Return to Majesty
I had planned an outing to my favorite place in the world a week beforehand. It was to be the coolest day, only 81°F, for weeks. After having gone only a few months before, I was sure that the park was still fully open with no restrictions and so didn't think to check beforehand. Upon reaching the west entrance to Yosemite National park, I was greeted with the usual summertime setting. There were lines of cars for the first time in over a year. The park was back open, but the signs from before stood once more. Reservations required. It was wonderful to see that people were ready to be out in the wilds again, to connect with the earth once more, but was daunting that the flood of people limited access.
Because I had not been aware that they had required reservations again to help limit overcrowding and ease back in to fully opening up, I had to tell a small fib that I was just needing a drive thru pass to enter. They give passes to those that just need to take the highway through the park to the other side, which allots two hours. My main goal for the day: get to tunnel view for the shots I needed to create my first stitched panorama. I took quite a few, but ended up with the 5 images that would be combined to create this view of Yosemite Valley from the famous tunnel view. The fib was worth it. From there I turned around and headed back down towards Hetch Hetchy for some river shots.
I had come to this spot many times before and seen it in it's different seasonal forms. In the snow it is still and level. The river down to the smallest trickle, barely breaking through the ice. In the autumn the sheer amount of warm color balances the cool air. I had however never brought my camera out to this specific place with me, or even gone on the full hike. Carlon trail leading to the falls. I first set up just near where I was able to park and began adjusting for some long exposures of the river.
After taking images of the river that satisfied me and left me feeling like my skill had grown, I began to turn and look around, taking in all the surroundings. I started to focus on all the little details around me, and saw this small spider nest in a large leaf growing through the river rocks. A sucker for small details and macros, I grabbed the camera and lowered the tripod. The spider looks to have since left this home for another, but you can spot its old molted shell.
Once I was ready to move on to more spots, I picked up the tripod and began down the lower trail first. Shortly after going through the wilderness entrance I came to a very small meadow with lush grass and colorful flowers scattered about. Once again, I lowered the tripod and began capturing the summer in full bloom.
After leaving the flowers back to their peace, I continued along the trail, following the river, delving further in to the wilderness until finally, it all became to overgrown to continue on this side. Noticing a good spot for a few more river shots, I placed the tripod once again, and took the images I would use to stack for this long exposure.
Returning to the beginning of the lower trail, I turned and went towards the upper. This is the one that would take me to Carlon falls. I had noticed people heading up towards that direction most of my time there already, which is why I had avoided it for so long. Knowing though that the experience in the end would be worth it, and there would be potentially some wonderful waterfall pictures waiting at the end, I headed out on the upper trail. Stopping a bit along the way for more detailed shots as I would stop now and again and let nature absorb in to me.
Most of the trail was fairly level, not getting too steep save for two parts. The grade virtually became a climb, and I will admit, after not being able to hike for so long, after the first steep hill, I had to convince myself to continue on as I caught my breath. I had to persevere like the redwoods that surrounded me, growing and cracking their way through the granite beds that they made their homes in.
As I came around the last bend of the trail leading to the falls I was greeted with the first fall, and people swimming in the pool at it's base. Looking up I saw the other two, and more people enjoying the cool waters of those pools. Beating the summer sun. I climbed myself up towards the first and largest fall. Once I picked out the perfect spot, I set up one last time and let the water flow through me.