El Portal, California

I gave myself a personal assignment to chase a storm heading toward Yosemite Valley. Leading up to the trip, the weather was changing daily and I wasn’t sure if I was going to score. The night before we left, a high weather advisory was rolled out for snow up to 13 inches. The roads slowly becam...

Tucked into the eastern corner of Yosemite Valley, the Majestic Yosemite Hotel (formerly known as the Ahwahnee Hotel) offers a chance for you to explore some of the most beautiful scenery in the world and experience all the comforts that come with a stay in a luxury hotel.  Known for its stunnin...

“Our deepest fears are like dragons guarding our deepest treasures.” - Rainer Maria Rilke Finally, I am a figure of those Ansel Adams’ Yosemite pictures that I obsessed over as a kid. Finally, I’m on a Yosemite peak... ...But the sides of the mountain drop hundreds of feet on either side. Normal...

I consider Yosemite National Park a formidable backdrop to my personal growth. I’ve conquered many fears within its 1,169 square miles, from climbing Half Dome by myself to comfortably skinny dipping with friends for the first time in the Grand Canyon of the Tuolumne to hiking more miles in a day...

It's hard not to love Yosemite National Park. It is one of those places that breeds awe in adventurers and casual travelers alike. Families love it, solo explorers love it, and everyone in-between loves it, too. With all this admiration, it's easy to see why Yosemite is such a popular destination...

Wildlife in Yosemite Valley is vastly different according to seasons. Bears will be in hibernation, antlers will have been shed for the season, but there are a few stars to keep your eyes peeled for. Most notably, the hunting coyotes.  Coyotes spend most of their time avoiding humans (we have tha...

This past week, Starbucks opened a Yosemite Valley location, much to the dismay of the 25,000 people who signed a petition protesting it. It's located at what is now the remodeled Base Camp Eatery at Yosemite Lodge. The location is LEED certified (the first retail location in Yosemite to achieve ...

I've spent hours watching climbers make their way up El Cap from the Meadow, but from thousands of feet below, you can just barely make out the climbers heading up the wall. They basically look like ants. That is unless you've got a nice pair of binoculars. Enter the Maven C.1. The general cons...

In Yosemite, you can see some of America’s most impressive scenery without stepping foot out of your car. That said, you’ll be sharing the view with thousands of other people and the line of cars ahead doesn’t exactly satisfy the need for wide open space and fresh mountain air. Of course, there i...

Yosemite is one of the most well-known national parks in the world. Granite domes, alpine lakes, climbing routes, waterfalls, acres of backcountry, and maybe even moonbows come to mind. Well, those and Alex Honnold free-soloing El Capitan in an insanely short amount of time. In addition to many ...

You know how views only get better and better the higher you hike? That has never been more true than on the trails in Yosemite National Park. Take Half Dome, for instance (maybe you've heard of it?). You start at the base of the Valley, walking along the Merced River, surrounded by tall trees an...

Every year there is a phenomenon that occurs in Yosemite National Park when the elements work together just right. People come from all around the world to see and photograph the "firefall", but only the lucky ones get to see it. There is a runoff waterfall on the face of El Capitan called Hors...

We try to make the pilgrimage down south to California once a year to drink in the beauty that is Yosemite National Park. It's a must visit! This fall, we got the itch to make the trip again. Our favorite time to head to the park is mid-late Autumn when the leaves have turned and the traffic is l...

Yosemite National Park looms large in the world of exploration and adventure, in no small part due to John Muir's fascination with the place in the late 1800's. The Park draws people from all over the world who come to see its wildness, its waterfalls, its meadows, and to scramble on its rocky tr...

It’s summertime, and you are stoked about snagging permits for your adventure in the great California national park. Yosemite is one of the United State’s premier national parks, and it takes some work to plan a successful trip. Finding a place to sleep can be difficult with the summer congestion...

Soooo, Half Dome. You’ve heard of it. You’ve probably seen pictures. If you’re anything like us, you’re more than slightly entranced by it, spending many waking hours daydreaming about being on top of the world’s most iconic giant granite boulder. Something like this:First, some logistics:You are...