130618.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2026\/04\/27\/thumbnails\/IMG_20260426_130618.jpg\" alt=\"Sequoias along Trail\" \/><\/a><\/br>Sequoias along Trail<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2026\/04\/27\/20260426_131306.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2026\/04\/27\/thumbnails\/20260426_131306.jpg\" width=\"94.5%\" alt=\"Pair of Sequoias\" \/><\/a><\/br>Pair of Sequoias<\/br>\n<div style=\"font-size: smaller;text-align: left\">They were not as close together as &#8220;Faithful Couple&#8221;, so I would call them &#8220;best friends&#8221;, or &#8220;divorced couple&#8221; if I&#8217;m more devious.<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2026\/04\/27\/IMG_20260426_131334.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2026\/04\/27\/thumbnails\/IMG_20260426_131334.jpg\" width=\"96.7%\" alt=\"Sequoias\" \/><\/a><\/br>Sequoias<\/br><span style=\"font-size: small;\">One fallen and broken into two halves.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"splide\" id=\"splide-thumb-10\">\n<div class=\"splide__track\">\n<ul class=\"splide__list\">\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2026\/04\/27\/thumbnails-s\/IMG_20260426_125847.jpg\" alt=\"Sequoias with Basal Hollows\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2026\/04\/27\/thumbnails-s\/20260426_130033C9.jpg\" alt=\"Sequoia with Branches\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2026\/04\/27\/thumbnails-s\/20260426_130208.jpg\" alt=\"Galen Clark Tree\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2026\/04\/27\/thumbnails-s\/IMG_20260426_130608.jpg\" alt=\"Sequoias along Trail\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2026\/04\/27\/thumbnails-s\/IMG_20260426_130618.jpg\" alt=\"Sequoias along Trail\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2026\/04\/27\/thumbnails-s\/20260426_131306.jpg\" alt=\"Pair of Sequoias\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2026\/04\/27\/thumbnails-s\/IMG_20260426_131334.jpg\" alt=\"Sequoias\" \/><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><noscript><br \/>\nJavascript not enabled, unable to display slideshow.<\/p>\n<style type=\"text\/css\">\n#splide-major-10, #splide-thumb-10 { display:none; }\n<\/style>\n<details>\n<summary>Click here to display photos of the slideshow<\/summary>\n<p><div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2026\/04\/27\/IMG_20260426_125847.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2026\/04\/27\/thumbnails\/IMG_20260426_125847.jpg\" alt=\"Sequoias with Basal Hollows\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Sequoias with Basal Hollows<\/p><\/div><br \/>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2026\/04\/27\/20260426_130033C9.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2026\/04\/27\/thumbnails\/20260426_130033C9.jpg\" alt=\"Sequoia with Branches\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Sequoia with Branches<\/br><span style=\"font-size: small;\">An almost rectangular branch, a bit like the Grizzly Giant earlier.<\/span><\/p><\/div><br \/>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2026\/04\/27\/20260426_130208.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2026\/04\/27\/thumbnails\/20260426_130208.jpg\" alt=\"Galen Clark Tree\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Galen Clark Tree<\/p><\/div><br \/>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2026\/04\/27\/IMG_20260426_130608.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2026\/04\/27\/thumbnails\/IMG_20260426_130608.jpg\" alt=\"Sequoias along Trail\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Sequoias along Trail<\/p><\/div><br \/>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2026\/04\/27\/IMG_20260426_130618.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2026\/04\/27\/thumbnails\/IMG_20260426_130618.jpg\" alt=\"Sequoias along Trail\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Sequoias along Trail<\/p><\/div><br \/>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2026\/04\/27\/20260426_131306.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2026\/04\/27\/thumbnails\/20260426_131306.jpg\" alt=\"Pair of Sequoias\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Pair of Sequoias<\/br><\/p>\n<div style=\"font-size: smaller;text-align: left\">They were not as close together as &#8220;Faithful Couple&#8221;, so I would call them &#8220;best friends&#8221;, or &#8220;divorced couple&#8221; if I&#8217;m more devious.<\/div>\n<p><\/p><\/div><br \/>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2026\/04\/27\/IMG_20260426_131334.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2026\/04\/27\/thumbnails\/IMG_20260426_131334.jpg\" alt=\"Sequoias\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Sequoias<\/br><span style=\"font-size: small;\">One fallen and broken into two halves.<\/span><\/p><\/div><br \/>\n<\/details>\n<p><\/noscript><\/p>\n<p>A short walk farther on was the Fallen Wawona Tunnel Tree (p3 below). I learned the tunnel through its base had been artificially enlarged by people to turn it into a tourist attraction. Unfortunately, that alteration weakened the tree, and it eventually fell. Even in its current state, though, I found it hard to discern the tunnel that once opened at its base.<\/p>\n<div class=\"splide\" id=\"splide-major-11\">\n<div class=\"splide__track\">\n<ul class=\"splide__list\">\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2026\/04\/27\/IMG_20260426_125058.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2026\/04\/27\/thumbnails\/IMG_20260426_125058.jpg\" width=\"93.1%\" alt=\"Root System of Fallen Tree\" \/><\/a><\/br>Root System of Fallen Tree<\/br><span style=\"font-size: small;\">The moss added some variety of color.<\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2026\/04\/27\/20260426_125323.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2026\/04\/27\/thumbnails\/20260426_125323.jpg\" alt=\"Sequoias along Trail\" \/><\/a><\/br>Sequoias along Trail<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2026\/04\/27\/20260426_130658.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2026\/04\/27\/thumbnails\/20260426_130658.jpg\" alt=\"Fallen Wawona Tunnel Tree\" \/><\/a><\/br>Fallen Wawona Tunnel Tree<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2026\/04\/27\/20260426_131201.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2026\/04\/27\/thumbnails\/20260426_131201.jpg\" alt=\"Root System of Fallen Sequoia\" \/><\/a><\/br>Root System of Fallen Sequoia<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2026\/04\/27\/IMG_20260426_131527.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2026\/04\/27\/thumbnails\/IMG_20260426_131527.jpg\" width=\"93.1%\" alt=\"Snow Plant\" \/><\/a><\/br>Snow Plant<\/br><span style=\"font-size: small;\">Sarcodes sanguinea, a parasitic plant that gets its nutrients from fungi.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"splide\" id=\"splide-thumb-11\">\n<div class=\"splide__track\">\n<ul class=\"splide__list\">\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2026\/04\/27\/thumbnails-s\/IMG_20260426_125058.jpg\" alt=\"Root System of Fallen Tree\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2026\/04\/27\/thumbnails-s\/20260426_125323.jpg\" alt=\"Sequoias along Trail\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2026\/04\/27\/thumbnails-s\/20260426_130658.jpg\" alt=\"Fallen Wawona Tunnel Tree\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2026\/04\/27\/thumbnails-s\/20260426_131201.jpg\" alt=\"Root System of Fallen Sequoia\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2026\/04\/27\/thumbnails-s\/IMG_20260426_131527.jpg\" alt=\"Snow Plant\" \/><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><noscript><br \/>\nJavascript not enabled, unable to display slideshow.