Yosemite National Park is one of the more recognized National Parks for a reason. We didn’t realize before getting here but Yosemite is similar to Zion, in that there are 2000-3000 ft rock faces surrounding a valley. Zion’s color is hard to match but both offer a dramatic topography that draws awe from many gawking onlookers, including the DillerTime bunch.

The Yosemite valley larger and is nested in the much taller Sierra Nevada mountain ridge granite mountains all around. The height means snow and A LOT of water needing a way down to the valley when it melts. The granite means less soaks in and more rushes to the low point forming numerous waterfalls! There are 25 official water falls in the park with Yosemite Falls being the largest in the US and Ribbon Falls the largest single drop water fall in the US… Yosemite Falls is in 3 parts but is bigger over all. April is the snow melt season so all the waterfalls and rivers were both cold and running fast! We enjoyed many inside and outside the park. A lot of scenic vistas and some fun scrambling river boulders to get some energy out 😎

Yep Vince picked up a cutie at Yosemite :) In the background is the Yosemite Valley with El Capitain on the left and Half Dome on the right.

Sentinel Beach Picnic Area on the Merced River

Thirsty :) Bridal Veil Falls from Northside Drive

Upper Yosemite Falls in the background walking through Swinging Bridge Pinic Area

We stayed late to catch the full moon rising over the Yosemite Valley walls. The transition from dark to moonlit sky was pretty cool to experience. The canyon walls slowly illuminated top down like a glowworm sunrise. In the dark we could faintly see the starlit Yosemite Falls which also became a glowing fountain carrying the moonlight to the valley 😎 Still hoping to see the Milky Way on a dark sky night but this was as many stars as I’ve seen and caught numerous satellites streaking across the sky. 🤯

Very dark night before the full moon rise with Yosemite Falls faintly lit by starlight.

Yosemite Fall lit by bright full moon… picture doesn’t do it justice but still cool.

Thousand Trails Yosemite Lakes western sky view after sunset.

Thousand Trails Yosemite Lakes western sky view no moon and caught a streaking satellite… or UFO :)

Some of the valley rock faces deserve names like El Captain and Half Dome, which draw climbers in droves. Climbing paraphernalia is on lodge walls and captured in photos throughout the visitor center and park facilities. It’s inspiring to think of someone scaling the huge monolith of El Captain but to see it from the base, its unimaginable yet the human will prevails with many climbing it annually. Did you know the speed record for free climbing (no ropes 😳) is just under 2 hours 🤯. That’s 3000ish feet in 2 hours? Most take 3-4 days and they sleep in hammocks on the wall as they go. We saw a few on the wall but our Ipjones just can’t zoom enough to make them more than dots. Youngest ever was 8yr old with his father and they took 4 days. Kinda makes you feel like a wimp for getting soar hiking the steep trail up the falls 😏 Truly is inspiring.

Mural of El Capitain climbing routs. Zoom in its crazy all the routes.

While we didn’t set records or test Vince’s recovering knee too much, we did get miles of trails hiked and saw some spectacular sights despite two of the higher elevation roads still being closed for winter. Definitely interested in a return trip to see those more elevated parts of the park; however, with much to see, climb and gawk at we extended our stay at Thousand Trails Yosemite Lakes to enjoy Yosemite and the camp site activities and trails. We also got closer to some of the smaller creatures of the area on the camp trails (labeled below). Oddly the national park was mostly absent of animals aside from copious and at times VERY friendly squirrels and a few mule deer. The boys also got some much needed camp-friend fun in and explored like teens should 😉 They even built a log raft of downed trees and zip ties and tried to Huck Finn down the 50 degree river. They didn’t get too far but that really wasn’t the point 😏😉😂 We also got some catch up done on our homeschool with papers, tests and some projects which started to build toward our adventure curriculum’s outcomes 📚

Sierra Newt… careful they are toxic to touch.

Squirrel with absolutely no fear of people :)

South Fork Tuolumne River Dam by Thousand Trails Yosemite Lakes Campsite

Berkeley Tuolumne Family Camp not quite open for the summer season yet.

The great raft-men of the South Fork Tuolumne River

Peyton trying to balance better than Jayden… both came home wet :o)

All the Diller Boys under Mommy’s watch at South Fork Tuolumne River Dam

Canyon Trail at Yosemite Lakes Camp with some boards crossing the bog.

Peyton is our fisherman and despite multiple attempts never got any trout but did catch this little guy in the pond.

Rare treat! We stumbled upon what we think is a snow plant (Sarcodes sanguinea) at the camp pond.

