#Tag · bonfire.cafe

Day 4 saw us dipping into Sierra National Forest for the day before returning to a near lake camp, all via a pair of magnificent passes: https://valhikes.blogspot.com/2025/08/buena-yosemite-rutherford-lake-and-post.html

#California #MaderaCounty #YosemiteNationalPark #SierraNationalForest #YosemiteWilderness #AnselAdamsWilderness
#hiking #nature #landscape #travel #hike #outside #backpacking #mountainPass #granite #views

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New view at Fernandez Pass

Wide image of the landscape framed by granite peaks on each side and green sloping down with a couple of close peaks and at least 20 lining the distance. — New view at Fernandez Pass Wide image of the landscape framed by granite peaks on each side and green sloping down with a couple of close peaks and at least 20 lining the distance.

One of a few ponds along the way. Rutherford Lake was also visited, but the editing to get to 4 images was vicious.

Trees surround a green space with a tiny bit of open water in the middle. Most the green is some sort of water growth such as reeds, but there's some drier growth in front. A couple lumps of granite rise behind. — One of a few ponds along the way. Rutherford Lake was also visited, but the editing to get to 4 images was vicious. Trees surround a green space with a tiny bit of open water in the middle. Most the green is some sort of water growth such as reeds, but there's some drier growth in front. A couple lumps of granite rise behind.

The old view on the way up Post Peak Pass.

Lines of granite rock left by the glacier holds in a small pond on the left and a large lake on the right. The land drops behind the ledge of the lake so that distant mountains pop up with little seen between. — The old view on the way up Post Peak Pass. Lines of granite rock left by the glacier holds in a small pond on the left and a large lake on the right. The land drops behind the ledge of the lake so that distant mountains pop up with little seen between.

Petr walks the trail down from Post Peak Pass. Ritter and Banner rise up in the distance on the left, the Minarets on the right.

A rocky area, largely of a gentle slope nearby, but steeper to the right and drops off a little to the left. It extends outward for a bit before dropping off and sharp peaks rise up in the distance. — Petr walks the trail down from Post Peak Pass. Ritter and Banner rise up in the distance on the left, the Minarets on the right. A rocky area, largely of a gentle slope nearby, but steeper to the right and drops off a little to the left. It extends outward for a bit before dropping off and sharp peaks rise up in the distance.

Buena Yosemite: Rutherford Lake and Post Peak Pass

Sierra National Forest. Two passes with grand views and lakes to visit in between in a day with Yosemite bookends.

Sander Meijer boosted

Valerie Norton

@valhikes@mountains.social · last month

The last full day, day 7, we were properly embedded in crowds for a pair of waterfalls, then off to have a camp with a grand view all to ourselves. (For details, check the linked post here: https://valhikes.blogspot.com/2025/08/buena-yosemite-nevada-fall-illilouette.html)

#YosemiteNationalPark #California #MariposaCounty #YosemiteWilderness
#backpacking #hiking #nature #landscape #travel #hike #outside #waterfall

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Vernal Fall from the soggy section of John Muir Trail, blasted out of the cliffs and shedding some of its rock railing and bottom at the moment.

Water of the Merced River tumbles down a long slope, first in a vertical drop, then curving outward toward the much lower valley floor below it. Trees fill the space top and bottom, but none in the middle on the slope. Behind, a big dome of bare granite rises. Behind that on the left, the even larger dome of Half Dome Rises and glares in the morning sun. Further behind on the right is an apparently smaller but wider lump of granite that is Cloud Rest. — Vernal Fall from the soggy section of John Muir Trail, blasted out of the cliffs and shedding some of its rock railing and bottom at the moment. Water of the Merced River tumbles down a long slope, first in a vertical drop, then curving outward toward the much lower valley floor below it. Trees fill the space top and bottom, but none in the middle on the slope. Behind, a big dome of bare granite rises. Behind that on the left, the even larger dome of Half Dome Rises and glares in the morning sun. Further behind on the right is an apparently smaller but wider lump of granite that is Cloud Rest.

