James Kaiser - Yosemite: The Complete Guide: Yosemite National Park (Color Travel Guide)

Yosemite

The Complete Guide

6th Edition

2020 Destination Press & its licensors
ISBN: 978-1-940754-41-3

Written & Photographed
by James Kaiser

This book would not have been possible without the help of many generous people. Special thanks to Beth Pratt, Kenny Karst, Pete Divine, Bob Fry, Greg Stock, Greg Cox, Linda Eade, Chris Stein, Paul Rogers, Jean Redle, Josia Lamberto-Egan, Maria Matijasevic, Peter Bohler, Peter Brewitt, Cat Zusky, Bob & Mary Anderson, Karl Kahler, the Yosemite Conservancy, the staff at YNP, and everyone who spent time with me in the wilderness. Above all, special thanks to superstar ranger Dick Ewart, whose wisdom and humor have inspired thousands of visitors, including me.

As always, a very special thanks to my family, friends, and all the wonderful people I encountered while working on this guide.

All information in this guide has been exhaustively researched, but names, phone numbers, and other details do change. If you encounter a change or mistake while using this guide, please send an email to changes@jameskaiser.com. Your input will help make future editions of this guide even better.

Although every attempt has been made to ensure the accuracy of information contained within this guide, the author and publisher do not assume and disclaim any liability to any party for any loss or damage caused by errors or omissions. Information has been obtained from sources believed to be reliable, but its accuracy and completeness are not guaranteed. If the rigors and threats of nature are in any way beyond your capabilities, do not attempt any hike in this guide. Many photos contained within this guide depict people in precarious situations; do not assume that any situations depicted in this book are in any way safe. All maps in this guide are based on official USGS data, but serious hikers should supplement their outings with detailed hiking maps.

Additional image credits: Yosemite National Park, Northwind Picture Archives, Shutterstock

Bestselling Yosemite Guidebook (NDP BookScan 2019)

I f youve purchased this book, youre going to Yosemite. Perhaps youre already here. If so, youre in one of Americas most extraordinary national parksan alpine wonderland home to soaring cliffs, thundering waterfalls, and vast stretches of pristine wilderness. The Sierra Nevada Mountains contain some of America's most stunning scenery, and Yosemite is the crown jewel of the Sierra Nevada.

When I first started working on Yosemite: The Complete Guide , I thought it might take one year to complete. Three years later, the book was finished. There was so much to photographso much that changed from season to seasonthat one year, I quickly realized, could never do Yosemite justice. As I hiked the trails and wandered the backcountry, I became friends with some legendary rangersmen and women who had spent decades exploring the park. Over long talks by the campfire they imparted their love and knowledge of Yosemite to me. Its my goal to pass that wisdom on to you.

Yosemite is extraordinary, but it can also be overwhelming. You could easily spend a month here and not run out of things to do. But if youre like most people, youve only got a few days. Make those few days count! With a limited amount of timeand crowds that grow larger every yearyouve got to plan your trip wisely. This book puts the best of Yosemite at your fingertips, helping you maximize your time for an unforgettable adventure. Whether youre here to hike, sight-see, or just relax and hang out, Yosemite: The Complete Guide is the only guidebook youll need.

Now let me show you the best that Yosemite has to offer!

N estled deep in the heart of Californias Sierra Nevada Mountains, Yosemite is one of Americas most spectacular national parks. Its alpine scenery is bursting with superlatives: the highest waterfall in North America (Yosemite Falls), the most famous vertical rock face in the world (El Capitan), and the largest organisms of all time (giant sequoias). But no statistic can capture the parks staggering beauty. Yosemites sheer cliffs and thundering waterfalls have inspired some of Americas finest artists, and its remarkable scenery lures visitors from around the world.

Yosemite Valley is the crown jewel of the park. Just seven miles long by one mile wide, it represents less than one percent of the parks 1,200 square miles. But Yosemite Valley's sheer cliffs shelter some of the worlds most dramatic sights: Half Dome, El Capitan, Yosemite Falls. Because Yosemite Valley is the most popular part of the park, it's home to most of the park's lodges and visitor facilities.

Above Yosemite Valley lies the High Sierra, a stunning alpine wilderness of shimmering lakes, snow-capped peaks, and miles of sparkling granite. Reached via Tioga Roadthe only east/west road that crosses the entire parkthe High Sierra is an outdoor paradise for hikers, backpackers and rock climbers. Tuolumne Meadows, which lies at an elevation of 8,600 feet, is the starting point for many spectacular hikes and backpacks.

Thirteen miles south of Yosemite Valley lies Wawona, a small village that provides quick access to the Mariposa Grove of Giant Sequoias, the largest of the parks three sequoia groves. Twenty miles north of Yosemite Valley lies Hetch Hetchyonce a beautiful valley, now a massive reservoir. Enormous waterfalls still tumble into the reservoir, but Hetch Hetchy is best known for the famous environmental battle it spawned a century ago.

Yosemite Valley was originally home to the Ahwahneechee tribe. Following the Gold Rush, adventurous artists sought out the remote landscape, and their dramatic paintings and photographs captivated audiences around the world. John Muir arrived in 1868, and his writings helped spur the creation of Yosemite National Park in 1890. In 1916 Ansel Adams first visited Yosemite, and in the 1930s alpinists pioneered advanced techniques that gave birth to the modern sport of rock climbing. Today Yosemites breathtaking cliffs, peaks and waterfalls lure over four million visitors a year.