Here for Half Dome: Yosemite Panorama Photos 10.22.14
Make Yosemite Your Destination By John P. DeGrazio I had the opportunity to lead a late season Half Dome hike yesterday with a new friend, David from Singapore. While discussing what led David to Yosemite on his first visit to the United States, his story immediately impressed and inspired me. David comes from an island nation […]
Arrival of Fall in Yosemite: Yosemite Photo 2014.10.15
Fall Colors on the Panorama Trail By John P. DeGrazio I am often asked what is my favorite season in Yosemite, and my honest answer is “the one we’re in”. It’s to the point, and I’m always telling the truth. Autumn is a perfect time for a visit. Every Yosemite experience is different, and our […]
Can-O-Pineapples Too
Tasty Treats On Any Summit By John P. DeGrazio There’s nothing more satisfying than reaching the summit of a challenging hiking adventure in Yosemite. Well, one thing can be more satisfying; the tasty treat at the end. As you may know from my original post renaming this blog the Can-O-Peaches, I shared a story about how […]
Half Dome from Panorama Trail on the XTreme Hike: Yosemite Panorama Photos 9.29.14
Beams of Light Through the Clouds By John P. DeGrazio Once again, we were honored to lead the Northern California Chapter of the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation on their Xtreme Hike this past weekend. 37 hikers completed the hike from Yosemite Valley to Glacier Point and raised over $80,000. Several continued on to Sentinel Dome, and some […]
Mountain Lion encounter Yosemite
A Wild Encounter In the Eastern Sierra Nevada By John P. DeGrazio You ain’t never seen a mountain lion until it looks you in the eye. Those words have stuck with me since the day I heard them from a Sonora local the year I moved out West from New York City. As my wilderness experiences […]
Lifting the Haze | Yosemite Panoramas 8.7.14
Smokeless but Cloudy Skies By John P. DeGrazio It’s fire season in California. Every year between June and October, California becomes susceptible to fire. This year, we had a particularly dry winter so we are more prone. Currently, there are two fires burning in Yosemite, The El Portal Fire and the Dark Hole Fire. Neither fire […]
Yosemite El Portal Fire
The El Portal Fire has been burning for the last few days in Yosemite as brave fire crews are working toward containment. Parts of Yosemite are smoky but the park remains open. I would like to share this photo taken by YExplore photographer and friend, Al Golub. The photo is of another friend’s house in Yosemite, […]
Yosemite Mythbusters: It’s Too Crowded in Summer
Escaping the Yosemite Crowds on the 4th of July By John P. DeGrazio Negativity is everywhere. It’s an inescapable human characteristic. Even well intentioned individuals inadvertently spread it. I like to rise above it. Literally. And I normally escape it in the high country of Yosemite. Many people will say “don’t visit Yosemite in summer. […]
Happy Birthday America!
Celebrating the 4th of July in Yosemite National Park By John P. DeGrazio Today we celebrate American Independence by enjoying our National Parks which were established to provide the pursuit of happiness for all people. Have a safe holiday! If you are interested in reading about more reflections from Yosemite, please read here and here.
Half Dome View on Yosemite 150th Anniversary
Yosemite 150 Year Celebration June 30, 2014 By John P. DeGrazio Today, we celebrated the 150th anniversary of the Yosemite Grant. On this day in 1864 President Abraham Lincoln signed the Yosemite Grant protecting Yosemite Valley and the Mariposa Grove of Giant Sequoias for all time. We participated in many festivities in the Grove and the Valley amidst […]