From my last post about Old Faithful, you may have thought me down on Yosemite. Nothing further from the truth!

On our first full day at the park, we had the fortune of enjoying a private “safari.” Despite the early 5:30 AM wake time, were not disappointed. Our guide, Steve, was like the Rick Steves of Yosemite, sharing with us local legends and helping us access areas off the beaten path.

Bison, antelope, elk aplenty – and we got a crash course on edible and medicinal plants. Should we have found ourselves stranded, I’m sure we would have lasted a full two hours (instead of just one).

No wolves, but lots of talk about their dens – and their greater (positive, apparently) impact on the park’s ecosystem. I won’t admit to understanding all of Steve’s stories or philosophies, but he was entertaining throughout. More importantly, he helped us see a side of Yosemite we would never have gotten on our own.

The final (half) day in the park, as we set out for Cody, Wyoming, included six or seven destinations. The top of the list – and by far one of the most awe-striking things I have ever seen – was Canyon Falls.

Pictures, at least from a phone, are unlikely to do it justice. The size, colors and intensity of the canyon impressed!

Speaking of colors, Mammoth Hot Springs offered a glimpse into exceptional geothermal activity and allowed us to witness the creation of marble.

Petrified Tree, 50 million years old, stood stoic and erect, reminiscent of… a magnificent Michaelangelo.

Mud Volcano boiled and bubbled – and stank of sulfur – akin to my visions of the witch’s brew in Hansel and Gretel.

More then the named places, the mapped locations, and the numerous buses-filled-with-tourists sites, the sheer magnitude of Yosemite – its vastness and vistas and uniqueness around every corner – is what most impressed me.

So did the foresight shown by reserving this land to ensure its unspoiled beauty.