So it turns out in all my years growing up in California, I had never been to Yosemite before. And now all my inlaws from back east have been there, my husband has been there, and all my friends have been there...and they all are in shock that I haven't. So, there was no choice but to take a little adventure and check it out. We thought that by going in October the park would be quieter than usual, but that was not the case. It was seriously a nature version of Disney Land! And after a long and emotional drive (Tioga Pass was closed due to a snow storm, so we had to go the long way around), we arrived at the park entrance only to discover that there weren't any campsites available in the park! Well, acutally there were, said a ranger, but "you need four wheel drive". Two hours later we found ourselves right back where we started after having discovered you needed 4WD to get through a foot of snow to set up camp in a foot of snow! No thanks!! Needless to say it was quite dark by the time we found a campsite and got food cooked 20 minutes outside the park. The rest of the weekend went much better than that first day, and Yosemite really is as amazing and breathtaking as everyone says. But man, with all those crowds, I'm not necessarily in a hurry to get right back!
Cooking up some hearty breaky after a freezing cold night of not great sleep. In the daylight we discovered that we had found a very awesome campsite though, pretty much empty!
The view of Upper Yosemite Falls.
Making our way to the start of a hike up to Vernal Falls... Awesome views everywhere you turn.
The final push up the rock steps to Vernal Falls.
The falls really were amazing.
Lots of cool rock formations on the hike up.
Kat and Josh at Vernal Falls.
Josh happy to be at the top of the hike...You've never seen this guy hike so fast as he did today, trying to get away from all the millions of city folk trying to hike in skinny jeans and flats!
Cool colors with the rocks and rainbow.
Looking up at the rock face looming above us.
Me at the top of Vernal Falls, safely behind the railing.
Apparently this little section looks attractive to wade in for some people, even though its just at the top of huge water falls...not too smart!
We kept hiking up a bit farther to the next set of falls, called Nevada Falls.
Cool mountain domes everywhere you look.
High up above and looking down on Vernal Falls.
Another view of Nevada Falls.
Looking up the creekbed runout of the falls.
We climbed up to the bottom of Lower Yosemite Falls.
Katharine at Lower Yosemite Falls, hiking up past the end of the handicap access spot... Yes, this place is accessable to all types of people!
Half Dome! Maybe next time...
A view of the lifespan of a Giant Sequoia...talk about huge and old!
Upon recommendation from our friend Jesse, we walked all the way to the old Ahwahnee Hotel to read this "Skier's Ten Commandments". 
The deer in the park were not afraid of people at all!
Walking through a Giant Sequoia at the Tuolumne Grove. This one gave you some perspective on how huge these trees really are!
It's even bigger than Josh!
Touring through the Tuolumne Grove.
Standing in the roots of a dead Giant Sequoia...so crazy!
I was able to walk pretty far inside this ginormous tree!
Driving back home through Tuolumne Meadows and over Tioga Pass (which was now open), we saw some gorgeous mountain scenery.
Bye Yosemite, see you next time! 
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