
John Muir and former U.S. president Theodore Roosevelt once sat together in Yosemite, whiling away the time, chatting about things profound and things small, and the pace of the hours slipped away from them. It is no great surprise that such a thing should have happened. Time, in a very real sense, means nothing here or, as the centuries stalk the eons, it means very little. The hanging valley of this momentous place was carved during the last ice age, and so was El Capitan and Half Dome, the instantly recognizable icons of this pristine park.
Elk, Mountain Lions and Black Bears roam the wilds here, wildlife abounds through the ranges of this timeless place, and is one of the great draws bringing people from all over the world. This fact, however, must never diminish the allure of the simple natural beauty to be glimpsed within the boundaries of Yosemite. Trees, mountains, flowers and flowing rivers create a tapestry of gloriousness that make some weep. With the stunning Sequoia and King’s Canyon Parks just to the south, we cannot emphasize enough how important a visit here is to all lovers of nature.