Boys scrabmling up the canyon rocks west of camp.

With multiple trips into Yosemite we caught both sunny and cloudy days. The cloudy days are both ominous and spellbinding. An almost ethereal feeling with the cliffs and clouds sweeping through the valley. We started with Tunnel View and then a climb up through the breaking clouds to see Illilouette Fall across the gorge and catch our breath at Vernal Falls Bridge after a >500ft vertical assent. Vernal Falls, Nevada Falls, Emerald Pool and eventually Glacier Point and Half Dome were all further up but we will need to be in better shape for that kind of hike 🤯

Cloudy valley view with Bridal Veil Falls on the right.

Couple roadwarriors in love on the bridge of life :)

Flatest part of the hike up Vernal Fall. About a 500ft elevation change in a mile.

Can’t recall which trail but think this is Vernal Falls hike.

Family shot on the Vernal Fall Bridge with Vernal Falls in the backgroun.

Robert trying to slide down granite like his brother… didn’t feel too good did it buddy?

Long valley view from Big Oak Flat Road entering west side of Yosemite.

Ribbon Falls just left of El Capitain all shrouded in clouds.

Tunnel View of valley and Bridal Veil Falls.

These two photographers liked Tunnel View on a cloudy day.

With our extended stay we also got to celebrate Easter, Christ’s resurrection from death on a cross to pay for our sins in Yosemite’s Lower Pine Camp. The Yosemite Community Church held what was dubbed as the “last sunrise service in the lower 48 states” due to Yosemite’s valley position delaying the sunrise over the mountain wall until closer to 8 AM after our 7 AM service. The Floridians were representing despite the upper 40 degree weather. Robert even responded to the Pastor when he asked if anyone was from another country… “yes we’re from Florida!” Much to the delight of the others attending ☺️ Great worshiping with Brothers and Sisters in Christ from other denominations, cities and states and even Florida ❤️

After worship we also got the treat of watching the first sunlight darn the valley walls inch by inch from top to bottom. We added an amazing 2 mile hike out/back to Mirror Lake, the former location of the sunrise service back a few decades when water levels made it more of a lake than a narrow portion of the river. Still beautiful and some boulder scrambling for the boys and the mirror effect photos to keep the lake’s name legit 😎 Robert also got to do an egg hunt back at camp with about 100 kids that appeared from all the campsites when treats were dispersed ☺️ We also had our own brain teaser basket hunt and the boys got some added treats while we celebrated the true meaning of Easter, Christ’s resurrection and love for each of us.

Easter sunrise service in Lower Pine Camp in Yosemite.

Worship at about 48 degrees but loving it.

Sunrise coming down the mountain wall and Paster strumming hymns with semi-frozen fingers. It was great :)

Yep we made it to sunrise service and He has Risen Indeed!

Half Dome still hiding the sunrise along the Merced River.

The Merced River just west of Mirror Lake.

Mirror Lake Trail… great little hike through the trees and boulders along the Merced River.

Some of the boulders were… big but not too big for our part-goat Peyton.

Even though the lake is much smaller now it still holds true to the name Mirror Lake.

Caught the Easter sunrise and moon settting… pretty cool.

Just an attractive hiker I foudn along the path.

Yosemite Lakes Easter Egg Hunt or maybe it was an egg scrammble :0)

Michele has done clues to find your Easter basket this past few years so the both worked on Robert’s then did their own brain teasers to find theirs. Kind of an Easter Escape Room but Jesus already escaped the tomb to pressure was off :)

Bags on the bike rack… should have guessed it.

San Francisco, here we come and then some redwood camping up the Northern California coast. As we prep for departure and re-driving the mountain hairpins, we also warn others with big rigs to plan your route carefully. The mountain roads on the way into camp were 😳🫣🤪 Yep the GPS screen shot and road pictures below were tight, very tight! I may have left a little tailpipe on a few hairpin turns and Michele drive behind wondering if I left some paint on a few boulders. Must recommend big rigs to avoid HW49 north out of Mariposa just past… and I’m not making this up… Drunken Gulch Rd. You have to manage HW120 to get into the west entry to Yosemite and our camp just past Groveland but both roads made for some slow, tense travel and close rock walls to navigate. Recommend taking 99 further north to Modesto then east to 120 to lessen the strain. God provides and He did but take your time and don’t get stuck driving this in the dark 🫣

California: A Yosemite Easter ❤️

WHERE WE’VE BEEN

California: A Yosemite Easter ❤️

California: The Bay Area

California: Sequoia & Kings Canyon NP

WHERE WE’VE BEEN