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Here’s a great story (and photo) by Jennifer that shows you don’t have to spend an entire day in Yosemite to have a great memory. Give it a read.

I’ve lived my entire life in Fresno, and my father’s family has had a cabin in Fish Camp since the 1940s, so trips to Yosemite have been frequent throughout my life. But one of the most memorable visits was also the shortest.

It was completely crazy and spontaneous, but I am so glad we did it. It was my shortest trip to Yosemite, ever, but it most definitely ranks as one of the most special, because of the spontaneity of the trip and being there at a time of day I’d never been there before. I rarely get the chance to experience that kind of stillness. Usually, no matter where I go in Yosemite, the sounds of civilization can be heard. This was the first time that I got a break from that. I got to go to church in a way I’d never been before, and it was highly invigorating to my soul.

Thanks for sharing your Yosemite, Jennifer.

El Capitan: start of the Nose. Photo by Jacqueline Pogg posted on Flickr by Xavier de Jauréguiberry.

Travel Guide Lonely Planet has come out with a list of the Worlds Top 10 Experiences for Thrill Seekers and guess what’s in the number 3 spot on the list, climbing in Yosemite.

Also on the list (in order) are: big shot ride in Las Vegas, a motorcycle-taxi ride in Thailand, parasailing in Acapulco, riverrafting on the Zambezi River in Africa, running with the bulls in Pamplona, Spain, climbing the Sydney Harbour bridge in Australia, swimming with sharks on Dyer Island in South Africa, taking an ‘Edge of Space’ flights in Russia and swimming with dolphins in New Zealand.

Personally I think number 1 should have been “Taking a Taxi Ride in Las Vegas” not the Big Shot. Taxi drivers there are NUTS!

Judy’s email she sent really made me think. Yosemite is a special place to each and every one. We each find our own little piece of it that fits in our world and we cling to that piece. That’s why I’ve decided to start something new.

Share Your Yosemite. Tell us your memory of Yosemite. Was it a trip with your Grandpa? Getting married at Glacier Point? Or even a story passed on from your Mom. Did you drive the car off into a tree? Skinny dip in Emerald Pool? Meet your husband or wife while working in the park? Send it in. Got a photo? Send it along too.

Here’s my Yosemite story: “My dad was the one who first took us to Yosemite. He was an amateur historian and loved all things from the Gold Rush so he loaded us in the car every chance he got and took us out to see the different interesting places in the foothills. Naturally he was into photography so I inherited that from him as well as his name. He passed away just after I finished high school. There’s not a day go by when I recount some story or lesson he taught us and it makes me smile.”

Now it’s your turn. Tell us what you remember about Yosemite. Send your stories and photos to share@yosemiteblog.com.

I got an email this morning from Judy asking about flying into Merced on Great Lakes Aviation. Honestly, I’ve never heard of Great Lakes nor was I aware Merced had commuter flights coming in. But it wasn’t that that spurred me to post, it was the second email I received from Judy that has a great backstory to it.

I thought I might try them in May when an old friend from Stockton is meeting me so we can spend my 70th birthday in Yosemite. I first visited in 1965, – my 25th birthday- soon after I came to the US and I was bowled over by the view at Gates of the Valley when we drove in from Sacramento. Little did I know it would become the magnet to draw my husband and me back year after year, mostly to the High Country. We were even married by Judge Pitts on the bridge early on the summer solstice. Pierrre passed away last month and so I am making pilgrimages there as often as possible this year to scatter his ashes and remember the wonderful times.

The finale will be Christmas Day at the Bracebridge with three wonderful women who gave us so much support especially this past year, as I was a caregiver for ten years, though only intensely this past year. He would have been 93 next week. He loved us all! A true Frenchman. Rona is coming from Seattle – also widowed and turning 65 a week or so earlier, Jane, my cousin, from London who is up for adventures(She did the Trans Siberian Railway to China when she retired) and Dyanne, an old neighbor, who survived raising two difficult teens when she was my neighbor but never moaned! We had people donate to the Yosemite Fund in his memory.

I was just a bit dubious of Amtrak at Christmas because of weather and the possibility of a storm closing the Grapevine so we would not get over in the bus. Have never ridden the rails but I have read the forum onTrip Advisor a while back of people from Irvine taking the train. I could drive, but it is a long way, and I was remembering tule fogs, too, and thinking do I need that!

I have ridden in tiny planes in the old days when flying into Anguilla BWI from San Juan PR and thinking they were held together with band aids and paperclips, figuratively speaking!

Let me know if you hear anything or if you ever have a chance to mention this in your blog. It seems so ridiculous the flights from here to Yosemite are not better. Years ago we flew direct to Fresno , rented a car and spent 36 hours seeing the sights with cousins who had a two day layover in LA en route to New Zealand in the days of Laker Airways.

Thank you Judy for the great emails. I love your stories.

Hopefully someone has flown on Great Lakes Aviation and can help us out.

Are you addicted to Farmville like my wife? Do you spend most of your waking hours on Facebook checking everyone’s status? Well then add us!

That’s right, Yosemite Blog is now on Facebook! Post your photos, and videos, start discussion, comment on posts or just say hi!

Here’s an interesting video about the Point Reyes Oyster Farm Scandal that took place while Neubacher was there. I’m a little disappointed the website doesn’t have any credibility by citing who made it, who endorses it, or even who made the video. There’s no way to tell if the people in the video were properly represented and not taken out of context.

Update: Nicole commented to say, “I produced the video and was present for the taping of all the participants. They were not taken out of context. My bad for not putting this info on the site.”

Thanks Nicole for clearing that up.

Today I spent the day shooting HD video all around Yosemite Valley. If you follow us on Twitter you probably noticed the steady stream of photos and twitvideos (video 1, video 2) as I hiked around and shot.

One of the nice things about hiking around today was that I pretty much had the park to myself. Until noon I hadn’t seen more than 9 people all morning. It’s nice to be able to shoot at Bridalveil and not have cars pulling in and out and doors slamming and people yelling. Or hike to Lower Yosemite Falls and shoot video anywhere you want to set up the tripod without the crowds.

Here’s some clips strung together from today’s video shoot. A full length feature will come at a later time. Right now, I’m beat and heading to bed. Enjoy the sound of water. Oh by the way, the video is in HD on YouTube (recommended) and the waterfalls, although not at their peak, are flowing nicely. You’ll see after you start the video.