North Dome and Indian Rock

My season is fast drawing to a close.  My list of hikes I still need to complete is exponentially longer than the weekends I have left to do them in but I'm going to try my best anyway.  I had Columbus Day off and headed to North Dome.  I surprisingly easy hike with awesome views of Yosemite Valley and surrounding vistas.

Part of my hike went through an area that had a fire come very close to it.  I was intrigued by the sudden pink hue from the fire retardant that was dropped in the area.  Thankfully for you, I'm only posting two of the *cough* pictures I took of pink stuff.

 After some slight trail confusion, I found my way to the top of North Dome and enjoyed having the top all to myself the whole time I was up there.  There are perks hiking early in the morning and during shoulder season.  A view of the valley looking west.  You can just barely make out the Merced River flowing down there and the smoke of a fire on the south side of the valley above Bridalveil Fall.

I realize I must post a lot of photos of Half Dome from different angles in my blog.  Please don't be critical of this; it's the most easily recognizable rock in the park.  (And it is not the most frequently photographed rock in the world.  Plymouth Rock, Rock of Gibraltar, tons of southern Utah, and even Dome of the Rock and Rockefeller Center all appear on a Google search before Half Dome does.  I'm simply boosting rock self-esteem.)

Panoramic video from the top.

 See, I really was there.

 Even with all my caving experience, I don't think I could fit through this.

 On my way down, I took a side trail to explore Indian Rock.  I ate my lunch up there and highly enjoyed this random rock formation.

 Under the arch.

 TEXAS!  Oh yeah!

 And Half Dome again.  You can tell there was an elevation change from North Dome, yes?

All in all, a lovely day.  I love this park!  It's going to be hard to leave in a few weeks.