1 00:00:00,541 --> 00:00:03,291 (soothing music) 2 00:00:02,000 --> 00:00:07,000 Downloaded from YTS.MX 3 00:00:05,578 --> 00:00:07,320 (dramatic music) 4 00:00:07,320 --> 00:00:09,603 - [Narrator] Where soaring granite peaks, 5 00:00:08,000 --> 00:00:13,000 Official YIFY movies site: YTS.MX 6 00:00:10,800 --> 00:00:13,993 waterfalls, among the world's tallest, 7 00:00:13,993 --> 00:00:18,640 sweeping meadows, and gigantic sequoias 8 00:00:18,640 --> 00:00:21,973 conspire to create a beauty beyond belief. 9 00:00:23,710 --> 00:00:27,413 Join us as we head skyward with rock jocks. 10 00:00:30,790 --> 00:00:32,660 Glide through the valley. 11 00:00:32,660 --> 00:00:34,720 - [Paraglider] Yeah baby! 12 00:00:34,720 --> 00:00:37,350 - [Narrator] Seek out the places where the deer, 13 00:00:37,350 --> 00:00:39,523 the bear, and the bear patrol roam. 14 00:00:40,700 --> 00:00:43,653 - [Man] No bear on scene, and damage to three vehicles. 15 00:00:45,760 --> 00:00:48,427 - [Narrator] And recharge at the queen of lodges. 16 00:00:50,730 --> 00:00:53,110 In a legendary landscape, 17 00:00:53,110 --> 00:00:54,130 we'll explore 18 00:00:56,060 --> 00:00:58,113 all the wonders of Yosemite. 19 00:00:59,230 --> 00:01:01,102 America's treasure. 20 00:01:01,102 --> 00:01:03,852 (dramatic music) 21 00:01:13,794 --> 00:01:15,980 (gentle music) 22 00:01:15,980 --> 00:01:18,590 The first visitors might have wondered 23 00:01:18,590 --> 00:01:19,763 if they were dreaming. 24 00:01:21,650 --> 00:01:25,260 Set amid Northern California's Sierra Nevada, 25 00:01:25,260 --> 00:01:28,703 Yosemite National Park reigns supreme. 26 00:01:31,040 --> 00:01:35,230 On the horizon, Mount Hoffman is the geographic center 27 00:01:35,230 --> 00:01:38,563 of the 750,000 acre area. 28 00:01:39,790 --> 00:01:43,980 Yet one valley, hailed as the incomparable valley, 29 00:01:43,980 --> 00:01:48,253 is so celebrated that many think it is Yosemite. 30 00:01:49,800 --> 00:01:53,840 - Although Yosemite Valley is only 5% of the park, 31 00:01:53,840 --> 00:01:56,913 it's where 95% of the visitors go. 32 00:01:58,330 --> 00:02:00,440 Yosemite Valley itself is only 33 00:02:00,440 --> 00:02:04,310 one mile wide, and seven miles long. 34 00:02:04,310 --> 00:02:06,729 However, Yosemite Valley contains 35 00:02:06,729 --> 00:02:10,310 the icons that people come to see. 36 00:02:10,310 --> 00:02:12,073 - [Narrator] Icons like El Capitan, 37 00:02:13,030 --> 00:02:16,103 one of the largest monoliths of granite on earth. 38 00:02:18,340 --> 00:02:21,923 Among the world's greatest concentration of granite domes, 39 00:02:21,923 --> 00:02:24,593 Half Dome dominates. 40 00:02:26,550 --> 00:02:29,630 Although it's actually 3/4 of a dome, 41 00:02:29,630 --> 00:02:32,863 the celebrated shape can be seen from all sides. 42 00:02:33,800 --> 00:02:35,263 And there's no other half. 43 00:02:36,460 --> 00:02:40,483 The face of the mountain eroded away, bit by bit. 44 00:02:42,530 --> 00:02:46,163 While Yellowstone is America's first national park, 45 00:02:48,020 --> 00:02:50,253 Yosemite set the stage. 46 00:02:53,120 --> 00:02:56,750 Profound beauty, and a botanical wonder, 47 00:02:56,750 --> 00:03:00,230 the giant sequoias were cause for President Lincoln, 48 00:03:00,230 --> 00:03:02,107 in the midst of the Civil War, 49 00:03:02,107 --> 00:03:04,267 to set aside land to be held 50 00:03:04,267 --> 00:03:08,083 for public use, resort, and recreation. 51 00:03:09,430 --> 00:03:12,000 - This was known as the Yosemite Grant, 52 00:03:12,000 --> 00:03:13,060 and was the first time 53 00:03:13,060 --> 00:03:15,120 in not only the history of this country, 54 00:03:15,120 --> 00:03:16,820 but the history of the world, 55 00:03:16,820 --> 00:03:18,560 that a piece of land was set aside 56 00:03:18,560 --> 00:03:21,189 strictly for preservation. 57 00:03:21,189 --> 00:03:23,856 (intense music) 58 00:03:24,907 --> 00:03:29,350 Powerful geological forces raised the Sierra Nevada 59 00:03:29,350 --> 00:03:30,683 to its present height. 60 00:03:31,980 --> 00:03:35,800 During the Ice Age some three million years ago, 61 00:03:35,800 --> 00:03:39,310 glaciers carved the U-shaped canyons. 62 00:03:39,310 --> 00:03:42,220 - If we look straight across and imagine that there was ice 63 00:03:42,220 --> 00:03:44,800 from the rim of the falls all the way 64 00:03:44,800 --> 00:03:46,513 almost over to where we are, 65 00:03:47,530 --> 00:03:49,430 That's a lotta ice. 66 00:03:49,430 --> 00:03:52,960 And a lot of weight, and a lot of power. 67 00:03:52,960 --> 00:03:56,270 As this ice was slowing moving through the valley, 68 00:03:56,270 --> 00:03:58,513 it just plucked rocks away. 69 00:04:00,890 --> 00:04:05,130 - [Narrator] Glacier handiwork created Yosemite Falls. 70 00:04:05,130 --> 00:04:09,330 At over 2,400 feet, it's the tallest 71 00:04:09,330 --> 00:04:11,768 waterfall in North America. 72 00:04:11,768 --> 00:04:14,518 (dramatic music) 73 00:04:19,165 --> 00:04:22,190 Across the valley, Bridal Veil Falls 74 00:04:22,190 --> 00:04:24,203 is named for its lacy mist. 75 00:04:26,130 --> 00:04:28,616 Powered by snow melt and gravity, 76 00:04:28,616 --> 00:04:32,264 peak season for waterfall watching is spring. 77 00:04:32,264 --> 00:04:34,931 (water roaring) 78 00:04:37,730 --> 00:04:42,550 With over 800 miles of trails, Yosemite is a Mecca 79 00:04:42,550 --> 00:04:45,700 for daytrippers and backpackers. 80 00:04:45,700 --> 00:04:48,657 According to Ann Marie Brown, guide and author of 81 00:04:48,657 --> 00:04:52,820 "250 Great Hikes in California's National Parks," 82 00:04:52,820 --> 00:04:57,410 the best way to get away from the crowds is to head up. 83 00:04:57,410 --> 00:04:59,410 - It's just a matter of truth 84 00:04:59,410 --> 00:05:02,680 that the vast majority of people will stop going 85 00:05:02,680 --> 00:05:04,680 as the elevation gets higher and higher. 86 00:05:06,640 --> 00:05:09,960 - [Narrator] Amid the many scenic climbs out of the valley, 87 00:05:09,960 --> 00:05:12,687 the Mist Trail is a must do. 88 00:05:12,687 --> 00:05:15,437 (pleasant music) 89 00:05:16,650 --> 00:05:21,320 It's here, Vernal Falls cascades over giant steps 90 00:05:21,320 --> 00:05:24,453 carved as glacial ice moved down the valley. 