<\/p>\n<style type=\"text\/css\">\n#splide-major-11, #splide-thumb-11 { display:none; }\n<\/style>\n<details>\n<summary>Click here to display photos of the slideshow<\/summary>\n<p><div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2026\/04\/27\/IMG_20260426_125058.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2026\/04\/27\/thumbnails\/IMG_20260426_125058.jpg\" alt=\"Root System of Fallen Tree\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Root System of Fallen Tree<\/br><span style=\"font-size: small;\">The moss added some variety of color.<\/span><\/p><\/div><br \/>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2026\/04\/27\/20260426_125323.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2026\/04\/27\/thumbnails\/20260426_125323.jpg\" alt=\"Sequoias along Trail\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Sequoias along Trail<\/p><\/div><br \/>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2026\/04\/27\/20260426_130658.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2026\/04\/27\/thumbnails\/20260426_130658.jpg\" alt=\"Fallen Wawona Tunnel Tree\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Fallen Wawona Tunnel Tree<\/p><\/div><br \/>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2026\/04\/27\/20260426_131201.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2026\/04\/27\/thumbnails\/20260426_131201.jpg\" alt=\"Root System of Fallen Sequoia\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Root System of Fallen Sequoia<\/p><\/div><br \/>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2026\/04\/27\/IMG_20260426_131527.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2026\/04\/27\/thumbnails\/IMG_20260426_131527.jpg\" alt=\"Snow Plant\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Snow Plant<\/br><span style=\"font-size: small;\">Sarcodes sanguinea, a parasitic plant that gets its nutrients from fungi.<\/span><\/p><\/div><br \/>\n<\/details>\n<p><\/noscript><\/p>\n<p>Next along the trail was the &#8220;Telescope Tree&#8221;, a heavily eroded tree whose hollowed trunk one could step inside (p1-2 below). Looking up from within, it felt like a telescope skyward. The &#8220;Telescope Tree&#8221; was located along Guardians Loop Trail, but at first we couldn&#8217;t find its sign, and the official NPS map seemed to place it on the Perimeter Trail, so it took us a while to confirm that it was in fact just beside a major trail junction.<\/p>\n<p>After the Telescope Tree, we took a shortcut towards Mariposa Cabin, near which stood the &#8220;Columbia Tree&#8221; (p4 below). I had to admit that, among its many unnamed neighbors, the &#8220;Columbia Tree&#8221; was not especially remarkable.<\/p>\n<div class=\"splide\" id=\"splide-major-12\">\n<div class=\"splide__track\">\n<ul class=\"splide__list\">\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2026\/04\/27\/IMG_20260426_131640.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2026\/04\/27\/thumbnails\/IMG_20260426_131640.jpg\" alt=\"Telescope Tree\" \/><\/a><\/br>Telescope Tree<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2026\/04\/27\/20260426_131710.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2026\/04\/27\/thumbnails\/20260426_131710.jpg\" alt=\"Interior of Telescope Tree\" \/><\/a><\/br>Interior of Telescope Tree<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2026\/04\/27\/IMG_20260426_132614.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2026\/04\/27\/thumbnails\/IMG_20260426_132614.jpg\" alt=\"Sequoias\" \/><\/a><\/br>Sequoias<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2026\/04\/27\/20260426_133617.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2026\/04\/27\/thumbnails\/20260426_133617.jpg\" alt=\"Columbia Tree\" \/><\/a><\/br>Columbia Tree<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2026\/04\/27\/20260426_133637.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2026\/04\/27\/thumbnails\/20260426_133637.jpg\" alt=\"Unnamed Giant Sequoia\" \/><\/a><\/br>Unnamed Giant Sequoia<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2026\/04\/27\/IMG_20260426_133828.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2026\/04\/27\/thumbnails\/IMG_20260426_133828.jpg\" alt=\"Trail\" \/><\/a><\/br>Trail<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"splide\" id=\"splide-thumb-12\">\n<div class=\"splide__track\">\n<ul class=\"splide__list\">\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2026\/04\/27\/thumbnails-s\/IMG_20260426_131640.jpg\" alt=\"Telescope Tree\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2026\/04\/27\/thumbnails-s\/20260426_131710.jpg\" alt=\"Interior of Telescope Tree\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2026\/04\/27\/thumbnails-s\/IMG_20260426_132614.jpg\" alt=\"Sequoias\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2026\/04\/27\/thumbnails-s\/20260426_133617.jpg\" alt=\"Columbia Tree\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2026\/04\/27\/thumbnails-s\/20260426_133637.jpg\" alt=\"Unnamed Giant Sequoia\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2026\/04\/27\/thumbnails-s\/IMG_20260426_133828.jpg\" alt=\"Trail\" \/><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><noscript><br \/>\nJavascript not enabled, unable to display slideshow.<\/p>\n<style type=\"text\/css\">\n#splide-major-12, #splide-thumb-12 { display:none; }\n<\/style>\n<details>\n<summary>Click here to display photos of the slideshow<\/summary>\n<p><div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2026\/04\/27\/IMG_20260426_131640.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2026\/04\/27\/thumbnails\/IMG_20260426_131640.jpg\" alt=\"Telescope Tree\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Telescope Tree<\/p><\/div><br \/>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2026\/04\/27\/20260426_131710.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2026\/04\/27\/thumbnails\/20260426_131710.jpg\" alt=\"Interior of Telescope Tree\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Interior of Telescope Tree<\/p><\/div><br \/>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2026\/04\/27\/IMG_20260426_132614.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2026\/04\/27\/thumbnails\/IMG_20260426_132614.jpg\" alt=\"Sequoias\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Sequoias<\/p><\/div><br \/>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2026\/04\/27\/20260426_133617.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2026\/04\/27\/thumbnails\/20260426_133617.jpg\" alt=\"Columbia Tree\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Columbia Tree<\/p><\/div><br \/>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2026\/04\/27\/20260426_133637.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2026\/04\/27\/thumbnails\/20260426_133637.jpg\" alt=\"Unnamed Giant Sequoia\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Unnamed Giant Sequoia<\/p><\/div><br \/>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2026\/04\/27\/IMG_20260426_133828.