mikehaze- yeah they are huge and the pictures just don't do them justice, the grizzly giant's branches are big enough to be big trees themselves!!
Joe - thanks I almost ran shor ton batteries, the ones i took i thought had charged weren't charged. Finding a place to sell batteries in Yosemite isn't the easiest.
Jason- All pics are 5.1 mp Photobucket reduces them I believe. I can email full sized versions.
V8killer- wow is right, Pictures don't do it justice.
Clark- I still love you too, sweetheart.
Eric- I didn't have time to Treck anything that was mostly just half mile walks from the parking lot I only had a day really. The altitude did own me. a half mile walk with only a 500 ft elevation change and I was huffin good.
Boosted98GST- I got lucky sort of. The test engine I am working on in Reno ran into some issues so I was supposed to leave Friday and fly back Sunday night. But I asked my boss if I could stay the weekend, he said yes b/c its cheaper for the company. FTW
It is about a 2 hr drive from Mammoth lakes to Yosemite valley. The roads are Fun to drive. But if you drive them all day it gets a little old. Specially last night I didn't want to leave the valley and I waited till night fall. Deer are active and its just not good on roads with blind turns. I have all day today but I also have to drive back to Reno which is 3.5 hrs. So i'm not sure if I am up for a 4 hour detour. If anyone comes to Yosemite I would recommend camping onsite to avoid the drive.
I was also surprised to see how commercialized Yosemite Valley was. Gift shops, hotel, food. Very clean for the most part.