91 00:05:26,500 --> 00:05:29,510 The trail, a manmade work of art, 92 00:05:29,510 --> 00:05:32,033 runs right along the edge of the spray. 93 00:05:34,530 --> 00:05:38,163 The falls drop 317 feet. 94 00:05:40,100 --> 00:05:43,680 At its base, sunshine meets mist, 95 00:05:43,680 --> 00:05:47,890 light breaks into the vivid colors of the rainbow, 96 00:05:47,890 --> 00:05:51,010 all in a place that looks like Eden. 97 00:05:51,010 --> 00:05:53,760 (pleasant music) 98 00:05:56,460 --> 00:05:59,870 Nevada Falls is yet another perfect union 99 00:05:59,870 --> 00:06:02,073 of sky, rock, and water. 100 00:06:08,270 --> 00:06:11,203 The Mist Trail winds relentlessly up. 101 00:06:14,720 --> 00:06:18,460 For the super fit, with muscles aching for more, 102 00:06:18,460 --> 00:06:20,363 it's onward to Half Dome. 103 00:06:22,830 --> 00:06:27,830 In 1870, geologist Josiah D. Whitney declared that Half Dome 104 00:06:27,840 --> 00:06:31,002 would probably never been trodden by human foot, 105 00:06:31,002 --> 00:06:34,850 but hidden from his view, on the eastern side, 106 00:06:34,850 --> 00:06:38,290 a rocky buttress provides access. 107 00:06:38,290 --> 00:06:42,380 The shortest route, 17 miles round trip 108 00:06:42,380 --> 00:06:45,523 with an elevation gain of 4,800 feet. 109 00:06:47,110 --> 00:06:49,070 - At the bare minimum, you're gonna be on your feet 110 00:06:49,070 --> 00:06:50,420 for seven to eight hours, 111 00:06:50,420 --> 00:06:53,402 and then whatever time you spend on top of the Dome as well. 112 00:06:53,402 --> 00:06:54,950 But the rewards are huge. 113 00:06:54,950 --> 00:06:57,850 I mean, it's the outdoor equivalent of running a marathon. 114 00:06:59,860 --> 00:07:01,423 - [Narrator] A steep set of switchbacks 115 00:07:01,423 --> 00:07:04,193 acts like a grand StairMaster. 116 00:07:09,330 --> 00:07:13,983 On the shoulder of Half Dome, the climb borders on vertical. 117 00:07:16,060 --> 00:07:18,463 Things get more and more intense. 118 00:07:21,722 --> 00:07:22,700 - [Hiker] All right, here we go. 119 00:07:22,700 --> 00:07:24,543 - [Narrator] Until a pair of steel cables 120 00:07:24,543 --> 00:07:26,423 becomes a lifeline. 121 00:07:29,320 --> 00:07:31,437 - He's like, "I made it this far, I gotta do it." 122 00:07:32,840 --> 00:07:33,840 It's a little hairy. 123 00:07:35,020 --> 00:07:35,940 Gives ya some feeling of having 124 00:07:35,940 --> 00:07:38,033 achieved something noteworthy. 125 00:07:38,033 --> 00:07:39,343 - [Hiker] We're almost there! 126 00:07:39,343 --> 00:07:43,000 - [Narrator] It's a scramble to the lofty crest. 127 00:07:43,000 --> 00:07:48,000 - Difficult, but exhilarating and challenging and great fun, 128 00:07:48,640 --> 00:07:50,260 once you get to the top. 129 00:07:50,260 --> 00:07:51,333 - I'd add terrifying. 130 00:07:54,300 --> 00:07:55,950 - [Narrator] Those who make it to the summit 131 00:07:55,950 --> 00:07:59,260 say it's like the top of the world. 132 00:07:59,260 --> 00:08:00,318 - It's fantastic, isn't it? 133 00:08:00,318 --> 00:08:01,927 - It really is, it's just, 134 00:08:01,927 --> 00:08:04,641 it's sort of almost unreal, actually. 135 00:08:04,641 --> 00:08:07,391 (dramatic music) 136 00:08:14,940 --> 00:08:17,563 - [Narrator] There's no place like Yosemite. 137 00:08:19,610 --> 00:08:22,270 This legendary landscape is home 138 00:08:22,270 --> 00:08:25,233 to over 300 species of wildlife. 139 00:08:29,170 --> 00:08:33,485 The Western rattler, the park's only poisonous snake, 140 00:08:33,485 --> 00:08:38,023 ranges in color from yellowish to a smoky shade of black. 141 00:08:41,440 --> 00:08:44,678 Visitors rarely see or hear a mountain lion. 142 00:08:44,678 --> 00:08:46,370 (mountain lion growls) 143 00:08:46,370 --> 00:08:48,500 This biggest cat in North America 144 00:08:48,500 --> 00:08:52,313 is out and about, feasting on mule deer. 145 00:08:53,400 --> 00:08:55,430 Though encounters are unlikely, 146 00:08:55,430 --> 00:08:58,793 the park recommends not to hike alone. 147 00:09:03,853 --> 00:09:07,520 Yosemite's most popular mammal is its largest. 148 00:09:07,520 --> 00:09:11,170 Called black bears, most are shades of brown. 149 00:09:11,170 --> 00:09:14,090 Here, they don't always hibernate. 150 00:09:14,090 --> 00:09:15,470 - It depends on the elevation. 151 00:09:15,470 --> 00:09:20,470 At lower elevations, 2,000 feet, a bear may not hibernate, 152 00:09:20,670 --> 00:09:23,430 whereas at higher elevations it definitely will, 153 00:09:23,430 --> 00:09:25,490 but it all comes down to 154 00:09:26,340 --> 00:09:28,973 whether it has a food source available to it. 155 00:09:29,950 --> 00:09:33,440 - [Narrator] Yosemite Valley, the prime tourist destination, 156 00:09:33,440 --> 00:09:35,803 is also prime bear habitat. 157 00:09:36,680 --> 00:09:39,510 With a nose for food, and the steady flow 158 00:09:39,510 --> 00:09:43,210 of humans carrying it, bears get into trouble. 159 00:09:43,210 --> 00:09:46,783 By 1998, things were out of control. 160 00:09:48,670 --> 00:09:53,670 1,400 car break-ins, and $650,000 of property damage 161 00:09:54,730 --> 00:09:56,663 caught the attention of Congress. 162 00:09:57,580 --> 00:10:01,745 Increased funding allowed the park to focus on the problem. 163 00:10:01,745 --> 00:10:04,412 (intense music) 164 00:10:08,060 --> 00:10:09,380 - Probably another bear break-in. 165 00:10:09,380 --> 00:10:11,460 - [Narrator] At five o'clock in the morning, 166 00:10:11,460 --> 00:10:14,480 the bear management team is in the thick of it. 167 00:10:14,480 --> 00:10:17,230 - [Man] No bear on scene, and damage to three vehicles. 168 00:10:19,360 --> 00:10:21,784 - We have more than one bear that breaks into cars, 169 00:10:21,784 --> 00:10:25,463 but we have one bear who's really the main culprit. 170 00:10:28,080 --> 00:10:29,730 Oh my goodness, look at this car. 171 00:10:33,800 --> 00:10:36,030 - They just pulled in here. - Yeah? 172 00:10:36,030 --> 00:10:39,140 - Probably within the last hour and a half. 173 00:10:39,140 --> 00:10:40,910 The bears jumped up on the hood, 174 00:10:40,910 --> 00:10:42,130 walked over the top of it, 175 00:10:42,130 --> 00:10:45,370 then came down and pulled the window out. 176 00:10:45,370 --> 00:10:47,267 Good, good, good prints. 