Since there seems to be some Yosemite fans in the group ...

[mr_lebowski]

Snapped this about 5 minutes earlier than the Half Dome shot on the river I put in t'other thread ...

I wish there was some way via photo to really give the viewer a sense of SCALE when it comes to the stuff in the Valley.

When you're actually there, looking up ... it's friggin HUGE. It's 3000 feet tall. 2.5 x as tall as the Empire State Building.

Everyone needs to make a pilgrimage at least once in their lives. For reals ... you have to go.

[soothsayer]

1. Agreed, it's spectacular

[Bayard]

2. It is awe-inspiring

I was there in the winter, when there was some snow on it, and on the pines below. The whole park is amazing, we did a lot of hiking. We stayed in that hotel that has the river running right under your balcony, and working fireplace in your room.

[mr_lebowski]

4. Winter is beautiful there, esp. when the weather is nice but there's some snow frosting in the trees

A river right under the balcony? Huh. If it's in the Valley itself there's only 2 proper Hotels that I know of, the Ahwahnee and Yosemite Lodge. I know the Ahwahnee real well and there's not a river under any rooms balconies. Merced River is not far, you can see it from some balconies, but it's not underneath them. So probably Yosemite Lodge. I haven't been there since I was a little kid except passing through on the Shuttle Bus.

[Bayard]

6. I think it was Yosemite View Lodge

On the Merced River.

We did have dinner one night at, I think, it was the Ahwahnee…..the big old (expensive!) lodge?

[wryter2000]

3. I have been there

Yosemite is gorgeous. Got any pictures of Tenaya Lake?

[mr_lebowski]

5. I don't actually ... In fact I've not been to Tenaya Lake.

Although I always go into Yosemite via the 120, I've never driven past the Big Oak Flat Rd turnoff that goes into the Valley.