Lower and Upper Yosemite Falls, March 2015.

“One of Yosemite’s oldest historic trails (built 1873 to 1877), the Yosemite Falls Trail leads to the top of North America’s tallest waterfall, which rises 2,425 feet (739 m) above the Valley floor.”

-National Park Service

And then there is Yosemite National Park. What can be said of Yosemite? What can be said that has not already been said ad nauseam?

I have been there a couple of times since I began this weblog, but I never mentioned it nor posted a photo because it seemed cliched to do so, a snapshot of Yosemite Valley a cliche on film. It is so near perfect, and has been photographed so many times, anything I thought to offer up seemed superfluous.

The wilderness park’s iconic characters, whether waterfalls or granite monoliths or grassy conifer-framed meadows, have seemingly been photographed in every light at every season from every angle and described with every word and turn of phrase conceivable. 

What could I possibly add?

I do not want to add to the excess in an attempt at translating into language the natural majesty of Yosemite. And I doubt that I could cobble together a fresh and original string of words with a few images that was worthy of the place.

I typically hate using well-worn words like this, and do not like telling but prefer language to show. This time, however, I’ll just say, despite my recent posting of a critical opinion of trip reports and not wanting to “waste the time of readers with unnecessary, empty words and pointless rambling,” that the hikes in the park are awesome in the true sense of the term. (Ugh. That was awful!)

Here I offer a few snapshots from the Yosemite Falls Trail. Round trip it’s 7.2 miles with at least 5400 feet of elevation gain/loss. There are 66 switchbacks in the first mile alone! The trail climbs steep talus slopes up a wall of granite. From the valley below it looks impossible that a trail leads up the mountain.

Mrs. Elliott heading into yet another series of switchbacks as we near the top of Upper Yosemite Falls.

Double rainbows at the bottom of Upper Yosemite Falls.

Topping out and heading toward the precipice.

A pool above Upper Yosemite Falls.

The Mrs. scrambling toward the edge, Yosemite Valley far below.

Looking over the edge at Upper Yosemite Falls.