glitter of green and golden wonder

Lake Don Pedro 11.29.08


Sunset at Yosemite 11.28.08


Valley View 11.28.08


Yosemite Beauty 11.28.08


El Capitain 11.28.08


A river runs through it 11.28.08


BW Half Dome 11.28.08


Fence 11.27.08


Pine Mountain Lake 11.27.08



“Yosemite Valley, to me, is always a sunrise, a glitter of green and golden wonder in a vast edifice of stone and space.”—Ansel Adams

I feel like I must make a confession here, I have lived most of my life (except for a few years spent in Oregon as a child) here in California. I have traveled all over the world and yet.....here I must admit...... I had never been to Yosemite.

I am not sure why, I always thought it was further away than it is, by LA perhaps. My brother said he thought it was in another state, I think he was confused with Yellowstone Park from all of his cartoon watching as a kid. I asked my Mom why we never visited and she said they did not really know that is was so pretty there, they just thought it was a park, so they never took us. I guess growing up in a rain forest, if you have seen one forest you have seen them all was the mindset running around in our household. An excellent household, just minus some knowledge on Yosemite.

If you are shocked by my confession, I am not alone, there are others, my husband jchilton, had never been there as well. So with that, we decide to go to see Yosemite.

I see why Ansel Adams found such inspiration there. How could he not.

Whackadangdang, that place is AMAZING!!!!!!!!! It was glorious. I shot over 300 photos in one day there, and that was because I was awe of everything and just wanted my eyes and brain to take it all in as well as my camera.

If you are planning a visit, I would suggest Hwy 120… of course this is the only way I know to suggest… via Groveland, Pine Mountain Lake and Lake Don Pedro. We stayed at a nice little vacation rental on Pine Mountain Lake and we are already planning a return some time soon.

Enjoy the views!!!

-Monique Jervan-Chilton