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2026\/04\/27\/thumbnails\/IMG_20260426_133828.jpg\" alt=\"Trail\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Trail<\/p><\/div><br \/>\n<\/details>\n<p><\/noscript><\/p>\n<p>As for trail conditions in the upper part of Mariposa Grove, sections of the Mariposa Grove Trail were actually on a fire-access road. I noticed a few fire hydrants along the way, likely remnants of the 2022 Washburn Fire response, and that stretch was largely free of snow during our visit. Once we left the road, parts of the Guardians Loop Trail were covered in snow. Still, because the trail was mostly level and didn&#8217;t require much traction, we managed fine without any traction devices.<\/p>\n<p>On the way back, before reaching the Faithful Couple Tree, we decided to take a shortcut to the upper trailhead. All told, the hike took us about 4.6 hours car to car.<\/p>\n<h3><span id=\"Upper_Yosemite_Falls\">Upper Yosemite Falls<\/span><\/h3>\n<p>The next day, weather forecast indicated chances of showers in the afternoon in Yosemite Valley, so we got up reasonably early and checked out of our hotel in Oakhurst at 8am. As we drove along Wawona Road through Yosemite National Park, we passed through what I was fairly sure was an active snowfall at the higher elevations. Fortunately, by the time we descended into Yosemite Valley, patches of blue sky had begun to appear behind the shifting clouds. With no rain falling, we were able to begin our hike in perfect weather.<\/p>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2026\/04\/27\/IMG_20260427_092048C.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2026\/04\/27\/thumbnails\/IMG_20260427_092048C.jpg\" alt=\"El Capitan Surrounded by Clouds\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>El Capitan Surrounded by Clouds<\/br><span style=\"font-size: small;\">Giving the immense granite wall an almost celestial quality.<\/span><\/p><\/div>\n<p>This was a Monday in late April, so the day-use parking area of Yosemite Falls was very empty. After some warmup, we set out on the hike at 9:47am. Here&#8217;s GPS tracking:<\/p>\n<div class=\"mobile-hide\" style=\"width:100%;aspect-ratio:6\/5;\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" frameBorder=\"0\" scrolling=\"no\" src=\"https:\/\/www.wikiloc.com\/wikiloc\/spatialArtifacts.do?event=view&#038;id=266048092&#038;measures=on&#038;title=off&#038;near=off&#038;images=off&#038;maptype=H\" width=\"100%\" height=\"100%\"><\/iframe><\/div>\n<div class=\"desktop-hide\" style=\"width:100%;aspect-ratio:3\/5;\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" frameBorder=\"0\" scrolling=\"no\" src=\"https:\/\/www.wikiloc.com\/wikiloc\/embedv2.do?id=266048092&#038;measures=on&#038;elevation=on&#038;title=off&#038;near=off&#038;images=off&#038;maptype=H\" width=\"100%\" height=\"100%\"><\/iframe><\/div>\n<p>The trail began with a long series of switchbacks through the woods. After about 45 minutes, we reached the first landmark on the route: Columbia Rock. To me, it did not seem like a particularly distinctive rock, but it nonetheless served as a fine viewpoint, offering sweeping views over Yosemite Valley below.<\/p>\n<div class=\"splide\" id=\"splide-major-13\">\n<div class=\"splide__track\">\n<ul class=\"splide__list\">\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2026\/04\/27\/DSC_8835.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2026\/04\/27\/thumbnails\/DSC_8835.jpg\" alt=\"Yosemite Valley from Columbia Rock\" \/><\/a><\/br>Yosemite Valley from Columbia Rock<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2026\/04\/27\/DSC_8836.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2026\/04\/27\/thumbnails\/DSC_8836.jpg\" alt=\"Half Dome in Clouds\" \/><\/a><\/br>Half Dome in Clouds<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2026\/04\/27\/DSC_8850.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2026\/04\/27\/thumbnails\/DSC_8850.jpg\" alt=\"Half Dome\" \/><\/a><\/br>Half Dome<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2026\/04\/27\/DSC_8838.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2026\/04\/27\/thumbnails\/DSC_8838.jpg\" width=\"92.5%\" alt=\"Snow on Southern Rim over Yosemite Valley\" \/><\/a><\/br>Snow on Southern Rim over Yosemite Valley<\/br><span style=\"font-size: small;\">The snow-covered Sentinel Dome.<\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2026\/04\/27\/DSC_8851.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2026\/04\/27\/thumbnails\/DSC_8851.jpg\" alt=\"Yosemite Valley\" \/><\/a><\/br>Yosemite Valley<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"splide\" id=\"splide-thumb-13\">\n<div class=\"splide__track\">\n<ul class=\"splide__list\">\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2026\/04\/27\/thumbnails-s\/DSC_8835.jpg\" alt=\"Yosemite Valley from Columbia Rock\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2026\/04\/27\/thumbnails-s\/DSC_8836.jpg\" alt=\"Half Dome in Clouds\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2026\/04\/27\/thumbnails-s\/DSC_8850.jpg\" alt=\"Half Dome\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2026\/04\/27\/thumbnails-s\/DSC_8838.jpg\" alt=\"Snow on Southern Rim over Yosemite Valley\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2026\/04\/27\/thumbnails-s\/DSC_8851.jpg\" alt=\"Yosemite Valley\" \/><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><noscript><br \/>\nJavascript not enabled, unable to display slideshow.<\/p>\n<style type=\"text\/css\">\n#splide-major-13, #splide-thumb-13 { display:none; }\n<\/style>\n<details>\n<summary>Click here to display photos from Columbia Rock.<\/summary>\n<p><div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2026\/04\/27\/DSC_8835.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2026\/04\/27\/thumbnails\/DSC_8835.jpg\" alt=\"Yosemite Valley from Columbia Rock\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Yosemite Valley from Columbia Rock<\/p><\/div><br \/>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2026\/04\/27\/DSC_8836.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2026\/04\/27\/thumbnails\/DSC_8836.jpg\" alt=\"Half Dome in Clouds\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Half Dome in Clouds<\/p><\/div><br \/>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2026\/04\/27\/DSC_8850.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2026\/04\/27\/thumbnails\/DSC_8850.jpg\" alt=\"Half Dome\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Half Dome<\/p><\/div><br \/>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2026\/04\/27\/DSC_8838.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2026\/04\/27\/thumbnails\/DSC_8838.jpg\" alt=\"Snow on Southern Rim over Yosemite Valley\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Snow on Southern Rim over Yosemite Valley<\/br><span style=\"font-size: small;\">The snow-covered Sentinel Dome.<\/span><\/p><\/div><br \/>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2026\/04\/27\/DSC_8851.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2026\/04\/27\/thumbnails\/DSC_8851.jpg\" alt=\"Yosemite Valley\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Yosemite Valley<\/p><\/div><br \/>\n<\/details>\n<p><\/noscript><\/p>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2026\/04\/27\/DSC_8840_DSC_8849-10.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2026\/04\/27\/thumbnails\/DSC_8840_DSC_8849-10.jpg\" alt=\"Yosemite Valley from Columbia Rock\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Yosemite Valley from Columbia Rock<\/p><\/div>\n<p>Leaving Columbia Rock, we caught occasional glimpses of Yosemite Valley through breaks in the vegetation along the trail. The stretch between Columbia Rock and Oh-My-Gosh Point rose only gradually, in a mixture of uphills and downhills.