Explore Nature with Your Children  

By John P. DeGrazio 

If I had a dollar for every Facebook post with a generic proclamation about how kids make their parents proud, I’d be a rich man. Facebook seems to be inundated with these types of posts that end with share if you are proud of your daughter or son. I find irony in these posts because it’s often a photo from someone else that is being shared by people with no connection to the post. Don’t be mistaken, I find it admirable for people to use this as a display of love, but I wonder how many parents stop at the share. What does that mean? My point is it would be much more meaningful if you were a parent that shared unique experiences with your own children that created an interesting photo or incredible memory.

There’s no better way to accomplish that than choosing an adventure in nature with your child to develop their confidence and your relationship as you explore the outdoors together. I had the opportunity to share an unforgettable adventure with my nine year old daughter this past weekend in Yosemite. We planned  a hike to the top of Yosemite Falls and Yosemite Point. Before we began the hike, we stopped along the Merced River to gaze upon El Capitan and the Three Brothers. We stood in silence as we absorbed the beauty of the moment.

Our hike up the trail was filled with as many teachable moments as there were photo opportunities. We discussed science, art, and a wide variety of subjects to take our minds off the steep climb. She really enjoyed lunch at our “special” spot where she had a chance to climb on some rocks and admire the face of Half Dome. It was a thrill for me to witness her enduring strength throughout the day, and I was extremely proud to trek with her. On the descent, she thanked me for taking her to such an awesome place and asked when we are going to try Half Dome. She is definitely becoming a true rock star.

Adventures come in all sizes. There are no mileage requirements. Whether you take your child for a walk in the park or just around the block, you are going to appreciate every tender moment you share with them. Then they may actually tell their friends how proud they are of you.

The Storm that Wasn’t  

By John P. DeGrazio 

Rain and snow were in the forecast for Yosemite yesterday so we showed some flexibility in rescheduling our events for the weekend. We flip-flopped a photo workshop with an adventure hike, and everything worked out perfectly.

As the leader of the hike, I was thrilled to be greeted by fresh snowfall as I entered the park. It was nothing more than a tease, though. The storms never materialized for more than twenty minutes.

I was excited to photograph a few partial clearings in the morning, but for most of the afternoon, the skies were gray and flat. Of course, on my way home, I noticed more clearing skies. I was already running late so I wondered if any photographers were able to capture some drama. Here are some of the panoramas I was able to capture in the morning and early afternoon.

Looking on the Bright Side 

By John P. DeGrazio 

Last week it rained for a couple days, and then it stopped. Soccer practice ended, and we were off. Making it to OMG Point is quite an adventure for a 4 year old who was up to the challenge. Sure, we hiked back with the aid of headlamps, but the memories and the burgers were worth it. Here’s a view of the setting sun from the point.

Yosemite and California are in desperate need of more precipitation. There is no doubting that fact. Last week’s storm helped but was just a proverbial drop in the bucket. This past weekend I had the opportunity to hike in Yosemite Valley in short sleeves during a very mild President’s weekend. It’s awkward to feel guilty for enjoying a Yosemite hike on a beautiful winter day, but if life throws you a can o peaches, you might as well enjoy them. Here is a panorama image I captured of El Capitan from the Merced River.

A February Ascent of Yosemite’s Most Famous Dome 

By John P. DeGrazio 

On Thursday I had an opportunity to do something I’ve never done before in Yosemite, summit Half Dome in February. After carefully selecting a group of friends, we set off on our journey from the trailhead parking lot. We were so confident we’d be back in about 8 hours, but something happened along the way. We were having too much fun. We spent an extended period of time on the summit celebrating several milestones including a birthday, a first winter ascent for 3 team members, and my first February climb up the cables. This is significant for me because I have now been atop Half Dome in every calendar month. When I took this photo of Pat descending the cables, I didn’t realize how much I liked the image. This was the day before the great storm of 2015 so the clouds were dancing all around us.

Here are some other panoramas from the day including one from a place I call Motivation Point and two other from the summit. This day confirmed many of my feelings about friendship & teamwork and also helped us all realize how fortunate we are to live in such an extraordinary place. To have the ability to wake up and take a short drive to hike Half Dome is is one of the great benefits of living in the Sierra Nevada as well as finding solitude in the beautiful wilderness.

Contact us soon if you want to join us for a Half Dome hike and take your own dramatic photographs. The permit lottery begins in March.

14 Reasons to backpack Yosemite in Winter 

By John P. DeGrazio 

For my final Panorama update of 2014, I’d like to share photos from my last foray into the Yosemite wilderness this year. The trip began at Badger Pass as we loaded our packs, put on our snowshoes, and hiked along the Glacier Point Road on a clear, crisp December morning. Our plan was to spend 3 days enjoying the iconic scenery above Yosemite Valley on the South Rim. My guests were a pair of adventurous Europeans making the most of their holiday visit to the US.

We were well prepared for this excursion but there is no real preparation for the cold overnight temperatures we experienced both nights. Fortunately, the wind was low, and the conditions were right for a winter campfire. Pieter, a former Belgian Scout, was a self proclaimed pyrotechnician who worked tirelessly to build a fire after an inauspicious first (and second and third) attempt. His tenacity earned him the nickname ‘Jack London’ for whom he and Pauline (originally from The Netherlands) were unfamiliar. With the additional heat from our blazing campfire, we spent each evening under the stars with bellies full of gourmet camp food until we were forced to escape the temporary comforts into our unheated tents. On the second night, we agreed to name our site Camp Johnny Cash for Pieter’s masterful work. Everybody loves Johnny.

The nights were rough, but the mornings were sublime.  Confidence ruled our second day, and as the sun warmed our souls, we explored the rim along the Pohono Trail. We chose an extended hike down toward civilization at Inspiration Point where we encountered seven people. The trail was crowded. After escaping the masses with a picnic at a semi-secret location off the trail, our group began the return journey with an almost 2000 foot elevation gain. It was hard work, but we were rewarded with some of the most fascinating views of El Capitan and the entire Yosemite High Country any of us had ever seen. Here are some panorama images from our trip.