177 00:10:47,267 --> 00:10:49,560 - That's not a small bear either, is it? Look at that. 178 00:10:49,560 --> 00:10:52,020 - [Narrator] Bears will break in if they see anything 179 00:10:52,020 --> 00:10:53,983 even associated with food. 180 00:10:55,980 --> 00:10:57,723 - There's a whole cooler back there. 181 00:10:59,030 --> 00:11:01,910 - [Narrator] If they continue to frequent developed areas, 182 00:11:01,910 --> 00:11:04,283 they're monitored by collars and tags. 183 00:11:05,660 --> 00:11:07,180 - So I'm just running through the frequencies 184 00:11:07,180 --> 00:11:08,910 of bears that this could be. 185 00:11:08,910 --> 00:11:11,440 If it's a radio collar bear, 186 00:11:11,440 --> 00:11:12,860 we have a list of frequencies. 187 00:11:12,860 --> 00:11:14,460 I'm trying to see who's closest. 188 00:11:16,200 --> 00:11:18,692 - [Narrator] One bear has been spending a lot of time 189 00:11:18,692 --> 00:11:22,120 in the more populated parts of the valley. 190 00:11:22,120 --> 00:11:23,490 - [Sherri] And that makes us feel uncomfortable, 191 00:11:23,490 --> 00:11:25,480 because she may get too close to people then. 192 00:11:25,480 --> 00:11:27,430 We're gonna try to get a collar on her. 193 00:11:28,960 --> 00:11:31,438 - [Narrator] A bear trap is made more comfortable, 194 00:11:31,438 --> 00:11:34,323 then baited with a bag of food at the back. 195 00:11:35,300 --> 00:11:37,795 - So it goes in, and it grabs the bag of food, 196 00:11:37,795 --> 00:11:39,139 which pulls it down, 197 00:11:39,139 --> 00:11:41,150 and when it's pulled down, 198 00:11:43,938 --> 00:11:45,518 it just closes behind it. 199 00:11:45,518 --> 00:11:47,210 And we do have one bear who has figured this out, 200 00:11:47,210 --> 00:11:50,450 and he grabs the bag, and sticks his foot out, 201 00:11:50,450 --> 00:11:52,200 and catches the door. 202 00:11:52,200 --> 00:11:53,740 So we have one bigger trap 203 00:11:53,740 --> 00:11:54,900 that we always have to catch him in, 204 00:11:54,900 --> 00:11:57,863 because he has figured this whole system out. 205 00:11:59,010 --> 00:12:01,420 - [Man] Get outta here bear, get outta here! 206 00:12:01,420 --> 00:12:04,250 - One of the tools that we use to make the situation 207 00:12:04,250 --> 00:12:07,800 more negative for the bear, the conditioning more negative, 208 00:12:07,800 --> 00:12:09,213 is we use paintball guns. 209 00:12:09,213 --> 00:12:12,510 We had some clear paintballs specially designed for us, 210 00:12:12,510 --> 00:12:17,033 and they're just full of kind of a greasy oil in there. 211 00:12:18,734 --> 00:12:19,827 Get outta here bear, come on, move, 212 00:12:19,827 --> 00:12:21,130 get outta here, come on, move! 213 00:12:21,130 --> 00:12:23,130 You always wanna yell at the same time, 214 00:12:23,130 --> 00:12:25,540 so that they know a human is doing it. 215 00:12:25,540 --> 00:12:27,290 To reinforce that humans are scary. 216 00:12:31,590 --> 00:12:34,880 - [Narrator] Bears are so intelligent, wildlife experts say 217 00:12:34,880 --> 00:12:37,590 they only stay one step ahead of them. 218 00:12:37,590 --> 00:12:41,769 - We'd develop a bear-proof food locker, or a dumpster. 219 00:12:41,769 --> 00:12:43,490 Eventually, they figure it out 220 00:12:43,490 --> 00:12:45,923 and we have to come up with another design. 221 00:12:46,960 --> 00:12:48,580 - [Narrator] In the back country, 222 00:12:48,580 --> 00:12:50,903 bear resistant canisters are a must. 223 00:12:55,670 --> 00:12:58,940 Hanging food from trees no longer works. 224 00:12:58,940 --> 00:13:01,293 The bears caught on to the trick. 225 00:13:02,408 --> 00:13:03,603 - [Ranger] Hello, folks. 226 00:13:04,488 --> 00:13:05,321 - Hi. - Hello. 227 00:13:05,321 --> 00:13:06,240 - We're just out doing our bear rounds, 228 00:13:06,240 --> 00:13:08,050 making sure that all those little brownie bites 229 00:13:08,050 --> 00:13:10,520 and Oreo cookies get put away when you're done. 230 00:13:10,520 --> 00:13:11,353 - Yes. - Okay. 231 00:13:11,353 --> 00:13:13,880 - Oh you are too far from an open car. 232 00:13:13,880 --> 00:13:14,820 Because if it's open 233 00:13:14,820 --> 00:13:17,500 and you're not there, you're too far away. 234 00:13:17,500 --> 00:13:20,180 - [Narrator] To date, the park's tough love policy 235 00:13:20,180 --> 00:13:21,550 has paid off. 236 00:13:21,550 --> 00:13:25,013 Conflicts have been reduced by 80%. 237 00:13:28,410 --> 00:13:32,403 Beyond bears, Yosemite has a rich human history. 238 00:13:33,570 --> 00:13:36,560 Native Americans called the valley Ahwahnee, 239 00:13:36,560 --> 00:13:38,463 meaning place of gaping. 240 00:13:43,150 --> 00:13:44,860 Tucked away in the corner, 241 00:13:44,860 --> 00:13:47,695 amid tall trees and granite walls, 242 00:13:47,695 --> 00:13:50,380 the namesake Ahwahnee Hotel 243 00:13:50,380 --> 00:13:54,433 is the queen of national park lodges. 244 00:13:55,810 --> 00:13:59,863 Built on several levels, it's protected and private. 245 00:14:01,310 --> 00:14:03,510 - The granite ledges and walls of the valley 246 00:14:03,510 --> 00:14:05,863 actually seem to just keep extending out 247 00:14:05,863 --> 00:14:07,550 into the grounds of the Ahwahnee, 248 00:14:07,550 --> 00:14:09,400 and incorporate the building. 249 00:14:09,400 --> 00:14:13,350 It's brilliant, it's artistic, and it's natural, 250 00:14:13,350 --> 00:14:15,550 and it feels right to be here in the valley. 251 00:14:16,530 --> 00:14:18,330 - [Narrator] Celebrated park architect 252 00:14:18,330 --> 00:14:21,798 Gilbert Stanley Underwood left nothing to chance. 253 00:14:21,798 --> 00:14:25,753 Every detail blends into the beauty of the landscape. 254 00:14:26,930 --> 00:14:31,653 The four diamond hotel first opened its doors in 1927. 255 00:14:37,110 --> 00:14:39,663 The centerpiece is the Great Lounge. 256 00:14:40,900 --> 00:14:43,353 With a 24 foot beam ceiling. 257 00:14:46,100 --> 00:14:48,716 German Gothic wrought iron chandeliers 258 00:14:48,716 --> 00:14:52,693 cast a warm glow over an enormous space. 