Anyone can Google ‘Yosemite’ and see some of the most beautiful shots ever taken in one of the most beautiful spots in the US. We drove nearly 28 hours to witness this climbing mecca firsthand. We have been here two days, the first day we hiked, without heeding the advice of TLC and chased some waterfalls, and climbed fell off a bunch of routes at Camp 4. Being able to witness and climb where so many legends changed the climbing world was almost overwhelming. We exchanged stories, tidbits, and anecdotes about Camp 4 that we have accumulated along the way. We bought Steve Roper’s book on the history of Camp 4 aptly titled Camp 4. John Muir, Warren Harding, Royal Robbins, Lynn Hill, Yvon, Birdwell, Kauk, Conrad, Tommy, Alex, Kevin Jorgeson, and now Carrot, Gaia, T, and Finn!
The history, the beauty, the fun, it is all overpowering, time after time we just had to sit back and look around, try and take it all in, and finally just stand in awe!
Like nearly every other person who came before me not named John Muir, I have trouble putting the grandiosity of this place into words, and so we (Carrot, Gaia, T) decided that we would each pick two photos from our first day in The Valley, and see if they can do the talking for us!
“But no temple made with hands can compare with Yosemite. Every rock in its wall seems to glow with life.”
John Muir. The Yosemite, 1912.
thedihedral.com 
Looking forward to your Yosemite adventure. One of the highlights of my climbing life was visiting Yosemite and Tuolumne Meadows for an extended trip getting on for 30 years ago. Will live in my memory forever.
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I wish Tuolumne Meadows was accessible, but that will give me a good reason to come back, as if the Valley itself isn’t reason enough!
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Can’t you climb on the domes in the meadows anymore? Or is it just the winter months.
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It’s only closed in the winter time. You can hike in but the roads in are closed until April.
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Wait, wait — where’s the snow? When were these pictures actually taken?
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Insane how fast 7 feet of snow can melt. We are heading up to Badger today, so I’m sure it will be a different story up there but in the Valley it’s been in the 60’s over the past few days, and the snow is mostly gone.
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I’m thrilled for all of you. Finn is the most chill in his ecstasy. Living in the NOW.
Your post brought me closer to my ecstasy from the 80’s.
No one can be the same once you share your BEing with this temple.
Thank you for sharing your great shots & even more your pure joy!
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I’m sure the density of the tourists was lighter in the 80’s, but coming in March is a solid move in terms of less foot traffic!
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This is a park of my childhood dreams, but I have never been able to plan a trip to the west. All this time, it has been the east (Quebec, Berkshires MA, Shenandoah, etc.) or abroad.
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