<\/p>\n<div class=\"splide\" id=\"splide-major-14\">\n<div class=\"splide__track\">\n<ul class=\"splide__list\">\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2026\/04\/27\/20260427_104750.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2026\/04\/27\/thumbnails\/20260427_104750.jpg\" alt=\"Yosemite Valley\" \/><\/a><\/br>Yosemite Valley<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2026\/04\/27\/IMG_20260427_160555.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2026\/04\/27\/thumbnails\/IMG_20260427_160555.jpg\" alt=\"Yosemite Valley\" \/><\/a><\/br>Yosemite Valley<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2026\/04\/27\/IMG_20260427_155620.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2026\/04\/27\/thumbnails\/IMG_20260427_155620.jpg\" alt=\"Glacier Point across Yosemite Valley\" \/><\/a><\/br>Glacier Point across Yosemite Valley<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"splide\" id=\"splide-thumb-14\">\n<div class=\"splide__track\">\n<ul class=\"splide__list\">\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2026\/04\/27\/thumbnails-s\/20260427_104750.jpg\" alt=\"Yosemite Valley\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2026\/04\/27\/thumbnails-s\/IMG_20260427_160555.jpg\" alt=\"Yosemite Valley\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2026\/04\/27\/thumbnails-s\/IMG_20260427_155620.jpg\" alt=\"Glacier Point across Yosemite Valley\" \/><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><noscript><br \/>\nJavascript not enabled, unable to display slideshow.<\/p>\n<style type=\"text\/css\">\n#splide-major-14, #splide-thumb-14 { display:none; }\n<\/style>\n<details>\n<summary>Click here to display photos of the slideshow<\/summary>\n<p><div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2026\/04\/27\/20260427_104750.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2026\/04\/27\/thumbnails\/20260427_104750.jpg\" alt=\"Yosemite Valley\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Yosemite Valley<\/p><\/div><br \/>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2026\/04\/27\/IMG_20260427_160555.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2026\/04\/27\/thumbnails\/IMG_20260427_160555.jpg\" alt=\"Yosemite Valley\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Yosemite Valley<\/p><\/div><br \/>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2026\/04\/27\/IMG_20260427_155620.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2026\/04\/27\/thumbnails\/IMG_20260427_155620.jpg\" alt=\"Glacier Point across Yosemite Valley\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Glacier Point across Yosemite Valley<\/p><\/div><br \/>\n<\/details>\n<p><\/noscript><\/p>\n<p>Not long afterward, we arrived at what my friend claimed was Oh-My-Gosh Point, the next landmark on the trail. From there, Upper Yosemite Falls stood directly before us, a white ribbon unspooling from granite&#8217;s stern hand. (The actual Oh-My-Gosh Point was on a short spur just off the trail, which we missed, and offered views of all three sections of Yosemite Falls.) To me, this spot felt like the perfect distance from Upper Yosemite Falls: close enough to feel its thunder, yet far enough to escape the drenching spray.<\/p>\n<div class=\"splide\" id=\"splide-major-15\">\n<div class=\"splide__track\">\n<ul class=\"splide__list\">\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2026\/04\/27\/DSC_8856.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2026\/04\/27\/thumbnails\/DSC_8856.jpg\" alt=\"Upper Yosemite Falls\" \/><\/a><\/br>Upper Yosemite Falls<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2026\/04\/27\/DSC_8858.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2026\/04\/27\/thumbnails\/DSC_8858.jpg\" alt=\"Upper Yosemite Falls\" \/><\/a><\/br>Upper Yosemite Falls<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2026\/04\/27\/DSC_8930.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2026\/04\/27\/thumbnails\/DSC_8930.jpg\" alt=\"Upper Yosemite Falls\" \/><\/a><\/br>Upper Yosemite Falls<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"splide\" id=\"splide-thumb-15\">\n<div class=\"splide__track\">\n<ul class=\"splide__list\">\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2026\/04\/27\/thumbnails-s\/DSC_8856.jpg\" alt=\"Upper Yosemite Falls\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2026\/04\/27\/thumbnails-s\/DSC_8858.jpg\" alt=\"Upper Yosemite Falls\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2026\/04\/27\/thumbnails-s\/DSC_8930.jpg\" alt=\"Upper Yosemite Falls\" \/><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><noscript><br \/>\nJavascript not enabled, unable to display slideshow.<\/p>\n<style type=\"text\/css\">\n#splide-major-15, #splide-thumb-15 { display:none; }\n<\/style>\n<details>\n<summary>Click here to display photos of Upper Yosemite Falls from Oh-My-Gosh Point.<\/summary>\n<p><div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2026\/04\/27\/DSC_8856.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2026\/04\/27\/thumbnails\/DSC_8856.jpg\" alt=\"Upper Yosemite Falls\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Upper Yosemite Falls<\/p><\/div><br \/>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2026\/04\/27\/DSC_8858.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2026\/04\/27\/thumbnails\/DSC_8858.jpg\" alt=\"Upper Yosemite Falls\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Upper Yosemite Falls<\/p><\/div><br \/>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2026\/04\/27\/DSC_8930.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2026\/04\/27\/thumbnails\/DSC_8930.jpg\" alt=\"Upper Yosemite Falls\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Upper Yosemite Falls<\/p><\/div><br \/>\n<\/details>\n<p><\/noscript><\/p>\n<p>On our way down, I came upon a raven at Oh-My-Gosh Point, as if it too were admiring the beauty of Upper Yosemite Falls.<\/p>\n<div class=\"splide\" id=\"splide-major-16\">\n<div class=\"splide__track\">\n<ul class=\"splide__list\">\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2026\/04\/27\/DSC_8925.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2026\/04\/27\/thumbnails\/DSC_8925.jpg\" alt=\"Raven\" \/><\/a><\/br>Raven<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2026\/04\/27\/DSC_8926.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2026\/04\/27\/thumbnails\/DSC_8926.jpg\" alt=\"Raven\" \/><\/a><\/br>Raven<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2026\/04\/27\/DSC_8922C11.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2026\/04\/27\/thumbnails\/DSC_8922C11.jpg\" alt=\"Raven\" \/><\/a><\/br>Raven<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"splide\" id=\"splide-thumb-16\">\n<div class=\"splide__track\">\n<ul class=\"splide__list\">\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2026\/04\/27\/thumbnails-s\/DSC_8925.jpg\" alt=\"Raven\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2026\/04\/27\/thumbnails-s\/DSC_8926.jpg\" alt=\"Raven\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2026\/04\/27\/thumbnails-s\/DSC_8922C11.jpg\" alt=\"Raven\" \/><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><noscript><br \/>\nJavascript not enabled, unable to display slideshow.<\/p>\n<style type=\"text\/css\">\n#splide-major-16, #splide-thumb-16 { display:none; }\n<\/style>\n<details>\n<summary>Click here to display photos of the slideshow<\/summary>\n<p><div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2026\/04\/27\/DSC_8925.