259 00:14:53,830 --> 00:14:56,530 Flanked by two stone fireplaces, 260 00:14:56,530 --> 00:14:58,763 there's a lot of detail to absorb. 261 00:14:59,600 --> 00:15:04,600 Despite the massive scale, it's warm and inviting, 262 00:15:04,614 --> 00:15:08,143 like being a guest in a country manor. 263 00:15:12,270 --> 00:15:16,100 Views of Yosemite Falls, Half Dome, 264 00:15:16,100 --> 00:15:19,133 and Glacier Point bring the outside in. 265 00:15:21,280 --> 00:15:23,800 The JKF Suite is named for the president 266 00:15:23,800 --> 00:15:26,153 who stayed here in 1962. 267 00:15:29,080 --> 00:15:31,673 It has a deck with a private view. 268 00:15:36,590 --> 00:15:40,910 Fine dining in the 34 foot trestle beam dining room 269 00:15:40,910 --> 00:15:43,933 is a quintessential Yosemite experience. 270 00:15:45,596 --> 00:15:46,429 (glasses clink) 271 00:15:46,429 --> 00:15:48,310 - Coming to a place that's going to 272 00:15:48,310 --> 00:15:50,450 cater to the special needs of guests, 273 00:15:50,450 --> 00:15:53,137 and to make your visit very memorable. 274 00:15:53,137 --> 00:15:55,570 (people clapping) 275 00:15:55,570 --> 00:15:58,330 - [Narrator] For many, there's a special connection 276 00:15:58,330 --> 00:16:00,833 to the Ahwahnee, and to Yosemite. 277 00:16:03,260 --> 00:16:05,930 While you're enjoying the great outdoors, 278 00:16:05,930 --> 00:16:09,413 take a moment to remember those who came before. 279 00:16:11,810 --> 00:16:14,342 The individual eternally linked with Yosemite 280 00:16:14,342 --> 00:16:17,967 is naturalist John Muir, who wrote, 281 00:16:17,967 --> 00:16:22,257 "No temple made with hands can compare with Yosemite." 282 00:16:23,860 --> 00:16:26,920 During industrial times, he excited people 283 00:16:26,920 --> 00:16:29,243 that a place like this even existed. 284 00:16:30,570 --> 00:16:32,250 - The United States is a new country. 285 00:16:32,250 --> 00:16:37,007 It didn't have the kind of history that Europeans had. 286 00:16:37,007 --> 00:16:40,700 Had American history, but not an ancient recorded history, 287 00:16:40,700 --> 00:16:42,520 or a history that had large buildings, 288 00:16:42,520 --> 00:16:44,270 cathedrals, et cetera. 289 00:16:44,270 --> 00:16:46,740 And what became the temples 290 00:16:46,740 --> 00:16:49,749 for the United States were these wild areas. 291 00:16:49,749 --> 00:16:51,730 (gentle music) 292 00:16:51,730 --> 00:16:54,620 - [Narrator] In 1890, Yosemite was set aside 293 00:16:54,620 --> 00:16:56,943 as America's third national park. 294 00:16:59,840 --> 00:17:03,770 Two years later, Muir co-founded the famed Sierra Club, 295 00:17:03,770 --> 00:17:05,613 dedicated to conservation. 296 00:17:07,290 --> 00:17:11,233 He described the Sierra as the Range of Light. 297 00:17:12,800 --> 00:17:15,070 Another visionary, America's premier 298 00:17:15,070 --> 00:17:17,720 landscape photographer Ansel Adams, 299 00:17:17,720 --> 00:17:20,293 opened the public's eye in a different way. 300 00:17:23,360 --> 00:17:25,960 - Ansel came to Yosemite for the first time in 1914, 301 00:17:26,860 --> 00:17:27,920 and fell in love with it, 302 00:17:27,920 --> 00:17:30,110 and came back every year of his life. 303 00:17:30,110 --> 00:17:31,669 - [Narrator] Hiking the back country, 304 00:17:31,669 --> 00:17:35,583 he became familiar with the ever changing patterns of light. 305 00:17:37,910 --> 00:17:39,860 - He definitely caught the moment. 306 00:17:39,860 --> 00:17:43,500 The moment, the one second where the light had changed. 307 00:17:43,500 --> 00:17:46,090 The one moment where the clouds were covering the valley, 308 00:17:46,090 --> 00:17:49,323 that's what Ansel did that no one else could do. 309 00:17:50,240 --> 00:17:52,149 - [Narrator] Every day around the park, 310 00:17:52,149 --> 00:17:56,903 amateurs and professionals are out to get the perfect shot. 311 00:17:58,680 --> 00:18:00,240 - [Guide] What I'm gonna do right now is I'm gonna show you 312 00:18:00,240 --> 00:18:02,620 a photograph that Ansel took in this meadow. 313 00:18:02,620 --> 00:18:06,000 - [Narrator] The Ansel Adams Gallery, a park institution, 314 00:18:06,000 --> 00:18:09,685 leads photo walks that follow in Ansel's footsteps. 315 00:18:09,685 --> 00:18:11,500 - We're gonna talk about how to create 316 00:18:11,500 --> 00:18:13,713 light and motion and depth of field. 317 00:18:15,110 --> 00:18:17,263 - [Narrator] Ansel Adams loved Yosemite. 318 00:18:18,250 --> 00:18:20,000 Yet there was one special spot 319 00:18:21,150 --> 00:18:24,203 amid the rarefied air of the high country. 320 00:18:25,400 --> 00:18:27,520 - He took Sierra Club trips in there when he was 321 00:18:27,520 --> 00:18:29,964 sort of leading some of the trips for them, 322 00:18:29,964 --> 00:18:33,888 and they jokingly said, "Ansel, you love this place so much, 323 00:18:33,888 --> 00:18:38,150 "we should call that mountain up there Mount Ansel Adams." 324 00:18:38,150 --> 00:18:42,040 In fact, that became Mount Ansel Adams after he died. 325 00:18:42,040 --> 00:18:46,143 Then we put his ashes there in 1986 on his mountain. 326 00:18:47,225 --> 00:18:50,760 (birds chirping) 327 00:18:50,760 --> 00:18:54,260 - [Narrator] Although Ansel Adams never met John Muir, 328 00:18:54,260 --> 00:18:57,550 both men left a legacy of conservation 329 00:18:57,550 --> 00:19:00,773 that continues to be an inspiration. 330 00:19:03,424 --> 00:19:06,890 (dramatic music) 331 00:19:06,890 --> 00:19:10,906 Yosemite is the centerpiece of the Sierra Nevada, 332 00:19:10,906 --> 00:19:13,940 the longest continuous mountain range 333 00:19:13,940 --> 00:19:16,730 in the continental United States. 334 00:19:16,730 --> 00:19:21,300 Much of the park lies above 7,500 feet. 335 00:19:21,300 --> 00:19:24,923 Called high country, it has a rugged splendor. 336 00:19:27,220 --> 00:19:29,610 From Olmsted Point, the back half 337 00:19:29,610 --> 00:19:32,193 of Half Dome looms in the distance. 338 00:19:33,320 --> 00:19:37,580 Giant boulders left behind by receding glaciers 339 00:19:37,580 --> 00:19:40,423 look like the work of extraterrestrials. 340 00:19:44,520 --> 00:19:47,060 Amid hundreds of glacial carved lakes, 341 00:19:47,060 --> 00:19:49,373 Tenaya is the largest. 