Yosemite.

I love Yosemite. It is the near perfect example of creation.

There photos are from my second trip to Yosemite and my journey westward to Stanford. On this trip I became fascinated with alpine lakes after my June Lake visit and decided to hike to a few lakes in my day and a half here! I met some great families on this journey - shout out to the Daniels.

Yosemite is not just a great valley, but a shrine to human foresight, the strength of granite, the power of glaciers, the persistence of life, and the tranquility of the High Sierra.

First protected in 1864, Yosemite National Park is best known for its waterfalls, but within its nearly 1,200 square miles, you can find deep valleys, grand meadows, ancient giant sequoias, a vast wilderness area, and much more (NPS).

Devil's Postpile National Monument

This National Monument has been a bucket list item for years. When I moved to Stanford, the park was listed as closed. Fortunately as I was staying in June Lake, I did a last minute check and noticed that it was opening day for Devils’ Postpile! - Trip diversion # 1 was about to take place!

Devils Postpile National Monument protects and preserves the Devils Postpile formation, the 101-foot high Rainbow Falls, and pristine mountain scenery.  The formation is a rare sight in the geologic world and ranks as one of the world's finest examples of columnar basalt. Its columns tower 60 feet high and display an unusual symmetry.

Devil's Postpile and Rainbow Falls Gallery

Click here for a natural historical journey of Devil’s Postpone NM

Death Valley National Park

Being adventurous, I decided to go to Death Valley during one of the hottest times of the year! It was a balmy 124 degrees in Badwater Basin while I was there. Fortunately, Death Valley is a park that has many destinations accessible by car.

One part of Death Valley really struck me … Artist’s Palette. You’ll see the pictures below … driving through this part of the park made me really meditate on the “Artist”. Artist's Palette is an area on the face of the Black Mountains noted for a variety of rock colors. These colors are caused by the oxidation of different metals (iron compounds produce red, pink and yellow, decomposition of tuff-derived mica produces green, and maganese produces purple).

In this below-sea-level basin, steady drought and record summer heat make Death Valley a land of extremes. Yet, each extreme has a striking contrast. Towering peaks are frosted with winter snow. Rare rainstorms bring vast fields of wildflowers. Lush oases harbor tiny fish and refuge for wildlife and humans. Despite its morbid name, a great diversity of life survives in Death Valley (NPS and Wikipedia).

Death Valley Gallery

Muir Woods National Monument

Walk among old growth coast redwoods, cooling their roots in the fresh water of Redwood Creek and lifting their crowns to reach the sun and fog. The trees' ages range from 400 to 800 years, their height up to 250 feet.

Muir Woods National Monument was established on January 9, 1908 when President Roosevelt signed legislation to protect an old-growth coast redwood forest from destruction. 

This is quite likely my new happy place!

Muir Woods National Monument Gallery

Saguaro National Park

The giant saguaro is the universal symbol of the American west. These majestic plants, found only in a small portion of the United States, are protected by Saguaro National Park (NPS).

I have visited this park on 2 occasions, both of which have been at pivotal moments in my life.  The first was when I finished my Radiology Board Examination in 2017, the seconds was when I was moving to Stanford University to start my fellowship.  So this park is not only a universal symbol of the west, it is a symbol to me of great changes ahead!

Saguaro National Park Gallery

Big Bend National Park 2016

Big Bend is a national treasure in Far West Texas where night skies are dark as coal and rivers carve temple-like canyons in ancient limestone. Here, at the end of the road, hundreds of bird species take refuge in a solitary mountain range surrounded by weather-beaten desert. Tenacious cactus bloom in sublime southwestern sun, and diversity of species is the best in the country.

I have taken 5 trips to Big Bend and always been impressed by it's beauty. Several pages I post will focus on Big Bend.  These are from our trip there in April of 2016.

Big Bend National Park Gallery

Yosemite 2017

These are from my first trip to Yosemite - a short but amazing trip - many more pictures of the Yosemite and the High Sierras to come! 

Yosemite is not just a great valley, but a shrine to human foresight, the strength of granite, the power of glaciers, the persistence of life, and the tranquility of the High Sierra.

First protected in 1864, Yosemite National Park is best known for its waterfalls, but within its nearly 1,200 square miles, you can find deep valleys, grand meadows, ancient giant sequoias, a vast wilderness area, and much more.

Yosemite National Park Gallery

White Sands National Monument

The first stop on my westward journey was White Sands National Monument, New Mexico. Though it was in the upper 90's the sand was cool to the touch. Being adventurous, with some planning (having a lot of water), I hiked the 5 mile Alkali Flat Trail in the late afternoon to sunset.  It was a stunning trail with surreal waves of gypsum dunes highlighting the distant mountain ranges.  These photos are from the Alkali Flat Trail. I also hiked a nice and short boardwalk trail that highlights the Tularosa Basin, though it was much more popular. 

White Sands rises heart of the Tularosa Basin and is one of the world's great natural wonders - the glistening white sands of New Mexico. These great wave-like dunes of gypsum sand engulf 275 square miles of desert, resulting in the world's largest gypsum dunefield (NPS).

White Sands National Monument Gallery