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2026\/04\/27\/thumbnails\/DSC_8925.jpg\" alt=\"Raven\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Raven<\/p><\/div><br \/>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2026\/04\/27\/DSC_8926.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2026\/04\/27\/thumbnails\/DSC_8926.jpg\" alt=\"Raven\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Raven<\/p><\/div><br \/>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2026\/04\/27\/DSC_8922C11.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2026\/04\/27\/thumbnails\/DSC_8922C11.jpg\" alt=\"Raven\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Raven<\/p><\/div><br \/>\n<\/details>\n<p><\/noscript><\/p>\n<p>Shortly after leaving Oh-My-Gosh Point, the trail launched into another relentless series of switchbacks, climbing steadily upward. A few spots along the lower section offered a closer view of the waterfall. During our descent, the wind blew the spray across the trail, making it feel as though it was raining.<\/p>\n<div class=\"splide\" id=\"splide-major-17\">\n<div class=\"splide__track\">\n<ul class=\"splide__list\">\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2026\/04\/27\/20260427_110344.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2026\/04\/27\/thumbnails\/20260427_110344.jpg\" alt=\"Upper Yosemite Falls\" \/><\/a><\/br>Upper Yosemite Falls<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2026\/04\/27\/20260427_114024.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2026\/04\/27\/thumbnails\/20260427_114024.jpg\" alt=\"Upper Yosemite Falls\" \/><\/a><\/br>Upper Yosemite Falls<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2026\/04\/27\/IMG_20260427_112453.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2026\/04\/27\/thumbnails\/IMG_20260427_112453.jpg\" alt=\"Upper Yosemite Falls\" \/><\/a><\/br>Upper Yosemite Falls<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2026\/04\/27\/20260427_151729.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2026\/04\/27\/thumbnails\/20260427_151729.jpg\" alt=\"Upper Yosemite Falls\" \/><\/a><\/br>Upper Yosemite Falls<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2026\/04\/27\/20260427_114632.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2026\/04\/27\/thumbnails\/20260427_114632.jpg\" alt=\"Upper Yosemite Falls\" \/><\/a><\/br>Upper Yosemite Falls<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"splide\" id=\"splide-thumb-17\">\n<div class=\"splide__track\">\n<ul class=\"splide__list\">\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2026\/04\/27\/thumbnails-s\/20260427_110344.jpg\" alt=\"Upper Yosemite Falls\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2026\/04\/27\/thumbnails-s\/20260427_114024.jpg\" alt=\"Upper Yosemite Falls\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2026\/04\/27\/thumbnails-s\/IMG_20260427_112453.jpg\" alt=\"Upper Yosemite Falls\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2026\/04\/27\/thumbnails-s\/20260427_151729.jpg\" alt=\"Upper Yosemite Falls\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2026\/04\/27\/thumbnails-s\/20260427_114632.jpg\" alt=\"Upper Yosemite Falls\" \/><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><noscript><br \/>\nJavascript not enabled, unable to display slideshow.<\/p>\n<style type=\"text\/css\">\n#splide-major-17, #splide-thumb-17 { display:none; }\n<\/style>\n<details>\n<summary>Click here to display photos of the slideshow<\/summary>\n<p><div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2026\/04\/27\/20260427_110344.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2026\/04\/27\/thumbnails\/20260427_110344.jpg\" alt=\"Upper Yosemite Falls\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Upper Yosemite Falls<\/p><\/div><br \/>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2026\/04\/27\/20260427_114024.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2026\/04\/27\/thumbnails\/20260427_114024.jpg\" alt=\"Upper Yosemite Falls\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Upper Yosemite Falls<\/p><\/div><br \/>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2026\/04\/27\/IMG_20260427_112453.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2026\/04\/27\/thumbnails\/IMG_20260427_112453.jpg\" alt=\"Upper Yosemite Falls\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Upper Yosemite Falls<\/p><\/div><br \/>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2026\/04\/27\/20260427_151729.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2026\/04\/27\/thumbnails\/20260427_151729.jpg\" alt=\"Upper Yosemite Falls\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Upper Yosemite Falls<\/p><\/div><br \/>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2026\/04\/27\/20260427_114632.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2026\/04\/27\/thumbnails\/20260427_114632.jpg\" alt=\"Upper Yosemite Falls\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Upper Yosemite Falls<\/p><\/div><br \/>\n<\/details>\n<p><\/noscript><\/p>\n<p>As for trail conditions, this was the time of year when water was most abundant in Yosemite National Park. In some places, a creek was literally flowing down the trail, requiring some caution (p2 below). Beyond that, the path soon lost sight of Upper Yosemite Falls as it continued up the switchbacks, which, unlike the stretch before Oh-My-Gosh Point, was now mostly unshaded.<\/p>\n<div class=\"splide\" id=\"splide-major-18\">\n<div class=\"splide__track\">\n<ul class=\"splide__list\">\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2026\/04\/27\/20260427_114803.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2026\/04\/27\/thumbnails\/20260427_114803.jpg\" alt=\"Water Flowing along Trail\" \/><\/a><\/br>Water Flowing along Trail<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2026\/04\/27\/IMG_20260427_150746.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2026\/04\/27\/thumbnails\/IMG_20260427_150746.jpg\" width=\"96.4%\" alt=\"Trail\" \/><\/a><\/br>Trail<\/br><span style=\"font-size: small;\">A tiny bit of Upper Yosemite Falls and Yosemite point visible.<\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2026\/04\/27\/20260427_115429.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2026\/04\/27\/thumbnails\/20260427_115429.jpg\" alt=\"Cliffs of Eagle Tower\" \/><\/a><\/br>Cliffs of Eagle Tower<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2026\/04\/27\/IMG_20260427_121700.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2026\/04\/27\/thumbnails\/IMG_20260427_121700.jpg\" alt=\"Trail\" \/><\/a><\/br>Trail<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2026\/04\/27\/IMG_20260427_145403.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2026\/04\/27\/thumbnails\/IMG_20260427_145403.jpg\" alt=\"Trail\" \/><\/a><\/br>Trail<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2026\/04\/27\/IMG_20260427_144411.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2026\/04\/27\/thumbnails\/IMG_20260427_144411.jpg\" alt=\"Trail\" \/><\/a><\/br>Trail<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"splide\" id=\"splide-thumb-18\">\n<div class=\"splide__track\">\n<ul class=\"splide__list\">\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2026\/04\/27\/thumbnails-s\/20260427_114803.jpg\" alt=\"Water Flowing along Trail\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2026\/04\/27\/thumbnails-s\/IMG_20260427_150746.jpg\" alt=\"Trail\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2026\/04\/27\/thumbnails-s\/20260427_115429.jpg\" alt=\"Cliffs of Eagle Tower\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2026\/04\/27\/thumbnails-s\/IMG_20260427_121700.jpg\" alt=\"Trail\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2026\/04\/27\/thumbnails-s\/IMG_20260427_145403.jpg\" alt=\"Trail\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2026\/04\/27\/thumbnails-s\/IMG_20260427_144411.jpg\" alt=\"Trail\" \/><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><noscript><br \/>\nJavascript not enabled, unable to display slideshow.