Yosemite Gathering -

[ichiu]

But, I can't go that weekend. My sister from boston's going to be in town with her husband and we don't get to see her much anymore. Darn.... maybe next time.


Ivan

[walterick]

If ever I've heard of one!

Rick

[adina]

Then I looked, and Yosemite is in California! I was thinking somewhere around Wyoming! Geography is obviously not my strong point.

And I have time off coming.....

adina

[Kokopeli]

Yellowstone.. I've be trying to get there for the past 3 years, but it still hasn't happened yet.

Since you have some time off coming up, why don't you join us??
~Brian

Then I looked, and Yosemite is in California! I was thinking somewhere around Wyoming! Geography is obviously not my strong point.

And I have time off coming.....

adina

[adina]

but I don't think my time off would include a flight across the country. Now if it were Yellowstone....

I'm holding out for the Kenosha gathering

adina

[kkraczek]

but I don't think my time off would include a flight across the country. Now if it were Yellowstone....

I'm holding out for the Kenosha gathering

adina

Kenosha? My hubby's from Racine... small world!

[kkraczek]

I really envy all of you getting together... looks like I missed the gathering in my neck of the woods! Have a great time!

[schrackman]

Good news, folks...I will have a new digital rebel to shoot with for the upcoming Yosemite outing! In addition to the new camera, I opted for a pair of sigma lenses--the AF 28-80 Aspherical Mini Zoom Macro & the AF 70-300 f4-5.6 DL Macro Super zoom lens. Am I excited for this trip? You betcha!

Ray

[Kokopeli]

Congrats on the new gear! My Dad has the Nikon version of the 70-300 and he really likes it a lot. I enjoy shooting with it on my D100 where it becomes a 105-450.

See you in a few weeks!
~Brian

[schrackman]

Thanks Brian and Penny!

Hey Penny, I'll buy that excuse if you do!

Well, I haven't had a chance to take pictures yet. The wife and I had to go to her sister's house in San Gabriel after work but I played with the lenses all the way down and I am already very impressed with the clarity. I could swear I was seeing clearer through the lens than with my own eyes, hehe. And I already know I'm gonna have lots of fun with the 70-300. That thing has some good reach to it. Batteries are now charging, and hopefully I'll have my first pics up tomorrow afternoon. That is, if I can figure the camera out by then.

Ray

[Kokopeli]

We'll be arriving late Friday night and can report in with whoever else is going to be there Friday evening.

Brian: Do you have any particular activities in mind? Are we all going to shoot together or all do our own thing and meet for dinner?

I know Ray hasn't been to Yosemite and I want him to see that view from Glacier Point -- FOR SURE! And, to check out the view from Washburn Point as well. Have you ever done Taft Point?

We've been to Yosemite a number of times and still have A LOT to see. Going at the end of May the roads to Tuolumne Meadows SHOULD be open and, with all the snow we saw there in January -- the meadows SHOULD be extra awesome.

If you've got a plan already worked out Brian -- just let us know!

We can hardly wait!!!

--Penny & Gene--

We've only been to Yosemite one other time and it was only for about half a day so we only saw what we could from the road. If you want to throw some ideas together, by all means, please do. I figured we'd stay together as a group at least one day and for those of us left on Sunday (I'm leaving for home early Monday) we could either stay together as a group or break into a couple small groups. Personally, I don't get the point of having a gathering only to have everyone go off on their own. Know what I mean? Plus, I don't think we could ask for better tour guides than the Bowhays!!! ;)

Anxiously awaiting the end of the month,
~Brian

[schrackman]

Hey Brian,

I hate to tell you this but there is a possibility that I may not be able to make the Yosemite gathering. One of the missionaries in the Philippines that our church supports will be coming to visit the U.S. for a couple of weeks starting May 26th, and I don't know yet what his schedule will be while he is here. But, I will know sometime this week whether or not I'll be able to go and will let you know also.

Ray

[Kokopeli]

Dear Brian:

You've only been there one time before and only stayed 1/2 a day -- YOU AIN'T SEEN NOTHING BRO!

Penny just wanted to make sure not to steal your thunder on this. We will be happy to be the tour guides. We've done Yosemite 5 times (maybe more) that I can remember, and tried to stay 3-4 days each time. We know our way around there fairly well but we always keep a map with us anyway. They give you a perfunctory map at the gate going in after you pay your $20 entrance fee. We have the National Parks card which allows us in free to any National Park in the U.S. <<< a GREAT bargain we get every year for only $50!