Yosemite Valley panorama from Panorama Point.

A green and apparently flat valley sits wide below the rising granite sides. The valley opens to the left, to the viewer, and away to the right. The slope between the viewer and right opening is rough topped with a smooth dome. The far slope has a huge blind arch (Royal Arch) fallen out of it. The slope to the left is rough at the top and smooth at the bottom. — Yosemite Valley panorama from Panorama Point. A green and apparently flat valley sits wide below the rising granite sides. The valley opens to the left, to the viewer, and away to the right. The slope between the viewer and right opening is rough topped with a smooth dome. The far slope has a huge blind arch (Royal Arch) fallen out of it. The slope to the left is rough at the top and smooth at the bottom.

Illilouette Fall from a lookout just off the trail.

A granite gorge extends from the viewer with a waterfall tumbling over the right hand side. The gorge eventually opens up to a larger valley with a lump of rough granite topped with a smooth, white granite dome. Everything else is steep granite slopes from the valley to more granite tops with a bit of green in between. — Illilouette Fall from a lookout just off the trail. A granite gorge extends from the viewer with a waterfall tumbling over the right hand side. The gorge eventually opens up to a larger valley with a lump of rough granite topped with a smooth, white granite dome. Everything else is steep granite slopes from the valley to more granite tops with a bit of green in between.

Trail along Illilouette Creek past Mount Starr King.

A trail of dirt extends surrounded by yellowy green manzanita growth. Scattered pines stick out of it as it slopes downward toward a valley. A slope of light rock slopes up the other side with a bit more pines scattered among it and a few peaks can be seen in the distance above the valley tops. — Trail along Illilouette Creek past Mount Starr King. A trail of dirt extends surrounded by yellowy green manzanita growth. Scattered pines stick out of it as it slopes downward toward a valley. A slope of light rock slopes up the other side with a bit more pines scattered among it and a few peaks can be seen in the distance above the valley tops.

Buena Yosemite: Nevada Fall, Illilouette Fall, and Half Dome View

Yosemite National Park. Nearly the last day backpacking, we hang around a couple waterfalls before camping at a stunning view.

Valerie Norton

@valhikes@mountains.social · last month

#YosemiteNationalPark #California #MariposaCounty #YosemiteWilderness
#backpacking #hiking #nature #landscape #travel #hike #outside #waterfall

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Buena Yosemite: Nevada Fall, Illilouette Fall, and Half Dome View

Yosemite National Park. Nearly the last day backpacking, we hang around a couple waterfalls before camping at a stunning view.

Valerie Norton

@valhikes@mountains.social · last month

Day 6, we were down along the Merced River and bumping into ever more people, quickly coming to places that were downright crowded, but the beautiful landscape does give a reason. (Details in the blog post: https://valhikes.blogspot.com/2025/08/buena-yosemite-merced-lake-and-little.html)

#California #YosemiteNationalPark #YosemiteWilderness #MariposaCounty
#backpacking #hiking #nature #landscape #travel #hike #outside #granite

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Merced Lake in the morning light.

Lots of water with quiet air so quite reflective. Some shrubby brush on the shore and a limb above frame the bottom and top. Shrubby trees frame the left and a dome of granite with an intruding pine branch frame the right. Green pines stand thick on the far side of the water with more mountains behind them looking slightly smoky. The reflection is of the granite dome and trees. — Merced Lake in the morning light. Lots of water with quiet air so quite reflective. Some shrubby brush on the shore and a limb above frame the bottom and top. Shrubby trees frame the left and a dome of granite with an intruding pine branch frame the right. Green pines stand thick on the far side of the water with more mountains behind them looking slightly smoky. The reflection is of the granite dome and trees.

Tall photo of a granite glacial valley further carved down by the Merced River. Granite makes long slopes to the water below, on to the distance where some pointed mountains rise up.