<\/p>\n<style type=\"text\/css\">\n#splide-major-18, #splide-thumb-18 { display:none; }\n<\/style>\n<details>\n<summary>Click here to display photos of the slideshow<\/summary>\n<p><div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2026\/04\/27\/20260427_114803.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2026\/04\/27\/thumbnails\/20260427_114803.jpg\" alt=\"Water Flowing along Trail\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Water Flowing along Trail<\/p><\/div><br \/>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2026\/04\/27\/IMG_20260427_150746.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2026\/04\/27\/thumbnails\/IMG_20260427_150746.jpg\" alt=\"Trail\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Trail<\/br><span style=\"font-size: small;\">A tiny bit of Upper Yosemite Falls and Yosemite point visible.<\/span><\/p><\/div><br \/>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2026\/04\/27\/20260427_115429.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2026\/04\/27\/thumbnails\/20260427_115429.jpg\" alt=\"Cliffs of Eagle Tower\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Cliffs of Eagle Tower<\/p><\/div><br \/>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2026\/04\/27\/IMG_20260427_121700.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2026\/04\/27\/thumbnails\/IMG_20260427_121700.jpg\" alt=\"Trail\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Trail<\/p><\/div><br \/>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2026\/04\/27\/IMG_20260427_145403.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2026\/04\/27\/thumbnails\/IMG_20260427_145403.jpg\" alt=\"Trail\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Trail<\/p><\/div><br \/>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2026\/04\/27\/IMG_20260427_144411.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2026\/04\/27\/thumbnails\/IMG_20260427_144411.jpg\" alt=\"Trail\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Trail<\/p><\/div><br \/>\n<\/details>\n<p><\/noscript><\/p>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2026\/04\/27\/20260427_143759.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2026\/04\/27\/thumbnails\/20260427_143759.jpg\" alt=\"Trail\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Trail<\/br><\/p>\n<div style=\"font-size: smaller;text-align: left\">Near the top of the switchbacks, just before the trail intersection to Eagle Peak and El Capitan, there was a section where the trail seemed to dissolve into a jumble of logs laid above a flowing creek. Some caution was needed here to keep one&#8217;s feet dry.<\/div>\n<p><\/p><\/div>\n<p>Finally, after about 3 hours on the trail, we reached Upper Yosemite Falls at 12:48pm. This was a fine viewpoint, overlooking the lush Yosemite Valley below, with snow-covered Sentinel Dome and Glacier Point rising beyond it. Those not afraid of heights could venture to the cliff&#8217;s edge and look down over the Middle Cascades of Yosemite Falls (p4 below). Yet because Upper Yosemite Falls is so lofty, the Middle Cascades felt to me somewhat distant, almost disconnected from the scene.<\/p>\n<div class=\"splide\" id=\"splide-major-19\">\n<div class=\"splide__track\">\n<ul class=\"splide__list\">\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2026\/04\/27\/DSC_8877.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2026\/04\/27\/thumbnails\/DSC_8877.jpg\" alt=\"Yosemite Valley\" \/><\/a><\/br>Yosemite Valley<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2026\/04\/27\/20260427_125335C.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2026\/04\/27\/thumbnails\/20260427_125335C.jpg\" alt=\"Yosemite Valley\" \/><\/a><\/br>Yosemite Valley<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2026\/04\/27\/DSC_8872.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2026\/04\/27\/thumbnails\/DSC_8872.jpg\" alt=\"Mt Starr King\" \/><\/a><\/br>Mt Starr King<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2026\/04\/27\/DSC_8870C.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2026\/04\/27\/thumbnails\/DSC_8870C.jpg\" width=\"66.7%\" alt=\"Overlooking Middle Yosemite Cascades\" \/><\/a><\/br>Overlooking Middle Yosemite Cascades<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2026\/04\/27\/DSC_8874C.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2026\/04\/27\/thumbnails\/DSC_8874C.jpg\" alt=\"Squirrel\" \/><\/a><\/br>Squirrel<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"splide\" id=\"splide-thumb-19\">\n<div class=\"splide__track\">\n<ul class=\"splide__list\">\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2026\/04\/27\/thumbnails-s\/DSC_8877.jpg\" alt=\"Yosemite Valley\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2026\/04\/27\/thumbnails-s\/20260427_125335C.jpg\" alt=\"Yosemite Valley\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2026\/04\/27\/thumbnails-s\/DSC_8872.jpg\" alt=\"Mt Starr King\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2026\/04\/27\/thumbnails-s\/DSC_8870C.jpg\" alt=\"Overlooking Middle Yosemite Cascades\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2026\/04\/27\/thumbnails-s\/DSC_8874C.jpg\" alt=\"Squirrel\" \/><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><noscript><br \/>\nJavascript not enabled, unable to display slideshow.<\/p>\n<style type=\"text\/css\">\n#splide-major-19, #splide-thumb-19 { display:none; }\n<\/style>\n<details>\n<summary>Click here to display photos of the slideshow<\/summary>\n<p><div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2026\/04\/27\/DSC_8877.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2026\/04\/27\/thumbnails\/DSC_8877.jpg\" alt=\"Yosemite Valley\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Yosemite Valley<\/p><\/div><br \/>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2026\/04\/27\/20260427_125335C.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2026\/04\/27\/thumbnails\/20260427_125335C.jpg\" alt=\"Yosemite Valley\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Yosemite Valley<\/p><\/div><br \/>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2026\/04\/27\/DSC_8872.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2026\/04\/27\/thumbnails\/DSC_8872.jpg\" alt=\"Mt Starr King\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Mt Starr King<\/p><\/div><br \/>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2026\/04\/27\/DSC_8870C.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2026\/04\/27\/thumbnails\/DSC_8870C.jpg\" alt=\"Overlooking Middle Yosemite Cascades\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Overlooking Middle Yosemite Cascades<\/p><\/div><br \/>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2026\/04\/27\/DSC_8874C.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2026\/04\/27\/thumbnails\/DSC_8874C.jpg\" alt=\"Squirrel\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Squirrel<\/p><\/div><br \/>\n<\/details>\n<p><\/noscript><\/p>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2026\/04\/27\/DSC_8878_DSC_8885-8.