California

 We had to get one more hike in before leaving Yelloswtone; so on Thursday the fifteenth, my mom and Mia and I drove to Grand Teton National Park to hike to Delta Lake.  This hike is actually a cross-country trail, which explains why you won't see it featured on many signposts.  It was over seven miles long and had a 2300 foot elevation gain; but the difficult trek was totally worth it when we saw the beautiful green waters of the lake.  And when we hiked back down to the parking lot, we heard the beautiful sound of elk bugling, which is a fall mating call. 

These berries I found on the side of the trail looked like huckleberries! I was tempted to try them, but I decided it wasn't worth the possible risk of poisoning. 😒😁 

What a view!!

It rained for part of our hike, but we were prepared and besides, what doesn't kill you makes you stronger!

The peak I'm pointing at looks like the same one behind Delta Lake in the photos below--that's how far up we climbed!

                On Friday we packed everything up and said goodbye to all of our campground friends.  I'd met such wonderful people with such unique personalities while workcamping in Yellowstone, and it was such a blessing getting to know them.  

A bunch of my dad's coworkers signed a shirt for him, and it was so sweet to read what everyone had written.  

                We got up before sunrise on Saturday morning and pulled out of Yellowstone's gates--but this time, we weren't heading out for a day in Bozeman or Cody.  We drove all day Saturday, then stopped for the night at a Boondockers Welcome in Nevada.  Nevada reminded me a lot of New Mexico; from the scenery to the people.  On Sunday, our second travel day, we made a pit stop in Carson City, Nevada to hit up our first Trader Joes in six months.  We were so happy to be back to a Trader Joes', not to mention that it was pumpkin spice season. 🤤🤤🤤  

Travel day #1

The city of Sparks, Nevada! 

Travel day #2

Yaaaaay Trader Joes!!

            The Lake Tahoe campground we stayed at was very nice, and only a few minutes from downtown.  Our first three days were rainy and overcast, but we still got some sightseeing in and were able to accomplish chores and schoolwork back at the campground.  

Cave rock

The very top of Cave Rock offered sweeping views of Lake Tahoe.  It was a scramble to get up the rocks, but not difficult and completely worth it. 

We went to a visitors center in North Lake Tahoe and they had a little museum about the TV show Bonanza, which was filmed at Lake Tahoe!

This bear statue in the middle of Tahoe City is made out of...

pennies! 

                Lake Tahoe was much more impressive in fair weather though, and during our three sunny days (Thursday-Saturday), we were able to truly appreciate the gorgeous blue waters of Lake Tahoe.  The lake water was so clear and beautiful that it looked like Carribbean waters.  On Thursday we hiked to Vikingsholm, Eagle Lake, and a secluded beach area along part of the Rubicon Trail.  The walk toVikingsholm is a paved trail that leads to a lovely house with beautiful viking-castle-esque architecture along the shores of Lake Tahoe.  Eagle Lake is an easy trail with an end destination of a lake that actually reminded us of Delta.  This trail was much easier and shorter than Delta as well.  The beach off of Rubicon Trail was so nice.  Mia and I played on the boulders by the shore and it was so gorgeous that I just kept taking pictures.  

Tiny waterfalls by the Vikingsholm trail were soo cute!

I did a photo shoot with Mia

We went to Chipotle for dinner, and it was delicious! 

                   On Friday and Saturday we visited Fallen Leaf Lake, the charming town of Truckee, and D.L. Bliss State Park. These were our last two days in Lake Tahoe before we headed north to Yosemite National Park.

Fallen Leaf Lake

We went biking in Truckee and there was a huge hill that was hard to pedal up, but fun to ride down

Mia walking on the beach off the side of Rubicon Trail out of D.L. Bliss State Park

                Our drive to Yosemite wasn't nearly as long as our drive from Yellowstone to Lake Tahoe, and the campground was nice.  But we spent most of our time in Yosemite National Park, which was only a few minutes from our campground.  Even though we only did two trails in Yosemite, they were both beautiful and definitely worth it.  The first trail was Yosemite Falls, which is an easy, paved trail to Upper and Lower Yosemite Falls.  Yosemite is known for its waterfalls, and I know why after seeing several, especially Nevada and Vernal Falls, which was our second trail.  We hiked to Nevada Falls via the John Muir Trail.  When you get to the first view of Nevada Falls, don't go down-- take the trail leading up, which will go to the top of Nevada Falls.  Then you cross the bridge at the top of Nevada Falls and take the stone steps down to the top of Vernal Falls.  From there, take the Mist Trail down.  This way is much easier and still gives you breathtakingly gorgeous views of both waterfalls.  

Our first night in the campground, the sunset turned the sky gorgeous colors

Mariposa Grove in southern Yosemite was pretty. However, if you're wanting to see lots of sequoias, try Sequoia National Park instead.  After all, the trees are in the name. 

A seqouia pinecone. My dad thought it was so cool, so I took a picture of it for him

The Ahwahnee Hotel in Yosemite Valley

The California Tunnel Tree

Fern Springs bubbles up from underground and was considered a sacred place to the indigenous Native Americans

Yosemite Falls

El Capitan, a popular rockclimbing destination.  When we would drive past El Capitan, we'd often spot rockclimbers on its imposing stone walls. 

Tunnel view lets you see all the major landmarks.  El Capitan is the monument on the left, the Three Brothers are on the right, and in the distance is Half Dome. 

This chapel in the park still holds services 

May Lake, off of Tioga Road.

On our night driving Tioga Road, we were treated to such a beautiful sunset

Nevada Falls

Vernal Falls is one of the most beautiful waterfalls I've ever seen, especially with the rainbow across it

We only had a week in Yosemite, and then we headed to Las Vegas for a few nights.  In my next blog I'll write about our time in Fabulous Las Vegas, so be sure not to miss it!