Cascade Fall, or just some "fall" that is actually a cascade on the way to Lost Valley just above Little Yosemite Valley.

The Merced River, not in very high flow, sheets down a slab of granite before making a sharp left turn into a wide valley. The bottom of the valley is green with undergrowth, but also full of the standing burned trunks of former pine trees. The sides slope upward quickly in generally bare granite with stripes of green. — Cascade Fall, or just some "fall" that is actually a cascade on the way to Lost Valley just above Little Yosemite Valley. The Merced River, not in very high flow, sheets down a slab of granite before making a sharp left turn into a wide valley. The bottom of the valley is green with undergrowth, but also full of the standing burned trunks of former pine trees. The sides slope upward quickly in generally bare granite with stripes of green.

Little Yosemite Valley.

An even wider flat bottomed valley than the last. This is also full of yellow-green short growth along the bottom with a few burned tree trunks and a few trees with green on the upper half near one edge. The edge is marked by the rise of fairly bare granite slopes, often steeply, to a series of rounded tops. — Little Yosemite Valley. An even wider flat bottomed valley than the last. This is also full of yellow-green short growth along the bottom with a few burned tree trunks and a few trees with green on the upper half near one edge. The edge is marked by the rise of fairly bare granite slopes, often steeply, to a series of rounded tops.

Buena Yosemite: Merced Lake and Little Yosemite Valley

Yosemite National Park. Continuing along the Merced River in the more frequently hiked areas of the park. So much granite.

Valerie Norton

@valhikes@mountains.social · last month

We took the high trail on day 5, getting views most miss as they follow along the river below. (Details in the post https://valhikes.blogspot.com/2025/08/buena-yosemite-merced-river-high-trail.html)

#California #YosemiteNationalPark #YosemiteWilderness #MaderaCounty #MariposaCounty
#hiking #nature #landscape #travel #outside #hike #backpacking #blogpost

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Plateau with a stand of trees toward the right, but mostly covered by short grey-green growth. It is not quite flat and a large lake pools in the middle distance, lots of rocks poking out of the water near the edge. At the far edge, granite mountains pop up steeply, but not so far to cliffy points.

A pair of backpackers descend a trail through granite rocks that has pointy green pine trees around it a little way down. It is clear to see a long view of rolling granite with a glacial valley scraped out in the distance. Mountains stick up on the right and at the horizon.

Looking down a glacial valley through light grey granite. Two are joining up ahead and low mountains scatter behind the confluence. Scattered pines and the grandest of the junipers are nearby.

Buena Yosemite: Merced River High Trail

Yosemite National Park. A few big views while traveling a higher route through Yosemite than is the norm. Second half of the backpacking trip.

Valerie Norton

@valhikes@mountains.social · last month

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Buena Yosemite: Rutherford Lake and Post Peak Pass

Sierra National Forest. Two passes with grand views and lakes to visit in between in a day with Yosemite bookends.

Valerie Norton

@valhikes@mountains.social · last month

We made discoveries along the way on day 3 before stopping by another beautiful lake: https://valhikes.blogspot.com/2025/08/buena-yosemite-buck-creek-gs-moraine.html

#California #MaderaCounty #YosemiteNationalPark #YosemiteWilderness #hiking #nature #landscape #travel #hike #outside #backpacking #lake

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Buck Creek Guard Station is tilting a bit, as are the other buildings in the area.

A tilted building in a small meadow with trees behind. — Buck Creek Guard Station is tilting a bit, as are the other buildings in the area. A tilted building in a small meadow with trees behind.

Hikers pass a metal sign in a forest of large trees.

A pond with critters to discover.

Water with grass growing out the left half of what is visible is kept in by a lip of granite rocks. A few small, but well formed, conifers grow in them and the tops of a forest grows behind it. Past the forest, a long ridge of granite rises with cliffs near the top. — A pond with critters to discover. Water with grass growing out the left half of what is visible is kept in by a lip of granite rocks. A few small, but well formed, conifers grow in them and the tops of a forest grows behind it. Past the forest, a long ridge of granite rises with cliffs near the top.

