Yosemite
offers a look at nature’s finest
By Joyce Kelly
On-line Forty-Niner
Yosemite
National Park, one of nature’s most extravagant
creations, is the dream place for anyone
who loves the great outdoors.
It is also an extraordinary place for any
photographer, whether amateur or professional.
Any landscape photographer would become
overwhelmed with the Park’s plentiful natural
beauty.
Yosemite is so magnificent that it was the
first place that was set aside by Congress
to be protected and for the public to use
as a natural park. It covers more than 1,500
square miles and is protected by Congress.
Located in the Sierra Nevada Mountains of
Central California, Yosemite is one of the
most beautiful places to visit.
The picturesque scenery, especially during
the winter season, is one of the most exciting
times to visit the park. Nature dresses
the trees with crowns of yellow, orange,
brown and green leaves that fall and create
a glorious quilt that blankets the ground.
Magnificent mountains, powerful waterfalls,
a varieties of trees, rapid running streams,
plush green grass and wild animals make
Yosemite a breathtaking experience for everyone.
It is a place where everyone and everything
must commune together. The wild animals
are free to explore the entire area, including
the campgrounds.
The park is a heavenly place for campers,
both novice and experienced, who receive
frequent visits from deer, squirrels and
bears. A variety of lifestyles exist in
the park. They range from camping in tents
to staying in hotels or lodges.
One of the most popular places for campers
is the Curry Village. The tent village is
located in the heart of Yosemite Valley
and is surrounded by mountains. Huge cabin
tents on wooden platforms provide accommodations
for four to five people. The tents are not
heated, therefore it is recommended that
campers take heavy sleeping bags and winter
clothing.
“I found the rustic accommodations of Curry
Village in keeping with the natural beauty
of the park,” said Justine Bellock, administrative
assistant of Student Support Services Program
at Cal State Long Beach.
The prices of the tents range from $25 per
night, with $8 charged for each additional
adult and $4 for each child during the winter
The staff in Curry Village is helpful and
can specialize in arranging group stays.
“I enjoyed the professionalism of the Yosemite
National Park service staff,” Bellock said.
“With their efficiency, our staff was able
to focus on the beauty of the valley.”
Activities that are offered in the park
include: bicycle rentals for adults and
children, river rafting, golf, saddle trips,
swimming, downhill skiing, ice skating,
rock climbing tours and instructions, guided
backpacking, cross-country skiing, big trees
tram tour, camera walks and art classes.
Rock climbing is one of the featured activities
in the village. Experienced rock climbers
give necessary information to the novice
climbers. Some find the experience frightening.
“Rock climbing was the most frightening
experience for me,” said Sharon Olmedo,
a CSULB sophomore and kinesiology major.
Karen Miramontes, a senior communicative
disorders major, enjoyed the rock climbing
experience.
“I enjoyed rock climbing,” she said. “It
was awesome. It gave me a rush.”
Some campers prefer the experience and adventures
that the water provides rather than the
mountains or rock climbing. As the day passes,
the mountains take different appearances,
depending on the angle of the sunlight and
the gush of the waterfalls.
The cascades of the waterfalls glisten from
the bright sunlight as the water gushes
from unusual places in the mountains. These
waterfalls can be seen from practically
every turn in the bend of the road. Streams
rush down hills creating white rapids for
the adventurous campers to experience.
“River rafting was fun for me,” Olmedo said.
The majestic mountains dwarf the rich green-grassy
valleys where wild flowers sprout and bloom
in no practical order or arrangement. The
rush of the water down the mountains also
forms the streams that nourish the vegetation
on the paths.
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