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2026\/04\/27\/thumbnails\/DSC_8878_DSC_8885-8.jpg\" alt=\"Yosemite Valley from Upper Yosemite Falls Vista\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Yosemite Valley from Upper Yosemite Falls Vista<\/p><\/div>\n<p>Additionally, we followed a narrow path (p1 below) to a small viewpoint near the brink of Upper Yosemite Falls. A fence (p2 below) had been placed at a cautious distance from the waterfall, which unfortunately kept me from taking the most dramatic photos. It also seemed that only a handful of visitors ventured out to this little overlook from the main upper viewpoint.<\/p>\n<div class=\"splide\" id=\"splide-major-20\">\n<div class=\"splide__track\">\n<ul class=\"splide__list\">\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2026\/04\/27\/20260427_130801.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2026\/04\/27\/thumbnails\/20260427_130801.jpg\" width=\"70%\" alt=\"Narrow Path to Upper Falls Vista Point\" \/><\/a><\/br>Narrow Path to Upper Falls Vista Point<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2026\/04\/27\/20260427_131315.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2026\/04\/27\/thumbnails\/20260427_131315.jpg\" alt=\"Brim of Upper Yosemite Falls\" \/><\/a><\/br>Brim of Upper Yosemite Falls<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2026\/04\/27\/20260427_131056.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2026\/04\/27\/thumbnails\/20260427_131056.jpg\" width=\"67%\" alt=\"Upper Yosemite Falls\" \/><\/a><\/br>Upper Yosemite Falls<\/br><span style=\"font-size: small;\">And Middle Yosemite Cascades also visible.<\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2026\/04\/27\/20260427_131347.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2026\/04\/27\/thumbnails\/20260427_131347.jpg\" width=\"70%\" alt=\"Yosemite Creek just before Upper Yosemite Falls\" \/><\/a><\/br>Yosemite Creek just before Upper Yosemite Falls<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"splide\" id=\"splide-thumb-20\">\n<div class=\"splide__track\">\n<ul class=\"splide__list\">\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2026\/04\/27\/thumbnails-s\/20260427_130801.jpg\" alt=\"Narrow Path to Upper Falls Vista Point\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2026\/04\/27\/thumbnails-s\/20260427_131315.jpg\" alt=\"Brim of Upper Yosemite Falls\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2026\/04\/27\/thumbnails-s\/20260427_131056.jpg\" alt=\"Upper Yosemite Falls\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2026\/04\/27\/thumbnails-s\/20260427_131347.jpg\" alt=\"Yosemite Creek just before Upper Yosemite Falls\" \/><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><noscript><br \/>\nJavascript not enabled, unable to display slideshow.<\/p>\n<style type=\"text\/css\">\n#splide-major-20, #splide-thumb-20 { display:none; }\n<\/style>\n<details>\n<summary>Click here to display photos of the slideshow<\/summary>\n<p><div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2026\/04\/27\/20260427_130801.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2026\/04\/27\/thumbnails\/20260427_130801.jpg\" alt=\"Narrow Path to Upper Falls Vista Point\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Narrow Path to Upper Falls Vista Point<\/p><\/div><br \/>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2026\/04\/27\/20260427_131315.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2026\/04\/27\/thumbnails\/20260427_131315.jpg\" alt=\"Brim of Upper Yosemite Falls\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Brim of Upper Yosemite Falls<\/p><\/div><br \/>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2026\/04\/27\/20260427_131056.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2026\/04\/27\/thumbnails\/20260427_131056.jpg\" alt=\"Upper Yosemite Falls\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Upper Yosemite Falls<\/br><span style=\"font-size: small;\">And Middle Yosemite Cascades also visible.<\/span><\/p><\/div><br \/>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2026\/04\/27\/20260427_131347.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2026\/04\/27\/thumbnails\/20260427_131347.jpg\" alt=\"Yosemite Creek just before Upper Yosemite Falls\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Yosemite Creek just before Upper Yosemite Falls<\/p><\/div><br \/>\n<\/details>\n<p><\/noscript><\/p>\n<p>Last year, my friend had only made it as far as Oh-My-Gosh Point, so reaching Upper Yosemite Falls was already quite an accomplishment for him. On the map, though, Yosemite Point looked just a little farther on, with only a modest gain in elevation. As we neared Upper Yosemite Falls, I kept urging him to continue on to Yosemite Point, which promised an unobstructed view of Half Dome, and he happily obliged. <\/p>\n<p>To get there from Upper Yosemite Falls, we first crossed a footbridge over Yosemite Creek, just upstream from the waterfall. Not long after, a sudden hailstorm swept over us. Fortunately, it was not especially fierce, and our umbrellas were enough to shield us. More importantly, it lasted only about 15 minutes, and by the time we arrived at Yosemite Point, it had all but passed.<\/p>\n<div class=\"splide\" id=\"splide-major-21\">\n<div class=\"splide__track\">\n<ul class=\"splide__list\">\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2026\/04\/27\/20260427_132611.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2026\/04\/27\/thumbnails\/20260427_132611.jpg\" alt=\"Footbridge over Yosemite Creek\" \/><\/a><\/br>Footbridge over Yosemite Creek<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2026\/04\/27\/20260427_132713.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2026\/04\/27\/thumbnails\/20260427_132713.jpg\" alt=\"Yosemite Creek\" \/><\/a><\/br>Yosemite Creek<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2026\/04\/27\/20260427_132609.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2026\/04\/27\/thumbnails\/20260427_132609.jpg\" alt=\"Yosemite Creek\" \/><\/a><\/br>Yosemite Creek<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"splide\" id=\"splide-thumb-21\">\n<div class=\"splide__track\">\n<ul class=\"splide__list\">\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2026\/04\/27\/thumbnails-s\/20260427_132611.jpg\" alt=\"Footbridge over Yosemite Creek\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2026\/04\/27\/thumbnails-s\/20260427_132713.jpg\" alt=\"Yosemite Creek\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2026\/04\/27\/thumbnails-s\/20260427_132609.jpg\" alt=\"Yosemite Creek\" \/><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><noscript><br \/>\nJavascript not enabled, unable to display slideshow.<\/p>\n<style type=\"text\/css\">\n#splide-major-21, #splide-thumb-21 { display:none; }\n<\/style>\n<details>\n<summary>Click here to display photos of Yosemite Creek just upstream of Upper Yosemite Falls.<\/summary>\n<p><div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2026\/04\/27\/20260427_132611.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2026\/04\/27\/thumbnails\/20260427_132611.jpg\" alt=\"Footbridge over Yosemite Creek\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Footbridge over Yosemite Creek<\/p><\/div><br \/>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2026\/04\/27\/20260427_132713.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2026\/04\/27\/thumbnails\/20260427_132713.jpg\" alt=\"Yosemite Creek\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Yosemite Creek<\/p><\/div><br \/>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2026\/04\/27\/20260427_132609.