Breeze Lake

Lots of water, some already in shadow, dominates the lower half of the photo leaving just a few rocks sticking out on the left. On the far side of the water, trees grow on the left and the right is a mass of light grey granite reaching for the sky. — Breeze Lake Lots of water, some already in shadow, dominates the lower half of the photo leaving just a few rocks sticking out on the left. On the far side of the water, trees grow on the left and the right is a mass of light grey granite reaching for the sky.

Buena Yosemite: Buck Creek GS, Moraine Meadows, and Breeze Lake

Yosemite National Park. A day with great lakes and both ends and quite an interesting pond in the middle. And some views.

Valerie Norton

@valhikes@mountains.social · last month

Day 2 had the one peak to bag with its Buena Vista as well as some beautiful lakes to stop by: https://valhikes.blogspot.com/2025/08/buena-yosemite-buena-vista-lake-and.html

#YosemiteNationalPark #California #MariposaCounty #MaderaCounty #YosemiteWilderness
#hiking #backpacking #nature #landscape #travel #hike #outside #Yosemite #peakBagging #peakbagger

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A bee pollinating a Sierra tiger lily. A tube flower with orange petals and spotted interior hosts a bee way down inside, running around all its sexual parts. Behind are some buds and the base of another flower on a second stem.

Buena Vista Lake from near Buena Vista Peak.

Granite foreground with a few loose rocks slopes away, then vanishes behind the slope. As the land is seen again, a large lake rests in it, showing off a deep blue. The land slopes away and vanishes again, leaving distant granite mountains to spring up from behind it. All under puffy clouds in the right half of the sky. — Buena Vista Lake from near Buena Vista Peak. Granite foreground with a few loose rocks slopes away, then vanishes behind the slope. As the land is seen again, a large lake rests in it, showing off a deep blue. The land slopes away and vanishes again, leaving distant granite mountains to spring up from behind it. All under puffy clouds in the right half of the sky.

Royal Arch Lake from Buena Vista Peak. A couple rocks are seen of the foreground, but generally small trees spread out from the viewer. They break in the middle for a blue lake with green at its edges and a gently sloping granite mound to it's left. Within the granite, the inner portion of an arch of rock has fallen away. Another mountain dominates the distance, this mostly green with a middle cliff face of rock.

Royal Arch Lake.

Grey water ripples below a rise of granite sporting a blind arch. In the foreground, the view stands on a slab of granite with a tree at its edge and low greenery between the rock and the water. — Royal Arch Lake. Grey water ripples below a rise of granite sporting a blind arch. In the foreground, the view stands on a slab of granite with a tree at its edge and low greenery between the rock and the water.

Buena Yosemite: Buena Vista Lake and Peak and Royal Arch Lake

Yosemite National Park. Ponds and lakes and even a peak with a few wildflowers on display for this 2nd day backpacking in the park.

Mark Wyner Won’t Comply :vm: boosted

Sunguramy :nb_lily:

@sunguramy@flipping.rocks · 2 months ago

Hey just a friendly reminder since folk are doing flu and covid vax rn to not forget about TDaP! Many places recommend a fresh boost if you have a tetanus exposure and its been at least five years since your last one, and it should be boosted every 10 years regardless. While people associate tetanus with rusty nails and barb wire fencing, it lives in the soil. So if you play in the dirt (looking at cavers, gardeners, outdoorsy folk in general) you may be due sooner than you think. Folk like us often have abrasions or cuts on our hands from doing things, and then shove our hands into dirt and mud. Keep that in mind! Plus it seems like every other winter there is a new whooping cough outbreak and thats the P part of TDaP so its an easy one to forget about but a good one to stay up on.

Now that you are protected, go flip some rocks! (And make sure you gently put them back!)

#dirt #mud #outside #garden #gardener #caver #health #vaccine #care #science #health #salamander