Tioga Road, Yosemite

Olmsted Point. Yet another view of Half Dome.

We really enjoyed the drive across the Sierra Range in Yosemite National Park fro Crane Flat to Mammoth Lakes, a ski village on the eastern side of the range. The road is closed in the winter and when it's open thousands of other people enjoy it as well - camping, hiking, swimming, bike riding, rock climbing and sight seeing. The views are spectacular for almost the entire length of Tioga Road.

Siesta Lake

Olmsted Point

A Marmot that ran the gauntlet of a busy road and survived.

Olmsted Point. Rocks left behind when the ice retreated, and a tree growing out of a crevice. All the tourists swing on it for photos (that may be an exaggeration) so it's a wonder it has survived.

Tanaya Lake. There's a management plan in place to protect the surrounds from people damage in the future.

One of the domes at Tuolumne Meadows

Ellery Lake, 9538 feet above sea level, and snow still in the shaded slopes higher up the mountains even though it was very hot on the road.

Glacier Point

Glacier Point, Yosemite National Park. It sounds so delicious and it was. It's a bit of a drive but it's through  a beautiful forest of conifers, Black Oak and other deciduous trees, with the occasional alpine meadow to see as well.

Alpine meadow (public excluded to protect it)

Unknown meadow plant and unknown bee

Unknown meadow plant, possibly a columbine

Glacier Point is a mountain high above Yosemite Valley (3200 ft/980 m) above the valley) and there used to be a hotel there. Thank goodness that burnt down in the 1960s and wasn't allowed to be rebuilt. The views from both Glacier Point and Washburn Point nearby are breathtaking and because it's on the south side we had spectacular views of the waterfalls, Half Dome and the valley.

And the bonus was a Mule Deer by the side of the road.

Us at Washburn Point

View of Half Dome from Washburn Point

I don't know what this is. A squirrel? I should have done some study of North American animals. But he lives on Washburn Point.

View of Yosemite Valley from Glacier Point

Half Dome from Glacier Point. It's hard to imagine the power of a glacier to shave the rock like that.