Mono Lake and the tufa towers (should be a Dr. Seuss book)

While we were inYosemite, we took one day to explore the area. Mono Lake looked really interesting it was a drive but thought it would be worth it. It was a nice drive through the northern part of Yosemite also.
Mono lake  is a large, shallow saline soda lake formed at least 760,000 years ago as a terminal lake in an endorheic basin. The lack of an outlet causes high levels of salts to accumulate in the lake. These salts also make the lake water alkaline.

This desert lake has an unusually productive ecosystem based on brine shrimp that thrive in its waters, and provides critical nesting habitat for two million annual migratory birds that feed on the shrimp and blackflies called  the alkali flies. (millions and millions)

When the city of Los Angeles diverted water from the lake, it lowered the lake level, which imperiled the migratory birds. The Mono Lake Committee formed in response and won a legal battle that forced Los Angeles to partially replenish the lake level. 

Call them weird, call them bizarre, call them what you will, but the unusual rock formations that grace Mono Lake's shores are known to geologists as tufa (too'-fah). Tufa forms in a variety of ways at Mono Lake, but the most visible and remarkable formations are the towers that grace Mono's shoreline. 
The greatest concentration of these towers Tufa is essentially common limestone. What is uncommon about this limestone is the way it forms. Typically, underwater springs rich in calcium (the stuff in your bones) mix with lakewater rich in carbonates (the stuff in baking soda). As the calcium comes in contact with carbonates in the lake, a chemical reaction occurs resulting in calcium carbonate--limestone. The calcium carbonate precipitates (settles out of solution as a solid) around the spring, and over the course of decades to centuries, a tufa tower will grow. Tufa towers grow exclusively underwater, and some grow to heights of over 30 feet. The reason visitors see so much tufa around Mono Lake today is because the lake level fell dramatically after water diversions began in 1941.

Hello Darling

What's cool is when we put our feet in the water you can feel a soft smooth layer on your feet also when you walk the spring water is on the bottom and when it mixes with the salt water it is like you are mixing oil and water you get the cloudy swirl look. 

 (Dr Seuss where are you)

These are the alkali flies, they don't bite just annoying, much like the lovebugs in Florida.

YO YO YOsemite

Our travel to Yosemite was too hairy to talk about STUPID GPS (now this is a RV gps should not take you to place that RV shouldn't be, yeah right) it sent us out of the way on a narrow tow lane road up mountains that drop 1000 ft, narrow one lane bridges, 10% grades, brakes overheating) Oh sorry said I didn't want to talk about it........
Anyways we got to the campsite fairly close to the park. Yosemite is located in a deep deep valley so to get there you descend and descend and descend some more. Of course after prior to climbing crazy I had a pit in my stomach most of the time and Steve who is always calm had a tight butt so we say on this route.  After setting up Steve notice fluid on the tire (Oh no brakes hose....no mechanic is going to come to o no where place) "Long story short" with help from camp host Keith we were going to place some calls and did but in the morning when we could deal with it better, (still not thinking after the trip here). In the morning our first mechanic Stevey boy took a better look and thought that it was not the brakes. Okay then lets hit the park, didn't plan on going today because of the brakes, so lets go.

 So many wild fires happening 

 Many still not out ,this will effect some of the places that's on our trip

 Rock overhanging the road.

 Rock tunnel just entering the park

Welcome to Yosemite

First stop Bridal Veil short hike

Now off to see the Captain (no not Captain Morgan) 

El Capitan

 One of the best known icons for Yosemite

Yosemite's Upper Falls

Lower falls

Upper and Lower Falls nice hike after finding parking....

Lower Falls

 Headed to Glacier Point great overlook of the Valley. You can see Half Dome, Vernal Falls, Nevada Falls. A bit hazing from all the fires but not as bad as it has been.

These trees all have a neon green moss of them

Now is this a view or what. Amazing and HIGH

Half Dome

President Theodore Roosevelt, left, poses with John Muir for pictures on Overhanging Rock at the top of Glacier Point, near which the men camped in a hollow and awoke to five inches of snow in 1903.

This is overhanging rock. John Muir's thinking place. John Muir (1838-1914) was America's most famous and influential naturalist and conservationist, and founder of the Sierra Club.  

Muir devoted most of his time to the preservation of the Western forests. He petitioned the U.S. Congress for the National Park bill that was passed in 1890, establishing Yosemite National Park. The spiritual quality and enthusiasm toward nature expressed in his writings has inspired readers, including presidents and congressmen, to take action to help preserve large nature areas. Today Muir is referred to as the "Father of the National Parks" and the national park service has produced a short documentary about his life.

It's a marmot, we called him varmot the marmot

Tenaya Lake

So many beautiful spots and views in Yosemite.