PHOTO GALLERY - CALIFORNIA

Yosemite Falls Appears - Yosemite National Park, California  

A dense fog filled the Yosemite Valley on the morning of our excursion. The exasperated tour guide would say things like “In this direction, you would normally see Half Dome”, but today it was all invisible. Eventually the fog started to lift, and as we approached Yosemite Falls, Mother Nature revealed this eerie and glorious view of Lower Yosemite Falls, the final 320-foot drop of the highest waterfall in Yosemite National Park.

Nose of El Capitan - Yosemite National Park, California  

On this beautiful fall day in the Yosemite Valley, the Dogbane (or Indian Hemp) creates a brilliant yellow carpet leading through the young Incense Cedar trees to the base of the 3000-foot granite monolith known as El Capitan. In addition to being one of the most recognizable landmarks in Yosemite National Park, this iconic face, called the Nose of El Capitan, is often cited as the most famous rock-climbing route in North America.

Young Incense Cedar – Yosemite National Park, California

The Incense Cedar tree is the most widely known cedar species, and common in Northern California. They are fast growing when young, and can eventually reach over 150 feet high and live up to 1000 years. The wood’s pleasant scent gave rise to its name, and its use for cedar chests. This young Incense Cedar, growing among the giant sequoia trees in the Tuolumne Grove of Yosemite National Park, is holding on to the morning dew.

Redwood Giants - Humboldt Redwoods State Park, California 

The Rockefeller Forest is the world's largest coastal redwood forest, with some of the tallest trees, reaching over 350’ tall. Walking along the plush carpet of redwood needles, surrounded by a grove of these impossibly tall trees, is quiet and calming, but also humbling. These giants have been standing for over 1000 years, and will endure for years to come, which can put into perspective the importance we might give to daily issues.

Ready for Harvest – St. Helena, California

In the northern end of the Napa Valley, the St. Helena region is home to over 400 vineyards supporting more than 90 wineries. Behind the St. Helena Public Library, Turley Wine Cellars has their “Library Vineyard”, a living archive of nearly two dozen grape varieties, including Petite Syrah, Zinfandel, and numerous others, planted around 1900 and still telling their story today. On this beautiful fall day, the vines are laden with grapes ready for harvest