342 00:19:52,100 --> 00:19:54,563 A lone kayaker cruises by. 343 00:19:56,360 --> 00:19:59,940 Framed by granite walls and sandy beaches, 344 00:19:59,940 --> 00:20:02,433 the water is icy cold. 345 00:20:06,300 --> 00:20:08,530 The Tuolumne River meanders through 346 00:20:08,530 --> 00:20:12,570 the largest subalpine meadow in the High Sierra. 347 00:20:12,570 --> 00:20:14,840 - We're at the gateway to the High Sierras. 348 00:20:14,840 --> 00:20:17,990 We are at 8,600 feet above sea level, 349 00:20:17,990 --> 00:20:19,500 and there's trails that go up 350 00:20:19,500 --> 00:20:22,693 to elevations over 10, 12,000 feet. 351 00:20:24,320 --> 00:20:25,830 - [Narrator] Surrounded by high peaks, 352 00:20:25,830 --> 00:20:29,657 it's lush, cool, inviting. 353 00:20:32,048 --> 00:20:33,533 A meeting place for all. 354 00:20:36,310 --> 00:20:39,950 - And then there is the crest, which the Tioga Pass road 355 00:20:39,950 --> 00:20:42,363 reaches almost 10,000 feet above sea level, 356 00:20:43,290 --> 00:20:46,523 and from there you can hike up to high elevation peaks 357 00:20:46,523 --> 00:20:49,551 that have this magnificent scenery. 358 00:20:49,551 --> 00:20:52,290 (gentle guitar music) 359 00:20:52,290 --> 00:20:54,870 - [Narrator] Tioga Pass is the highest point 360 00:20:54,870 --> 00:20:58,710 in the Sierra Nevada that can be crossed by road. 361 00:20:58,710 --> 00:21:03,440 The Tioga Pass Resort has been a stopoff since 1916. 362 00:21:03,440 --> 00:21:05,350 - I'll have rocky road, thanks. 363 00:21:06,960 --> 00:21:08,200 Thank you. 364 00:21:08,200 --> 00:21:09,730 - [Narrator] On the park's border, 365 00:21:09,730 --> 00:21:12,563 this local hangout is an institution. 366 00:21:14,020 --> 00:21:17,640 With rustic guest cabins, and a general store, 367 00:21:17,640 --> 00:21:20,290 things here never seem to change, 368 00:21:20,290 --> 00:21:22,390 and that's a good thing. 369 00:21:22,390 --> 00:21:25,650 At the old fashioned diner, the food's good, 370 00:21:25,650 --> 00:21:27,429 and the coffee's hot. 371 00:21:27,429 --> 00:21:28,660 - [Server] All right, homemade pie. 372 00:21:28,660 --> 00:21:31,800 We have blueberry, apple, and apricot. 373 00:21:35,150 --> 00:21:38,020 - [Narrator] It's not the only touch of civilization. 374 00:21:38,020 --> 00:21:41,480 For those willing to go the extra mile, or miles, 375 00:21:41,480 --> 00:21:43,620 the High Sierra camp system, 376 00:21:43,620 --> 00:21:46,960 continuously operating since 1923, 377 00:21:46,960 --> 00:21:50,370 is unique in America's national parks. 378 00:21:50,370 --> 00:21:53,960 - So we have a series of camps, including Tuolumne Meadows, 379 00:21:53,960 --> 00:21:55,410 that would be six. 380 00:21:55,410 --> 00:21:58,070 And you can actually hike to each one of the camps. 381 00:21:58,070 --> 00:22:00,467 They're only five to 10 miles apart from each other, 382 00:22:00,467 --> 00:22:03,160 so very easily accessible on foot, 383 00:22:03,160 --> 00:22:04,913 or by a saddle pack trail. 384 00:22:09,090 --> 00:22:11,810 - [Narrator] A seasonal treat, the camps are only open 385 00:22:11,810 --> 00:22:15,603 from mid-June to mid-September, weather permitting. 386 00:22:16,580 --> 00:22:19,590 Tuolumne Meadows Lodge, the logical spot 387 00:22:19,590 --> 00:22:21,830 to begin a loop trip, has the only 388 00:22:21,830 --> 00:22:24,103 tent cabins reachable by road. 389 00:22:25,080 --> 00:22:27,530 - One of the questions I get asked most often 390 00:22:27,530 --> 00:22:29,310 is what the heck is a tent cabin? 391 00:22:29,310 --> 00:22:32,360 Well, it's basically a raised wooden floor off the ground, 392 00:22:32,360 --> 00:22:33,680 just a couple of feet, 393 00:22:33,680 --> 00:22:35,360 and then you have canvas siding 394 00:22:35,360 --> 00:22:37,486 and a canvas tent on the top. 395 00:22:37,486 --> 00:22:41,340 And you'd be surprised how well it can keep the weather out, 396 00:22:41,340 --> 00:22:43,060 and the warmth in. 397 00:22:43,060 --> 00:22:45,423 Even in really chilly conditions. 398 00:22:46,330 --> 00:22:48,084 - [Narrator] A stay at the high country cabins 399 00:22:48,084 --> 00:22:52,273 is so coveted, reservations are made by lottery. 400 00:22:54,564 --> 00:22:56,530 (gentle guitar music) 401 00:22:56,530 --> 00:22:59,723 Camp May Lake faces Mount Hoffman. 402 00:23:00,960 --> 00:23:03,460 - The thing that's really unique about the high camps 403 00:23:03,460 --> 00:23:05,687 is that each one has its own topography, 404 00:23:05,687 --> 00:23:08,090 own location, very different setting 405 00:23:08,090 --> 00:23:10,387 because of the different elevations. 406 00:23:10,387 --> 00:23:12,460 - [Narrator] In this neck of the woods, 407 00:23:12,460 --> 00:23:14,460 people tend to slow down, and chill out. 408 00:23:15,726 --> 00:23:17,129 (people chattering) 409 00:23:17,129 --> 00:23:19,712 (bell dinging) 410 00:23:20,686 --> 00:23:23,353 (bugle blaring) 411 00:23:26,089 --> 00:23:28,339 - Good evening, May Lakers! 412 00:23:29,747 --> 00:23:32,497 Come on in for a fabulous dinner! 413 00:23:33,910 --> 00:23:37,163 - [Narrator] Home cooked meals fuel a hiker's appetite. 414 00:23:40,560 --> 00:23:43,000 Among the high country camps, 415 00:23:43,000 --> 00:23:46,210 Vogelsang is at the highest altitude. 416 00:23:46,210 --> 00:23:51,006 With 1,400 feet of elevation gain, the air thins. 417 00:23:51,006 --> 00:23:53,923 (thunder rumbling) 418 00:24:00,680 --> 00:24:05,680 Nestled on a mountainside, Vogelsang is a welcoming sight. 419 00:24:06,489 --> 00:24:09,322 (water trickling) 420 00:24:10,400 --> 00:24:13,350 - It's the highest, and it's granite. 421 00:24:13,350 --> 00:24:14,850 You know, it's just granite everywhere, 422 00:24:14,850 --> 00:24:16,300 and you can see where you're gonna hike, 423 00:24:16,300 --> 00:24:19,093 and there's a multitude of peaks to climb. 424 00:24:20,684 --> 00:24:23,434 (dramatic music) 425 00:24:26,600 --> 00:24:29,827 - [Narrator] Above the tree line, Vogelsang Pass 426 00:24:29,827 --> 00:24:33,703 looks over the vast expanse of the high country. 427 00:24:40,404 --> 00:24:42,019 As day turns to night, 428 00:24:42,019 --> 00:24:44,923 the mountains light up with alpenglow. 