Next we parked at Curry Village and hiked the Mist Trail. We started around 7AM with few groups on the trail with us. After 1k ft of elevation gain we stopped at Vernal Falls Footbridge for the views of Merced River. We hike less than a mile further up to get a view of Vernal Falls and feel the mist on our faces.
After Mist Trail we waited a few minutes for the Yosemite shuttle to take us to the Mirror Lake trail head. The hike to Mirror Lake was relaxing views of the massive rock walls and California squirrels.
At Mirror Lake, it was too inviting not to take my hiking boots off and step in. To say it was cold is an understatement. My feet and ankles felt like they were on fire after a few minutes in the ice cold glacier water.
For lunch we took the Yosemite shuttle back to Curry Village for pepperoni pizza, smash burgers, Yosemite beer, and ice cream at the Curry Village Dining Pavillion.
Next stop was another shuttle ride to the Yosemite Visitor Center and the Anzel Adams gallery. By this time the sun was overhead and the valley was starting to get hot. We picked up a couple of post cards and souvenirs and headed back to shuttle stop where we packed in like sweaty sardines headed with the hoard of hikers to Lower Yosemite Fallls.
Lower Yosemite Falls was beautiful. We were tired but the views of the falls invited us to muster the energy to get closer. The views of the Upper and Lower Yosemite falls were spectacular as we hiked the trail named for the lower warerfall. Reaching the base of the falls we welcomed the light breeze and mist from the water splashing on the rocks.
Back at the shuttle stop we crowded back on the bus for a 30 minute ride through the west valley loop back to Curry Village for t-shirts and the sad walk back to the car.
On the drive west through the valley we stopped to thank El Capitan for sharing the valley's treasures with us for the day and hopes that we will back again someday.
