Yosemite Nat. Park has been an almost yearly treat, since my youngest child was 5 years old. High mountains and high waterfalls is the hallmark of Yosemite.
Not winning, but to conquer – anything – is in the blood of our family.
Our daughter climbed Half Dome one time, my son two times, and hubby 4 times. To conquer Half Dome they would practice by climbing Yosemite Falls, then Vernal Falls (which is the first stop of Half Dome), the next day they would climb to Nevada Falls (2nd stop), and at the end of the week to the very top of Half Dome. I conquered that mountain by painting this, and other mountains, since hiking is not my thing.
On higher elevations nature is dramatic with sharp weather contrasts. Also, the wind always seems to blow here. The sky seems so close that you have the feeling when stretching your hand, you can touch the “ceiling” of the world. Also, the eagles are in plain sight and do not seem to fly as high:)
“Snow in June.” With permission of present owners. Also displayed on my first artwebsite www.StgermainArt.com
Several years we saw the snow on higher elevations still melting in June. Coming from a country so flat and three fourth of it below sea level, I am still awestruck with any mountain view. Of course I had to paint this (to brag about the state I lived in ).
This remains one of my very few acrylics (which is technically an opaque watercolor, but when the paint dries it’s as strong as plastic). Loved to paint this view! With acrylic I miss the transparency one has with watercolors, as well as the velvety shine of oil. Now I have to rethink this, since they have come out with the transparent acrylics (Golden), as well at water-mixable oils!
One of my pre-digital era pics of Teneya Lake, close to 9000 feet. In the summer one can often see still patches of snow on the mountains. A few years, one couldn’t even walk on the meadows in June, because it was still too wet. We like to eat our picnic lunch here and have a gorgeous view.
Modified for Mandarin Orange and Orange TGIF (crosshatch, glass, grain)
One of the few pics of – my adult kids now – climbing. Here they were in their teens, at Nevada Falls on the way to Half Dome. The middle one on the left of the waterfall is my son and immediately on his right, in the light blue top, my daughter. Hubby took the pic, because I was far below, painting at Happy Isles. The contrast in the pics is reduced (PS) to make the people more visible.
Not many wildflowers in the higher regions. I have one that I can’t find that is literally pressed against the ground.
But first timers come for the 9000 feet giant Half Dome on the right. You can climb to the top in 6 hours, but for the last part you need to sign a permission slip (they allow only a certain number of people per day)- you climb a ladder and pull yourself up on ropes.
Even IF HIKING IS NOT YOUR THING, the park runs a FREE BUS to see some of he GIANT SEQUOIA TREES and HUGE WATER FALLS. You can go white water rafting, swimming, or biking. They have GUIDED TOURS with rangers, or PAINT PLEIN AIR (buy paper, brushes and paint there if you like – pretty cheap!) with free instruction for all ages from a professional artist. Come before August when there’s still lots of water at the water falls!
SOOO MUCH FUN!
Thanks to All the Hosts
Blue Monday * Travel Photo * Mandarin Orange * Our World * Nature Notes * Blo-ma * ABC-Wed.- G * Outdoor Wednesday * Water World * Little Things * Up Down View * Alphabe – O * Sky Watch * Floral Friday Foto * Todays Flowers * Weekend Reflection * Fri Photo Journal * Pink Saturday * Maleviks Garden *
PS – Since I’ve been doing my comments on the Ipad, some of you may not have received them, because of weak connection , but hopefully I’ll get my computer unpacked and internet set up next week:)t
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