Yosemite - Another Beautiful Day and Sights

Our second and last full day at Yosemite started like the first, waiting for the construction to allow us into the valley but, with perfect weather again the sights were as spectacular as yesterday.  We had decided to start at the east end of the valley and out to Mirror Lake for a short hike -- mostly flat and followed the stream (a branch of the Merced River, perhaps).

Tim mentioned that in his past visits there was very little water in the areas we explored and took pictures of, perhaps it was subject to the seasonal runoff from the snow (and he had come later in the summer before).  We experienced some sectacular scenes looking across the small lake formed by the abundant amount of water.

After having lunch, we ventured in the direction of Vernal Falls, south and east from where we began our morning hike.  This trail (Mist Trail) proved to be a bit more difficult for me as it climbed up through the valley and I found myself needing a rest at times -- finally telling Tim to venture ahead and asking him to take pictures with the new camera.  I had already taken many pictures up to this point and many showed other waterfalls streaming from the mountain tops into the valley south of our route.  While I waited for the return of Tim, I pulled a trail map from my back pocket and studied where I was and the distance left to get to the falls -- ultimately decided I would push on toward a nearby bridge over the stream (Merced River) and maybe get close enough to get a look at the falls.

As it turns out, after a few minutes rest, I kept going and met Tim as he was coming back from the falls so we both went back up toward the falls and got some more pictures.  I still did not make it to the top of the climb and to the base of the falls because I felt the stone steps were way too wet and slippery which could cause me to slip and fall or turn my knee (already hurting from the torn cartilage that has never been fixed).  Going down always seems to cause more pain so, I felt it was the right decision.

After returning back to the East Coast later, I heard that sadly three hikers had lost their lives at these falls because they ignored warning signs posted at the top of the falls -- bodies may not be recovered until November, if at all.