Joe Alexander

By late October in Yosemite National Park, the previous winter’s snow has mostly melted away.

Yosemite Valley Falls is dry and there are lower water levels in the Merced River and at Bridal Veil Falls.

Yosemite National Park is in eastern California, almost straight east across the state from San Francisco, and south of Reno, Nevada.

Official site: National Park Service: Yosemite

There is an area of whiter/lighter rock where there was a recent rockslide and sent tons of rubble into the valley.

They refer to late fall as “Rocktober” for the perfect weather for rock climbers.

Yosemite National Park is in eastern California, almost straight east across the state from San Francisco, and south of Reno, Nevada.

Official site: National Park Service: Yosemite

On the second day of my trip, I got to Yosemite Valley shortly after sunrise.

I ran into a couple of the locals as they were out having breakfast.

Official site: National Park Service: Yosemite

My first view of Half Dome way off in the distance while driving into Yosemite National Park on the Tioga Pass road.

Both photos are from the same spot – first zoomed in and then zoomed all the way out to give you a feel for the distance.

Yosemite National Park is in eastern California, almost straight east across the state from San Francisco, and south of Reno, Nevada.

Official site: National Park Service: Yosemite

I flew into Reno, Nevada to start my trip. From there I drove south into California and then west through the Yosemite National Park on the Tioga Pass road.

On the way I saw a little bit of last winter’s snow still on the mountains and got my first glimpse of Half Dome looming over the Yosemite Valley.

Yosemite National Park is in eastern California, almost straight east across the state from San Francisco, and south of Reno, Nevada.

Official site: National Park Service: Yosemite