Ancient Bristlecone Pine Forest - 5/28/11

Prince's Plume with the Eastern Sierras in the background

Pic of Grandview Campground

A pic of my camping spot

Grandview Campground

Located above the town of Big Pine in the White Mountains at 8600 feet, this primitive campground offers peace and quiet and fabulous star-filled night skies :) It is one of my favorite campgrounds. To get there, take Hwy 395 to Big Pine (about 15 miles south of Bishop) and turn onto Hwy 168. Drive about 13 miles to White Mountain Road and turn left. Drive about 5 miles to the campground. There is no fee for the campground, but a donation of $5 per night is appreciated :)

Mojave Asters (Eastern Sierras in the background) 5/27/11

The Eastern Sierras - Big Pine, CA

Mojave Asters with the Alabama Hills and Eastern Sierras in the background - 5/27/11

Mobius Arch - Alabama Hills - Lone Pine, CA

Lathe Arch - Alabama Hills - Lone Pine, Ca

Yosemite Falls - 5/14/11

Yosemite Falls - 5/14/11

Tent cabins at Curry Village

Nighttime in Curry Village

Mirror Lake - Yosemite National Park - 5/13/11

Mirror Lake - Yosemite National Park, originally uploaded by kimberzy.

Dogwood bloom in Yosemite

Dogwood bloom in Yosemite, originally uploaded by kimberzy.

Yosemite Falls - 5/13/11

IMG_9844, originally uploaded by kimberzy.

Yosemite National Park - 5/13/11

I got up this morning and left Bakersfield around 5:20 this morning and headed out for Yosemite. Made it here just around 4 hours later (there are a few spots where they are doing some construction, so it took a little longer than normal. I checked in at Curry Village around 10 am, and they actually had my tent cabin ready to occupy :)

After putting all my stuff away, I took the Yosemite shuttle to the Mirror Lake trailhead and began my hike. It's not a long hike...only a mile to the lake, and not too steep either. I had some nice weather for the walk, too. Whenever I go to Mirror Lake, I always bring 3 things: my backback, water and my camera. You shouldn't go anywhere in Yosemite without a camera - you never know what you'll see. Trust me ;) Mirror Lake is my favorite spot in Yosemite. It is so pretty. Just a nice place to sit and listen to the birds. I sat there for a while, just enjoying the view and the smell of the pine trees. It was an awesome hike.

So, now I am sitting on the deck of the Curry Village lounge (cuz they have wi-fi here), enjoying the evening, watching the deer feeding not more than 30 feet from me, listening to the evening songs of the birds, and watching the people walking by, and listening to the thunder in the distance (hope no one is up on Half Dome right now!)

Yep, it has been a good day.


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Dogwoods in bloom at Yosemite National Park - 5/13/11

I took this pic on my cell phone on the trail to Mirror Lake. Dogwoods are a'blooming all over :)

Curry Village - Yosemite National Park - 5/13/11

Curry Village -Yosemite National Park

the mule deer aren't very shy...this guy was about 15 feet away from me.

A deer grazing among the dogwoods this evening