This week I am excited to review one of the most famous national parks, Yosemite. Of the nine national parks in California, Yosemite is the top dog. This is no small claim because California can boast many other amazing parks such as King’s Canyon, Redwood Forest, and Joshua Tree. So, you may ask what sets Yosemite apart? The answer is pretty much everything.
As usual a quick history lesson: Yosemite Valley was home to multiple Native American tribes until the 1849 gold rush brought prospectors and non-indigenous people to area, which drove the natives away. After years of harm to the valley’s environment, conservationist convinced President Abraham Lincoln to declare the land as protected by the state of California in 1864. This decision allowed Yellowstone to become the first national park in 1872 and Yosemite followed in 1890. Fast forward to today and the park is visited by over 3 million people per year and is one of the most famous nature areas in the world.
Part of what makes Yosemite so famous are its landmarks. Yosemite Falls, a 2,425ft high waterfall, is one of the tallest in the world! Yellowstone is also home to two rock formations, Half Dome and El Capitan. Half Dome makes up part of one of the most difficult, but beautiful hikes in the US. This peak was declared inaccessible when the park was first founded until years later, George Anderson reached the summit and laid the cable path required to reach the top. This 12-hour hike is said to be extremely difficult, but the views of the Sierra Mountains and Yosemite Valley make it worth the effort if you are in shape.
El Capitan has become world famous for one of my favorite hobbies/sports, rock climbing. This vertical granite face is twice as tall as the Empire State Building and poses a daring challenge to elite rock climbers. Climbing the sheer face of El Capitan is on every climber’s bucket list, but this diffidently does not mean it is easy. Climbing El Capitan can be very dangerous for multiple reasons such as, its height, difficulty, and time required to finish. Having only a rope to support you, this is the adrenaline trip of a lifetime. Some routes also require you to sleep and eat while ascending, which means setting up a hanging cot. If anyone is interested in this, I recommend watching the movie Free Solo, it’s about a climber who climbed El Capitan with no ropes or safety precautions in just 4 hours.
Yosemite is so much more than just the spectacles I described, so I am leaving the rest of the parks beauty to be discovered by you! I would highly recommend putting this park on your bucket list. I plan on visiting here in the Summer of 23 so I can provide a more accurate review then, but I don’t think much will affect my rating.
Yosemite: 10/10
