Valley View, Yosemite Valley, Yosemite National Park, CA, 10/1/2008
Behold the Gates of the Valley! My mother and I enjoyed a brief visit to Yosemite in early autumn of 2008. At the end of our stay, we drove along Northside Drive toward the western exit of the park. I planned to drive right by the last pullout before the Pohono Bridge just as I had always done before. Because I was with my mother this time, I decided instead that we should try the view there. I'm so glad we did! It being mid-afternoon, I had no intention of making another photograph that day. Upon seeing the perfect side-lighting on the granite walls around Bridalveil Fall, I changed my mind. Now whenever I visit Yosemite Valley, I stop at Valley View. The Merced River runs slowly this time of year, acting as a reflecting pool and revealing more of its rocky riverbed. Across the river in front of its namesake waterfall is Bridalveil Meadow. Bridalveil Fall is all but idle in autumn. The granite walls at right are Leaning Tower and the western flank of Cathedral Rocks. The left gate of the valley is the grand monolith El Capitan.