429 00:24:48,760 --> 00:24:50,250 Guests begin to grasp 430 00:24:50,250 --> 00:24:53,579 what the Yosemite wilderness is all about. 431 00:24:53,579 --> 00:24:56,329 (dramatic music) 432 00:25:04,020 --> 00:25:07,230 Behind the formation of Yosemite Valley's 433 00:25:07,230 --> 00:25:10,690 massive domes and cliffs, eight different 434 00:25:10,690 --> 00:25:13,373 types of granite shape the scenery. 435 00:25:15,700 --> 00:25:18,470 Flanking the valley, El Capitan, 436 00:25:18,470 --> 00:25:22,883 Spanish for The Captain, rises over 3,000 feet. 437 00:25:24,962 --> 00:25:26,063 - It's quite a big rock. 438 00:25:27,050 --> 00:25:28,710 When you first drive into the valley, you know, 439 00:25:28,710 --> 00:25:30,820 it doesn't fit into your windshield. 440 00:25:30,820 --> 00:25:32,883 So, you know that's a big rock. 441 00:25:35,800 --> 00:25:37,300 - [Narrator] While most people are content 442 00:25:37,300 --> 00:25:41,863 to gaze up in awe, others go for immediate contact. 443 00:25:43,790 --> 00:25:46,910 Clean surfaces, high quality rock, 444 00:25:46,910 --> 00:25:49,900 and a gravity defying level of difficulty 445 00:25:49,900 --> 00:25:54,343 make Yosemite one of the world's top climbing destinations. 446 00:25:56,870 --> 00:26:00,483 From El Cap Meadow, people catch the El Cap show. 447 00:26:01,810 --> 00:26:04,473 It's man and woman versus a monolith. 448 00:26:06,860 --> 00:26:08,850 When the route up the nose of El Cap 449 00:26:08,850 --> 00:26:11,680 was first climbed in 1958, 450 00:26:11,680 --> 00:26:14,623 it opened up mega possibilities for the sport. 451 00:26:17,230 --> 00:26:19,590 - Goes up those cracks that diagonal up and right, 452 00:26:19,590 --> 00:26:21,550 into that crescent shaped crack, 453 00:26:21,550 --> 00:26:23,360 and then you can see people there, 454 00:26:23,360 --> 00:26:25,780 and then you do a little pendulum swing 455 00:26:25,780 --> 00:26:28,860 into those cracks that go straight on up. 456 00:26:28,860 --> 00:26:30,740 Those are the stove leg cracks, 457 00:26:30,740 --> 00:26:35,620 and you end up in those upper dihedrals up there. 458 00:26:35,620 --> 00:26:38,010 - [Narrator] To date, over 90 different routes 459 00:26:38,010 --> 00:26:42,910 vary in length, but the average ascent takes four days. 460 00:26:44,380 --> 00:26:47,110 Only the best opt to free climb it, 461 00:26:47,110 --> 00:26:51,173 where partners use ropes and gear strictly for protection. 462 00:26:55,580 --> 00:26:57,317 - Free climbing El Cap is definitely 463 00:26:57,317 --> 00:27:00,303 just as much a mental game as a physical game. 464 00:27:01,450 --> 00:27:05,300 Because there's so much that goes along with it, 465 00:27:05,300 --> 00:27:08,100 and you have to deal with being scared, being tired, 466 00:27:08,100 --> 00:27:10,900 and just all the logistics 467 00:27:10,900 --> 00:27:14,603 of staying on a wall 3,000 feet in the air. 468 00:27:16,640 --> 00:27:20,140 - [Narrator] In the vertical world, you're on your own. 469 00:27:20,140 --> 00:27:22,973 There's no competency test, or park permit. 470 00:27:24,600 --> 00:27:27,115 - Climbing is pretty self-limiting. 471 00:27:27,115 --> 00:27:30,163 You make a mistake up there, and you die. 472 00:27:31,600 --> 00:27:33,270 I would say a good percentage of the parties 473 00:27:33,270 --> 00:27:36,950 don't make it on their first few tries up El Cap. 474 00:27:36,950 --> 00:27:38,980 It's a big deal. 475 00:27:38,980 --> 00:27:42,070 - [Narrator] The goal is to be successful on the descent, 476 00:27:42,070 --> 00:27:44,390 and train for the next time. 477 00:27:44,390 --> 00:27:47,015 - So what we need now is everyone needs a helmet. 478 00:27:47,015 --> 00:27:48,016 What we're gonna do first 479 00:27:48,016 --> 00:27:49,915 is we're gonna actually do a little bouldering. 480 00:27:49,915 --> 00:27:50,790 One size should fit everyone. 481 00:27:50,790 --> 00:27:54,690 - [Narrator] Since 1969, the Yosemite Mountaineering School 482 00:27:54,690 --> 00:27:58,013 and Guide Service has been teaching all levels of rock jocks 483 00:27:58,013 --> 00:28:00,960 the art of self protection. 484 00:28:00,960 --> 00:28:03,060 - Toes up, heels down, straighten your legs. 485 00:28:03,060 --> 00:28:05,410 - [Narrator] It's no surprise they're considered 486 00:28:05,410 --> 00:28:08,920 some of the most skilled big wall athletes in the world. 487 00:28:08,920 --> 00:28:10,320 - So push and pull motion here. 488 00:28:10,320 --> 00:28:11,210 Look at my left hand. 489 00:28:11,210 --> 00:28:12,220 It's never leaving the rope. 490 00:28:12,220 --> 00:28:14,633 - [Narrator] Classes cover basics and more. 491 00:28:15,590 --> 00:28:16,470 - [Guide] You're gonna be moving 492 00:28:16,470 --> 00:28:18,566 over to the right, both hands. 493 00:28:18,566 --> 00:28:21,793 - [Narrator] It's a lot harder than it looks. 494 00:28:22,980 --> 00:28:26,760 - If you let go, certainly she's gonna fall, okay? 495 00:28:26,760 --> 00:28:28,533 So the idea is you're tied in. 496 00:28:30,124 --> 00:28:31,633 - [Guide] Way to go Meg, good job. 497 00:28:34,450 --> 00:28:37,900 - [Narrator] In the 1930s, rope climbing took hold here 498 00:28:37,900 --> 00:28:40,630 with techniques brought over from Europe. 499 00:28:40,630 --> 00:28:43,480 By the 1940s, routes up the bigger walls 500 00:28:43,480 --> 00:28:46,230 were made possible by a Yosemite invention, 501 00:28:46,230 --> 00:28:50,290 hammering steel pitons into the rock. 502 00:28:50,290 --> 00:28:53,733 Using gear, climbers engineered their way up. 503 00:28:55,690 --> 00:29:00,440 The 1960s and '70s were the golden age of climbing, 504 00:29:00,440 --> 00:29:03,730 and Yosemite was the epicenter. 505 00:29:03,730 --> 00:29:07,813 The sport evolved, as athletes sought out ways to excel. 506 00:29:11,960 --> 00:29:13,780 Many who chartered virgin routes 507 00:29:13,780 --> 00:29:15,890 began their day at Camp Four, 508 00:29:15,890 --> 00:29:19,628 now listed on the National Registry of Historic Places. 