The glacial evidence of Yosemite Valley.
BACK THEN: Newlyweds ... Sept. 18, 1993
NOW: 20 years later... Sept. 18, 2013.
Entering the park... Tunnel View.
Bridalveil Fall cascading over the cliffs .... running at very low volume.
Shallow Merced River.... usually roaring in the Spring.
Now, a clear cold trickle.
Cathedral Rocks... this formation escaped the rounded smoothing effects of the glacier because their spires were elevated through and above the ice.
Different types of huge pine trees ... here the Ponderosa Pine with plate-like bark and large cones.
Sentinal Beach... a sandbar in the shallow, lazy Merced River now exposed for sunbathing.
The Merced is the artery that runs through the valley.
The Swinging Bridge near Sentinel Beach.
View into valley from the Swinging Bridge.
September waders in the shallow clear water.
Picnic area at Sentinel Beach....towering trees.
Concession area at Curry Village... camping and cabins.
Quiet reflection...
Incense Cedar... Big tree...small needles and cones
"Me and my shadow"
El Capitan Bridge... with reflections
The meadow floor in a September golden robe .. I love the contrasts.
My first glimpse of a giant Sequoia in the Mariposa grove along the Southern edge of the park... see parked cars for scale.
Looking UP... can't get the whole thing in a shot !
Roots are very strong and SHALLOW... not growing deeper than 6 ft.
The crown jewel hotel.. The Awahanee... as seen through my telephoto overlooking the valley.
Coming in the entrance....
The terraces along the side... great place to just relax.
The Place behind the hotel where marriages take place has changed a bit.
Oh, dear.... it was 10:00 AM with photographer... beautiful, cool morning 20 years ago.
See the LOG behind us.
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Here the ceremony has just begun and three of our sons on the left had decided to take a stroll. Bored siting and waiting. HUMMM. Good shot of the log.
Here is the log...atrophied with time. The actual site of our ceremony has grow into a less tended state.
The towering cliffs behind the hotel.
Wildlife strolling along with visitors in new wedding area.
Here is the beautiful room where we had our reception.
Inside the hotel... the weather was perfect then and now.
Lots of indian artifacts, high ceilings, warm light and polished wood.
The beautiful light-filled dining room.
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Rock climbers come from around the world to scale El Capitan.
The glaciers carved out these valleys eons ago.
It is a long way down from the vantage at Glacier Point.
Vernal Fall and the Emerald Pool...
Looks like you could reach out and touch the Half Dome even though it is miles away across the valley.
A hiker takes a breather, along with a raven in the foreground.. hard to see because of the rock shadows.
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Giant Sequoias... notice the people on the path in the background.
Mariposa grove resident.