Yosemite 110419-110719

The last time I visited Yosemite National Park in 2009 it was, as per usual for me, a rushed side trip, unexpectedly tacked on other destinations. You could argue there’s no such thing as too much time spent in the park, but on the flip side of that, a 5 hour meander by car doesn’t even really qualify as a visit by any standard.

This fall I was able to return to Los Angeles to help cover Breeders’ Cup for the Daily Racing Form, and being entirely self-employed for the first time allowed some flexibility to travel after; Yosemite could finally take priority. As a wonderful addition, my friend and fellow photographer Ellie Rutan was able to join, at the very least lending a heightened motivation and accountability on the steep climbs (she kicked my ass on the Glacier Point hike but kept me moving) as well as an inexhaustible supply of candy stashed in every nook of the car. The two might be connected.

It’s daunting being in a place with such a stunning landscape, knowing that millions of cameras have been there before you, including Adams (side note: one of his original 8x10s is for sale in the gallery at Yosemite Village for just shy of $50k, if you’re into that sort of thing). You have to resign yourself to working directly with the cliches to some degree, almost out of obligation, but there’s still room for your own set of details to emerge. There’s always some uniqueness to see, experience, and interpret, be it the raking light across the valley shifting through the day or conversations on the trail that let you notice what you’d otherwise overlook. There’s always a way to distill what’s yours.

With two full and two half days in the park, we obviously had to limit our goals, but what we did experience was fantastic, and there’s already a tentative list growing for next year. As I sit writing this a few days out at a friend’s place up in Oakland, I’m realizing how much I already miss gasping for air, both out of wonderment and mild hypoxia. Also, random snickers minis.

(click image to advance)

Ellie and Sophie passively pick hiking routes at Leigh and Nate’s in LA.

Late afternoon in the valley

Climber’s headlamps on El Capitan

Hiking 4 mile trail to Glacier Point, up 3200 feet from the valley once we got to the top.

Union Point

Half Dome from Glacier Point

The return trip, hiking down in the dark

Sunset from 4 mile trail above Union Point

Bridal Veil detail

Ellie catching a few of the falls on the way up

Olmsted Point

A Tree

Sunset from Tioga Pass

Dusk over Tioga Lake

The moon at dusk from Tioga Lake