Okay, so we'll come up with an itinerary for the Group. What do think about everyone meeting Saturday morning around 6:00-6:30 a.m. for breakfast at Katie's Country Kitchen in Oakhurst and go from there? There's a lot of photo ops on the way even to the entrance gate. Then, you know after you get through the gate there's the huge redwoods on the right and then Wawona on the left LONG LONG before you get to Yosemite Valley. We've got a lot to see on Saturday, the earlier we can get to it, the better. Again, like Penny said, if you've never seen the view from Glacier or Washburn Point, you ain't seen NOTHIN,' it will take your breath away. When we get into Yosemite Valley, we can check out the IN YOUR FACE monoliths of El Cap, Three Brothers, Half-Dome, Cathedral Rock -- but wait there's more!!! We've got to do all the Falls, Bridalveil Falls, Horsetail, Nevada, Vernal, Illilouette and, of course Yosemite Falls. We shouldn't miss The Ahwahnee Hotel, we can do lunch there (much more affordable than dinner) or we can go into Curry Village for lunch. If the Tioga Road to Tuolumne Meadows is open we've got to take you to Olmstead Point and Tenaya Lake. We can pack in a lot in one day if you're up for it.

I'm posting a couple of pics to get us fired up. The first is taken in the Tioga Pass. You KNOW how tall pine trees can get at their tallest well, take a look at how small they look next to this rise of granite, and the second shot is in Yosemite Valley taken this past January with the snow around Yosemite Falls.

Today is the first of May, we've only got 28 days to go!

Best Regards,
Gene Bowhay
Woodland Hills, CA

Hi there Gene,

The NP Pass is a great deal. I usually get one every year as well since I try and get my kids to a couple mew NPs each year as well as revisit ones we've already been to.

I cannot begin to tell you how excited I am about this trip and how much more excited I got after reading your post.. Man, I am SOOOOOO jazzed we are all making this trip. I've been trying to get a Yosemite Gathering going for the past 2 (possibly 3) years.

Your suggestions sound great. I'm up for meeting for breakfast Sat morning, though I think from where I am staying (Bass Lake) Oakhurst is going away from Yosemite. Regardless, the boys and I will be there for breakfast.

The rest of the agenda sounds awesome. I'm really looking forward to having y'all show us around. And as far as anyone "stealing my thunder"... This trip isn't about me, it's about all of us and strengthening our "community" ties, growing from our experiences and growing our friendships beyond words on a page. That's what I'm in it for anyway. ;)

27 days and counting..
~Brian

[Kokopeli]

I know we were all looking forward to meeting you!!

How cool is it that you'll get to meet one of the Missionaries though? I completely understand you not being able to make it.. Yosemite'll be around for many gatherings to come and I'm sure I'll put together a few more SoCal get-togethers as well.
~Brian

[racingpinarello]

On Sunday, I would love to head up to the high country like Toulumne Meadows. It's about 45mins from the Valley Floor and it's amazing. They are opening Tioga pass on May 14th so we're set to have fresh access to this area. I highly recommend it and it's less traveled than the floor.

Otherwise we will need to do some hiking to get some vantage points, but I'm open to anything. The Valley Floor is the true testament of what makes California so amazing, IMO.

As for equipment, you will see me with my Mamiya 7ii and EOS3, and maybe my Mk2 , if it ever shows up. Otherwise, I will bring my 10D for fun shots.

Loren

[schrackman]

Brian,

Well, it looks like I will be making the Yosemite trip after all. Our missionary didn't get the amount of time he wanted on his visa so he'll be reapplying for another stay in June. So we'll be seeing you in a couple of weeks!

Ray

[Kokopeli]

Will enjoy having Terrence there to play with!

18 Days to go...
~Brian

[Kokopeli]

I'm sorry that the other deal fell through, but I'm glad that you and your wife will be able to join us!

See you in a few weeks!
~Brian

[dmdiaz]

Hello All,

I was just in Yosemite last weekend. It was perfect weather. You guys will have an awesome time!

David

[schrackman]

Hi David,

Thanks for the report. Since you were there last weekend, can you tell us how the falls are? Any snow? Wildlife?

Ray

[Kokopeli]

The Yosemite Gathering is just a couple days away and time is moving at a snail's pace. It's driving me batty!

Penny, Gene and I have been chatting a bit via e-mail and as it turns out we are all interested in doing some landscapes lit by moonlight. Although the moon won't be quite full yet, it will almost be (we'll be 5 to 7 days early) so we should still be able to pull some shots off, weather (and clouds) permitting.

I also took a couple minutes to look up the Lunar rise and set times for the Yosemite Valley and we are in luck, the moon will be out at "normal" hours. I'll post times below.

Moon times:
5/28 - Rise: 14:12 / Set: 01:49
5/29 - Rise: 14:58 / Set: 02:34
5/30 - Rise: 15:45 / Set: 03:20

Loren and Lionheart, give us an update as to when/if you'll be at the Gathering.. Anyone else who would like to join us feel free to chime in as well.

If anyone needs to reach me my cell # is 949-338-8085.

I'm looking forward to meeting all of you!

2 days more...
~Brian

[Kokopeli]

Thanks for the e-mail last night.

I agree, this could become a great photo opportunity, especially if all the elements come together.

I know Ray is planning to get up there around the time we are all planning to meet up so I'm guessing he'll be good to go as well. Ray, if I'm wrong, I apologize for speaking for you.;)

52 hours and 13.5 minutes to go...
~B