So last night was supposed to be pinnacle of the Tears of St.Lawrence meteor showers. My son and I headed out to Tuolumne Meadows, but with our late start out of town we decided to go to Glacier Point instead.
the Bad #1---North bound 41 out of Fresno is being widened in Madera County---when the highway sign says lengthy delays believe them!
the Bad #2---We went Yosemite Valley to scout out additional locations. There is only one lane open for traffic around the valley floor and it is near gridlock. The other lane being reserved for the rangers and buses. This was on Wednesday afternoon. Weekends would be a night mare. Welcome to your National Park
the Good #1---There was no traffic on the Glacier Point road. We scouted the Mono Meadow trail head, Washburn Point and Glacier Point but our perennial favorite is the unnamed area just before you get to the Glacier Point parking lot---you have to pull off on the opposite side of the road and parking is limited. It is an uphill hike from the larger Glacier Point parking lot. There were a few other photographers(very nice people,) but plenty of room for everybody. The Milky Way was spectacular by 10:00PM and the "rustler's moon" was well to the South. By that time it was getting chilly enough to warrant sweatshirts---delightful coming from the 100+ degree valley heat. A German photographer wearing a headlamp kept us entertained by long boarding down the last big turn on the Glacier Point road.
the Priceless---Spending time with my son, discussing photography and life while sitting in the dark on rocks waiting for our cameras to record the star trails with the sound of Nevada Falls thundering in the night air. Something I wouldn't trade for the world.
the Bad#3---Both the McDonalds and the Valero were closed in Oakhurst (it was 1:30AM when we rolled into Oakhurst) so we had to stop at the Denny's for coffee and a bite to eat---very pricey, IMHO.
So it is with my Yosemite report!
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