A Road Less Traveled

Yosemite National Park is one of those unique locations on this planet that I visit time and time again and constantly find myself in awe of its sheer beauty, vast expanses and its ability to put whats important into perspective. A few weeks ago I had the good fortune to take a few extra days after a photography workshop I taught in Modesto, California to head up into the high country of Yosemite NP.

While Yosemite Valley, with Half Done and El Capitan in plain view, bring in the majority of visitors to the park, Tuolumne Meadows and the high country offer serene beauty and usually little to no crowds.

For three days, I slept under the stars and took longs walks through the quite forests. After having traveled all over the world and been lucky enough in life to have the experiences that I have, it is the quite moments, disconnected from the world but in touch with nature, that bring me the most peace.

It was these areas of the park the John Muir,  one of my favorite nature conservationists, fell in love with the Sierra Nevadas back in the late 1800′s. If you ever have the opportunity to explore these still some what wild places, you can get a glimpse of what Muir must of saw over 100 years ago the spurred him to fight to protect these amazing landscapes.

John Muir once said, “ Keep close to nature’s heart…and break clear away, once in a while, and climb a mountain or spend a week in the woods. Wash your spirit clean.” Words to live my life by!