Thanksgiving in Yosemite
During the Thanksgiving weekend, ISM took our international students on our annual trip to Yosemite National Park. First and foremost, the weather couldn’t have been better! Usually by this time of the year, most roads to famous Yosemite landmarks are closed due to snow. But snow hadn’t fallen this season! In fact, snow started falling the next day that we left the park, and the roads were closed for the winter season. Thank God for no snow falling during the trip!
Our first major stop was at the famous Tunnel View, we marveled at Yosemite Valley below us and at El Capitan, which is a 3000 feet vertical cliff that is part of the mountain ranges that formed the valley. At a distance, we barely recognized Half Dome and wondered how it got its shape. At our next destination, we got to see Half Dome at a much closer distance at Glacier Point. It was a breathtaking outlook towards this granite dome! The light from the sunset was receding up Half Dome just as we arrived. In the midst of taking pictures, we admired the grandeur of Half Dome and vastness of Yosemite Valley. Half Dome rises 4700 feet above the valley floor, and compared to me, at about 5 foot 6 inches, I realized how small I was.
The next day, we went to Lambert Dome in Tuolumne Meadows. Thank God the roads to get there were still open! It wasn’t an easy hike, especially in the freezing cold. Some parts of the trail were covered in ice and snow, so we had to be careful not to slip. When we finally got to the top, the view was even more rewarding. We just couldn't believe our eyes. Up on top of Lambert Dome, we were surrounded by mountain ranges carpeted with pine trees all the way to the base of the dome. It was just a timeless moment. Ask anyone on this trip, Yosemite is just amazing. In particular this trip, I thought it was well worth it to bring our international students to get a glimpse of God’s creation of nature and be awed by it.