Yosemite part 3

Glacier point and Half-dome. Wow.

We're up about 7200 feet (2.2km), overlooking the valley an ancient glacier carved out. It's a popular place for climbing (a multi-day task). We spot some climbers with the telescope, remarking on the insanity of it all.

Half-dome is the rock formation used as the basis for The North Face logo. They couldn't use the shape/image exactly as is, given it'd a symbol of the national park, so they just added a couple lines through it.

We lean over and marvel at the waterfalls that feed the Merced River. The river was named by Gabriel Moraga in 1806, a Spanish explorer, who felt it so beautiful (remember, the Spanish name things for what they see) that he named it after his daughter, Mercedes. No reference image available of her, though.

Thunder booms out from the other side of the mountains, and dark clouds gather ominously. We don't need quite that much electrical charge, thank you very much! 

Making 'Y' poses is the thing to do in pictures at Yosemite. 

Here's Isa sniffing a tree. It actually smells like an Orange Creamcile, she assures me. It does smell pretty good though, being a Sugar Pine. Historically, the indigenous folks would cut off its bark, gather the sap on their sharp tools, and let it bake in the sun to solidify for later use like a hard caramel.

Down to the valley floor we go. At least the car will charge itself on the way!