509 00:29:19,628 --> 00:29:22,378 (dramatic music) 510 00:29:26,900 --> 00:29:28,850 - As a young guy coming in this place 511 00:29:28,850 --> 00:29:31,680 it had a sense of a carnival going on, 512 00:29:31,680 --> 00:29:36,480 and an athletic event, a revolution of some kind. 513 00:29:36,480 --> 00:29:39,450 Every moment, breathing, walking, climbing moment here 514 00:29:39,450 --> 00:29:41,000 had a sense of adventure to it. 515 00:29:44,080 --> 00:29:46,183 - [Narrator] More than a place to pitch a tent, 516 00:29:46,183 --> 00:29:49,913 Camp Four was a forum for an emerging sport. 517 00:29:52,870 --> 00:29:55,244 Although times have changed, the spirit 518 00:29:55,244 --> 00:29:59,884 and camaraderie of the pioneering days remains. 519 00:29:59,884 --> 00:30:02,220 - So if you guys climb Beggar's Buttress in the morning, 520 00:30:02,220 --> 00:30:04,120 we climb Moratorium in the morning, 521 00:30:04,120 --> 00:30:06,373 we can get like a six man team on Half Dome. 522 00:30:07,760 --> 00:30:09,630 - It's interesting to see to this day 523 00:30:09,630 --> 00:30:11,250 how many people are all around climbing 524 00:30:11,250 --> 00:30:12,321 that they still have the passion 525 00:30:12,321 --> 00:30:15,573 to make that trip from faraway places to fulfill a dream. 526 00:30:16,990 --> 00:30:19,073 So that legacy is still going on. 527 00:30:21,790 --> 00:30:24,800 - I think one of the really unique things about Camp Four 528 00:30:24,800 --> 00:30:28,520 is that it does not matter what language you speak, 529 00:30:28,520 --> 00:30:31,823 and that we all have climbing as our common language. 530 00:30:34,860 --> 00:30:38,208 - [Narrator] In the 1970s, the invention of the modern cam 531 00:30:38,208 --> 00:30:40,293 opened up a whole new realm. 532 00:30:42,190 --> 00:30:45,363 Clean climbing is done without damaging the rock. 533 00:30:48,330 --> 00:30:50,420 Record setter Beth Rodden shows us 534 00:30:50,420 --> 00:30:53,253 what separates the good from the best. 535 00:30:54,566 --> 00:30:58,950 Yosemite's system rates difficulty on a 5.0 to 5.14 scale. 536 00:31:01,260 --> 00:31:06,013 At 5.13, the Phoenix is one tough climb. 537 00:31:07,190 --> 00:31:09,630 - The Phoenix has a lot of finger locks, 538 00:31:09,630 --> 00:31:12,260 which means you stick your fingers in the crack 539 00:31:12,260 --> 00:31:13,926 and then you torque them downwards 540 00:31:13,926 --> 00:31:16,330 to try and cam them in there, 541 00:31:16,330 --> 00:31:18,040 so you can then move your body up, 542 00:31:18,040 --> 00:31:19,970 and it also has a lot of hand jams 543 00:31:19,970 --> 00:31:21,620 where you put your hand in, 544 00:31:21,620 --> 00:31:23,420 and then you pull yourself in there. 545 00:31:27,470 --> 00:31:31,110 - [Narrator] Crack climbing is fairly unique to Yosemite. 546 00:31:31,110 --> 00:31:33,870 Because it's so hard to maintain balance, 547 00:31:33,870 --> 00:31:36,533 many new techniques were developed here. 548 00:31:38,320 --> 00:31:41,100 - There is a whole repertoire of movements that you learn, 549 00:31:41,100 --> 00:31:43,806 and that you might call on depending on the situation, 550 00:31:43,806 --> 00:31:46,848 and sometimes it's just the way you might lean, 551 00:31:46,848 --> 00:31:49,430 lean with your shoulder or what we call a flag move, 552 00:31:49,430 --> 00:31:50,680 where you stick your foot out real far 553 00:31:50,680 --> 00:31:52,300 so you can extend further. 554 00:31:52,300 --> 00:31:55,510 So it has a dance-like gymnastic style movement, 555 00:31:55,510 --> 00:31:57,513 which is quite interesting when you're climbing 556 00:31:57,513 --> 00:31:58,830 and you look at a rock and think, 557 00:31:58,830 --> 00:32:00,570 how will I fit into that? 558 00:32:00,570 --> 00:32:02,900 So it's kind of a never-ending opportunity 559 00:32:02,900 --> 00:32:05,500 to learn about how to move yourself, how to breathe. 560 00:32:10,488 --> 00:32:12,180 (upbeat music) 561 00:32:12,180 --> 00:32:14,910 - [Narrator] For an aerial tour of Yosemite Valley, 562 00:32:14,910 --> 00:32:17,503 guaranteed to get your adrenal glands going, 563 00:32:19,850 --> 00:32:21,970 on weekends during the summer, 564 00:32:21,970 --> 00:32:24,990 a group of men and women and their flying machines 565 00:32:24,990 --> 00:32:26,553 gather along Glacier Point. 566 00:32:27,960 --> 00:32:29,620 - Clear! - Yah, yah! 567 00:32:31,573 --> 00:32:34,660 - [Narrator] 3,200 feet above the valley floor, 568 00:32:34,660 --> 00:32:38,720 a harness, a hang strap, and a 30 foot wingspan 569 00:32:38,720 --> 00:32:41,613 are all that separate a float, from a fall. 570 00:32:53,340 --> 00:32:55,980 - Pilot hooks in here, with his harness. 571 00:32:55,980 --> 00:32:57,965 Most pilots fly in a prone position, 572 00:32:57,965 --> 00:33:02,010 so they're in this attitude flying the glider. 573 00:33:02,010 --> 00:33:05,387 And to load up a right turn, 574 00:33:05,387 --> 00:33:08,210 you just move over to the right side of the control frame, 575 00:33:08,210 --> 00:33:10,840 and the glider starts to create the right turn. 576 00:33:10,840 --> 00:33:12,400 To make the glider go up, 577 00:33:12,400 --> 00:33:14,270 you simply push the bar away from you. 578 00:33:14,270 --> 00:33:17,346 It noses the glider up, and you start to climb. 579 00:33:17,346 --> 00:33:19,460 To bring the glider down, you just pull in 580 00:33:19,460 --> 00:33:21,563 and you start your descent. 581 00:33:23,750 --> 00:33:25,440 Putting them together in combinations 582 00:33:25,440 --> 00:33:27,360 that creates some aerobatic maneuvers, 583 00:33:27,360 --> 00:33:29,973 make the rollercoaster rides look like child's play. 584 00:33:33,260 --> 00:33:35,780 - [Narrator] Only certified pilots are permitted 585 00:33:35,780 --> 00:33:37,533 to take this flying leap. 586 00:33:39,150 --> 00:33:41,767 - When you plan on flying in Yosemite National Park, 587 00:33:41,767 --> 00:33:43,533 you're at your sharpest game. 588 00:33:44,586 --> 00:33:47,445 And you have everything pumping in your body, 589 00:33:47,445 --> 00:33:49,600 your heart's beating out of your chest 590 00:33:49,600 --> 00:33:52,450 no matter how many times you've done this before. 591 00:33:52,450 --> 00:33:54,690 - Please report hang gliding monitor. 592 00:33:54,690 --> 00:33:57,120 We have five hang glider pilots ready and raring to launch. 593 00:33:57,120 --> 00:33:58,928 Are we clear for launch? 