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2026\/04\/27\/thumbnails\/20260427_132609.jpg\" alt=\"Yosemite Creek\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Yosemite Creek<\/p><\/div><br \/>\n<\/details>\n<p><\/noscript><\/p>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2026\/04\/27\/20260427_134437.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2026\/04\/27\/thumbnails\/20260427_134437.jpg\" alt=\"Hailstorm\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Hailstorm<\/p><\/div>\n<p>Finally, Yosemite Point welcomed us with a view of Half Dome&#8217;s immense sheer granite face, capped with snow and standing solemnly beneath a grey, gloomy sky. It seemed to me that only something of Half Dome&#8217;s grandeur could answer the surging force of Yosemite Falls; now, with Half Dome in sight and level across the valley, the scene felt complete.<\/p>\n<div class=\"splide\" id=\"splide-major-22\">\n<div class=\"splide__track\">\n<ul class=\"splide__list\">\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2026\/04\/27\/DSC_8894.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2026\/04\/27\/thumbnails\/DSC_8894.jpg\" alt=\"Half Dome\" \/><\/a><\/br>Half Dome<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2026\/04\/27\/DSC_8889.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2026\/04\/27\/thumbnails\/DSC_8889.jpg\" alt=\"Half Dome\" \/><\/a><\/br>Half Dome<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2026\/04\/27\/DSC_8892C11.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2026\/04\/27\/thumbnails\/DSC_8892C11.jpg\" alt=\"Yosemite Valley\" \/><\/a><\/br>Yosemite Valley<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2026\/04\/27\/DSC_8907.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2026\/04\/27\/thumbnails\/DSC_8907.jpg\" alt=\"Mt Starr King\" \/><\/a><\/br>Mt Starr King<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2026\/04\/27\/DSC_8896.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2026\/04\/27\/thumbnails\/DSC_8896.jpg\" alt=\"Glacier Point and Sentinel Dome\" \/><\/a><\/br>Glacier Point and Sentinel Dome<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"splide\" id=\"splide-thumb-22\">\n<div class=\"splide__track\">\n<ul class=\"splide__list\">\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2026\/04\/27\/thumbnails-s\/DSC_8894.jpg\" alt=\"Half Dome\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2026\/04\/27\/thumbnails-s\/DSC_8889.jpg\" alt=\"Half Dome\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2026\/04\/27\/thumbnails-s\/DSC_8892C11.jpg\" alt=\"Yosemite Valley\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2026\/04\/27\/thumbnails-s\/DSC_8907.jpg\" alt=\"Mt Starr King\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2026\/04\/27\/thumbnails-s\/DSC_8896.jpg\" alt=\"Glacier Point and Sentinel Dome\" \/><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><noscript><br \/>\nJavascript not enabled, unable to display slideshow.<\/p>\n<style type=\"text\/css\">\n#splide-major-22, #splide-thumb-22 { display:none; }\n<\/style>\n<details>\n<summary>Click here to display photos from Yosemite Point.<\/summary>\n<p><div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2026\/04\/27\/DSC_8894.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2026\/04\/27\/thumbnails\/DSC_8894.jpg\" alt=\"Half Dome\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Half Dome<\/p><\/div><br \/>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2026\/04\/27\/DSC_8889.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2026\/04\/27\/thumbnails\/DSC_8889.jpg\" alt=\"Half Dome\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Half Dome<\/p><\/div><br \/>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2026\/04\/27\/DSC_8892C11.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2026\/04\/27\/thumbnails\/DSC_8892C11.jpg\" alt=\"Yosemite Valley\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Yosemite Valley<\/p><\/div><br \/>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2026\/04\/27\/DSC_8907.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2026\/04\/27\/thumbnails\/DSC_8907.jpg\" alt=\"Mt Starr King\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Mt Starr King<\/p><\/div><br \/>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2026\/04\/27\/DSC_8896.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2026\/04\/27\/thumbnails\/DSC_8896.jpg\" alt=\"Glacier Point and Sentinel Dome\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Glacier Point and Sentinel Dome<\/p><\/div><br \/>\n<\/details>\n<p><\/noscript><\/p>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2026\/04\/27\/DSC_8899_DSC_8905-7.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2026\/04\/27\/thumbnails\/DSC_8899_DSC_8905-7.jpg\" alt=\"Yosemite Valley from Yosemite Point\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Yosemite Valley from Yosemite Point<\/p><\/div>\n<p>We left Yosemite Point at about 2pm, followed by a largely uneventful descent. As I mentioned earlier, the afternoon wind blew the spray from Upper Yosemite Falls into the air, and the resulting rainbow was a lovely treat for the eyes.<\/p>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2026\/04\/27\/20260427_151349.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2026\/04\/27\/thumbnails\/20260427_151349.jpg\" alt=\"Rainbow from Yosemite Falls\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Rainbow from Yosemite Falls<\/p><\/div>\n<p>At around 4pm, just as we passed Columbia Rock, rain began to fall along the trail, hard enough for me to pull a rain cover over my backpack. Before checking out of the hotel that morning, I had consulted several weather models, all of which predicted a light shower in Yosemite Valley sometime that afternoon, though their timing ranged from noon to 4 pm. Among them, the High-Resolution Rapid Refresh (HRRR) model forecast the 4 pm shower, and it proved to be the most accurate. I suppose that, for this rewarding hike to Yosemite Falls, some of the credit must go to those advanced models.<\/p>\n<p>In the end, we were back at the trailhead at 4:50pm, concluding the entire hike in just under 7 hours.<\/p>\n<p>END<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Toward the end of April 2026, I took a short weekend trip to California, where I met up with a friend for two day hikes in Yosemite National Park.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[3,427,2],"tags":[188,662],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.huangyizhou.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10548"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.huangyizhou.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.huangyizhou.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.huangyizhou.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.huangyizhou.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=10548"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.huangyizhou.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10548\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":10581,"href":"https:\/\/www.huangyizhou.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10548\/revisions\/10581"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.huangyizhou.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=10548"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.huangyizhou.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=10548"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.huangyizhou.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=10548"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}