Moose Loc: North Carolina

Thanks for that information. I do have the Pass and it is a great bargain as I've used it in several NP. Our plans would have us arriving in Mariposa on 5/20, Sun. and then the rest of the week for sightseeing the park, and other areas.

Moose Loc: North Carolina

Your book must be different from the one I have as I only paid $9.95 from Michael Fryes website. Its titled The Photographers Guide to Yosemite, published in 2000. He has that as an App for the Ipad.

picturedude Loc: Yosemite natl. park, Ca.

I'm home sick today, so I'll get back at you later today. In the meantime, get a Yosemite video from the library and watch it. If you can't get a video, get a book. Either one will give you ideas of what to see. You can also go to Yosemitepark.com for more ideas. We just got several more feet of fresh snow, but hopefully it will be gone when you get there. That's all for now, but I'LL GIVE YOU MORE LATER.

pigpen

Make sure you make it to Mariposa Grove.

Moose Loc: North Carolina

Looking forward to hearing more from you. Get well soon. I do have a book from Michael Frye, a photographer there in Mariposa, which is a very detail tour guide.

Moose Loc: North Carolina

Its on my list. Thanks for responding.

AVarley Loc: Central Valley, California

This is the one I purchased today thru Amazon. I did a search by the ISBN info. It sounds exactly like the one you just described for $9.95. I wonder why it's listed new $137.77? (which is why I thought it was a steal for $50 new). Or maybe it's out of print and has greater value these days?
Or maybe it comes with a bonus or something, not sure.

UPDATE! It IS the same book! I just peeked at Frye's website and it's there for $9.95. I feel like a giant horse's ass! GRRR. Major lesson learned today kids! :evil:

Is this the one?

tbissonn Loc: Boston

Try to get to Mono Lake at either sunset or sunrise.. Also, Bodi, which is an abandoned mining town is a treasure chest of photographic opportunities. Again, try to arrive in time to get
The warming light

Moose Loc: North Carolina

It is the same book. I looked on Amazon and "looked on the inside" and selected the back cover. At the very bottom it says $9.95. I would cancel your order if you have time and contact Amazon about the error. Hope you can get it cancelled. Then go on Michael Fryes sight and buy it there. That is really strange.

Moose Loc: North Carolina

I can't believe those book sellers are selling the new books for as much as $1200. What is going on here?

picturedude Loc: Yosemite natl. park, Ca.

Still real sick, but haven't forgot you....

Moose Loc: North Carolina

I emailed Michael Frye and he has a limited supply of his books available. Apparently when his book goes out of print, this is what happens. Booksellers can charge what they feel they can get away with.

Moose Loc: North Carolina

Hey, enough of that being sick. Hurry up and get well.

picturedude Loc: Yosemite natl. park, Ca.

Well, I'm up finally, last time I was this sick, I lost about 100 pounds. Anyway I'll fill you in with some ideas now and more later. I'm a tram driver / tour guide at the Mariposa grove of giant Sequoias. We are located 2 miles from the south entrance. We have just under 500 giants in our grove alone. Our tram ride is 7 miles/75 minutes long. All narrated. That's where you'll find the fallen tunnel tree, that's the tree that you'll see all the cars driving through. It fell in the winter of 1968-69 from too much snow. Drive 6 miles from the grove and you'll hit Wawona. Home of the famous Wawona hotel built in the 1880s. If you should stay there, you will likely have to share a community toilet and bathtub. There is the Pioneer center in Wawona also where you can see some of the actual buildings, a covered bridge, plus several old wagons and stagecoaches used back in the late 1800s. This is all free. There is also a beautiful 9 hole golf course there. We run a free shuttle bus service from Wawona to the Mariposa grove. Our parking lot at the grove isn't that large, so when it gets full, we close the gate and send the people to Wawona to park. Then we shuttle them back and forth. There is a Chevron gas station there, but I strongly advise getting gas outside the park, cuz it's usually at least a dollar a gallon more there. There is an old steam locomotive that will take you for a short ride through the forest. It's called the "Sugar pine railroad." It's on hwy 41, about 7-8 miles south of the south entrance. As you head for the valley floor from Wawona, you will come to the Glacier point turnoff in about 30 minutes. If the road is open then, you can't miss Glacier point. It's the second best attraction to see there. (The best thing to see is my tram tour. Ha ha ha) There is a public rest room at the turnoff you may want to use as I can't remember where you'll find the next one. You'll pass Badger pass ski resort along the way.Then before you hit Glacier point, you'll come to Washburn point. Right before you get there, you will come around a curve and all of a sudden, you'll be looking directly at Half dome. To the right of Half dome, you'll see some beautiful Waterfalls. Nevada falls, then it cascades down to Vernal falls. (Vernal falls is where that lady and her two friends fell to their death last year cuz they went over the safety rails and into the water JUST above the falls. The lady wanted a better camera angle.) This happened last June or July, and they finally found the third body the week before Christmas. Then when you get to Glacier point, you will see the most beautiful sight in the world. Half dome will be right in front of you. Take binoculars or a very good telephoto lens, and you can see the climbers on it. Both sides, free climbing on the front side, and using the cables on the right side. Plus you can see them walking across the top. Beyond Half dome, you'll see the Clark range, or keep looking to your left and you'll see Upper Yosemite falls and the valley floor. You can take a shuttle bus from the valley floor to Glacier point certain times of the year. I don't know when it starts though. And it does cost a few bucks each. Once you hit the valley floor, you're pretty much on your own. There is a free shuttle service that will take you all over. One of my favorite places to go when I'm on the valley floor is El Capitan. There is a very large meadow across from it where you can have a nice picnic while watching the climbers on El Cap. Again, you will need some good binoculars or telephoto lens, and even then, they can be hard to find. You are picking a great time frame to visit the park, school is still in session, and the crowds are minimal. When you get to the grove, ask for John, it would be great to meet you. Also, get the video "The National parks, Americas best idea." It's a 6 DVD set that covers most of our parks. It is a Ken Burns video, and a VERY good one. I get it from my library. While you're at it, get the book "Off the wall, Death in Yosemite", it covers every death in the park since it opened. And there are just under 1000.Anywhere from falling to drowning to natural death. It sounds morbid but it's very interesting. Everybody who has read it have been amazed. I've read it twice myself and plan to read it some more. Hope this has been helpful to you, and I look forward to meeting you when you visit. If I can help with anymore info, please don't hesitate to ask. You can also E-mail me directly. John

Moose Loc: North Carolina

John, thank you so much for that information. I'll definitely make an effort to meet you and take the tram ride. Thanks again and glad to hear you are feeling much better.
Bob