Yosemite, The Mariposa Grove

Day three started off bright and early. We were bound and determined to get to Yosemite as early as possible *grins* This is always the plan when Kenny and I are on vacation. We like to pack as much as possible into each day and often find that we can beat the crowds by getting there early. So, as much as I like my sleep, I'll sacrifice it to see some amazing sights.

So, about 6:45 Dad, Mom, Kenny and I all sprung up and hopped right into the mini van to hit the road! Our mini van rental car was actually pretty amazing. It had all sorts of push button remote controls, the windows, mirrors, every door and even the back hatch could all be controlled with the touch of a button on Dad's remote. He had some fun making sure the doors were open and waiting for us each time we needed to get in *grins*

We drove for about an hour through the Sierra National Forest and saw some beautiful mountainous scenery, along frosty winding roads through huge redwood and pine trees. It was just amazingly beautiful, little running waterfalls flowing down into streams right beside the road!

Of course, first thing we were dying to see some of those enormous giant redwood trees we'd heard and read so much about! So we stopped at the Mariposa Grove to see these beauties...

Look at those tiny people at the base of the trees!?! I can't even explain just how toweringly enormous they are!

There was a great hike through the giant trees that we lept at the opportunity to do. The first thing we happened upon was this fallen beauty. The Fallen Monarch...Can you see me looking up at its expansive root cluster!? The roots of these huge trees actually don't run very deep...usually less than six feet deep! Can you believe that? But they spread out to nearly half an acre wide and interlink with each others roots to form an intricate woven support system. Here is Kenny standing at the base of one that is still growing.
Here is another fallen giant that has been sawn in two to allow people to walk along the trail. You can see all the thousands of tree rings in this sample. I can't imagine what kind of chainsaw they used to cut this guy in half!Our hike brought us right to the base of the Grizzly Giant, the star of the Mariposa grove. It is an estimated 2,700 years old and 90 feet in circumference! Here are Mom, me and Dad posing at the base. *grins*

Just past the Grizzly Giant you come to the California Tunnel Tree. This tunnel was carved out for stagecoaches in the 1890's, so no cars are allowed through anymore, but that didn't stop us from walking through! So cool!!

After a picnic lunch Kenny and I went on a longer hike up to see the Mariposa Grove museum. Along the way we saw some happy little deers grazing in the meadow.

the pathway lead around and through even more humongous trees

and right down to the museum...

yep, that sweet log cabin is the museum *grins* It was still closed for "winter" but was fun to see and snap a few photos. Then, as we were hiking back to meet up with Mom and Dad a crazy icy rainstorm thundered from the sky. It looked like rain, but it was tiny polka dots of ice, like dip n' dots ice cream, raining down from the sky! Pelting our heads in the 50 degree weather, so crazy!!

We high tailed it back to the car and drove on to our next location.... (more to come *grins*)