594 00:33:58,928 --> 00:34:00,060 - [Woman] Yes fine, go ahead. 595 00:34:00,060 --> 00:34:01,720 - We have clearance, surf's up. 596 00:34:02,745 --> 00:34:04,629 All right guys, surf's up! 597 00:34:04,629 --> 00:34:07,212 (upbeat music) 598 00:34:14,346 --> 00:34:15,408 - [Pilot] You get up in the sky, 599 00:34:15,408 --> 00:34:19,203 it's just the kind of euphoria that's hard to describe. 600 00:34:22,240 --> 00:34:23,700 You know, we have granite cliffs, 601 00:34:23,700 --> 00:34:26,330 and the waterfalls that we get to soar over, 602 00:34:26,330 --> 00:34:28,928 and we're fortunate enough to see the valley 603 00:34:28,928 --> 00:34:31,403 in a way that nobody else gets to see it. 604 00:34:42,280 --> 00:34:44,927 - [Narrator] Granite cliffs and peaks aren't the only things 605 00:34:44,927 --> 00:34:47,690 supersized in these parts. 606 00:34:47,690 --> 00:34:49,670 These lands were first set aside 607 00:34:49,670 --> 00:34:52,570 to protect a botanical wonder. 608 00:34:52,570 --> 00:34:55,010 The Mariposa Grove has the park's 609 00:34:55,010 --> 00:34:58,470 biggest stand of giant sequoias. 610 00:34:58,470 --> 00:35:01,360 - The giant sequoias are the largest living things on earth, 611 00:35:01,360 --> 00:35:02,893 in terms of total volume. 612 00:35:04,520 --> 00:35:08,760 Some trees are taller, some trees are bigger in diameter. 613 00:35:08,760 --> 00:35:11,340 Some trees live to a longer age, 614 00:35:11,340 --> 00:35:14,553 but the giant sequoia in terms of volume is the largest. 615 00:35:15,580 --> 00:35:18,880 - [Narrator] Weighing over two million pounds on average, 616 00:35:18,880 --> 00:35:22,073 to grasp the size of a sequoia isn't so simple. 617 00:35:25,630 --> 00:35:28,380 Compare it to the Statue of Liberty, 618 00:35:28,380 --> 00:35:30,313 a human six feet tall, 619 00:35:31,420 --> 00:35:33,770 or the Fallen Monarch, a tree famous 620 00:35:33,770 --> 00:35:36,340 for a photograph of the US Cavalry 621 00:35:36,340 --> 00:35:38,003 positioned along its trunk. 622 00:35:41,840 --> 00:35:44,350 The California Tunnel Tree was tunneled 623 00:35:44,350 --> 00:35:47,563 in 1895 for stagecoach tours. 624 00:35:49,344 --> 00:35:50,224 - [Woman] And this is Grace, 625 00:35:50,224 --> 00:35:51,864 do you remember what the tree's name is? 626 00:35:51,864 --> 00:35:53,160 - [Grace] No. 627 00:35:53,160 --> 00:35:56,350 - [Woman] Remember it was the Grizzly Giant? 628 00:35:56,350 --> 00:35:58,161 - [Narrator] The grove's most celebrated tree 629 00:35:58,161 --> 00:36:00,253 is the Grizzly Giant. 630 00:36:01,690 --> 00:36:04,200 - The most recent studies suggest that the Grizzly Giant 631 00:36:04,200 --> 00:36:07,003 is probably close to 1,800 years old. 632 00:36:07,840 --> 00:36:09,960 Give or take a few years. 633 00:36:09,960 --> 00:36:13,310 It's got huge branches, very gnarled. 634 00:36:13,310 --> 00:36:18,220 It's lost its top, so it only rises to about 210 feet. 635 00:36:18,220 --> 00:36:21,360 It's about 96 feet in circumference, 636 00:36:21,360 --> 00:36:24,260 and about 30 feet in diameter. 637 00:36:24,260 --> 00:36:25,400 - I can't see the top. 638 00:36:25,400 --> 00:36:27,380 - It seems like a very big bird 639 00:36:27,380 --> 00:36:30,223 should live in such a big tree, doesn't it? 640 00:36:32,140 --> 00:36:34,879 - [Narrator] One of the fastest growing trees on earth, 641 00:36:34,879 --> 00:36:39,540 sequoias require upwards of 1,000 gallons of water a day, 642 00:36:39,540 --> 00:36:41,373 and plenty of sunshine. 643 00:36:45,240 --> 00:36:48,760 Known to live over 3,200 years, 644 00:36:48,760 --> 00:36:51,400 the secret to longevity is a sap 645 00:36:51,400 --> 00:36:53,563 resistant to fire and decay. 646 00:36:54,520 --> 00:36:56,810 - The telescope tree is phenomenal. 647 00:36:56,810 --> 00:36:59,270 That tree has been gutted by fire, 648 00:36:59,270 --> 00:37:01,020 literally struck by lightning at the top, 649 00:37:01,020 --> 00:37:02,860 eaten up by fire at the bottom. 650 00:37:02,860 --> 00:37:05,800 You can stand in the tree, and see the sky. 651 00:37:05,800 --> 00:37:10,360 The tree is alive, and it's producing cones, it's growing. 652 00:37:10,360 --> 00:37:12,943 (gentle music) 653 00:37:14,050 --> 00:37:16,600 - [Narrator] The Native American word Wawona 654 00:37:16,600 --> 00:37:19,230 was meant to imitate the hoot of an owl, 655 00:37:19,230 --> 00:37:21,963 the guardian spirit of the big trees. 656 00:37:23,876 --> 00:37:26,660 (woman hooting) 657 00:37:26,660 --> 00:37:29,704 In a study of the effects of fire on wildlife, 658 00:37:29,704 --> 00:37:34,200 US geological survey researcher Susan Roberts and her team 659 00:37:34,200 --> 00:37:35,870 tread deep into the woods 660 00:37:35,870 --> 00:37:39,300 in search of the California spotted owl. 661 00:37:39,300 --> 00:37:42,983 To find them, she's mastered their territorial calls. 662 00:37:44,570 --> 00:37:47,042 - And it goes a little bit like this. 663 00:37:47,042 --> 00:37:49,709 (Susan hooting) 664 00:37:51,330 --> 00:37:54,160 And that's more along the tone of a male. 665 00:37:54,160 --> 00:37:56,200 And that's the call that they use 666 00:37:56,200 --> 00:37:58,720 to say this is our territory. 667 00:37:58,720 --> 00:38:03,410 And they'll have contact calls between the two pairs, 668 00:38:03,410 --> 00:38:05,640 and one of them is what's going on behind me, 669 00:38:05,640 --> 00:38:07,876 what we call a contact whistle. 670 00:38:07,876 --> 00:38:10,230 (owl whistling) 671 00:38:10,230 --> 00:38:12,070 - [Narrator] This bird of prey has evolved 672 00:38:12,070 --> 00:38:14,710 into a killing machine, with night vision 673 00:38:14,710 --> 00:38:16,800 far superior to humans, 674 00:38:16,800 --> 00:38:19,650 and hearing much more acute. 675 00:38:19,650 --> 00:38:22,440 - They have what we call asymmetric ear placement, 676 00:38:22,440 --> 00:38:26,750 so they have maybe one ear here, and one ear a little lower, 677 00:38:26,750 --> 00:38:28,398 and the ability to turn their head, 678 00:38:28,398 --> 00:38:32,380 they can't turn it 360 degrees like a lot of people think, 679 00:38:32,380 --> 00:38:34,999 but they can turn it and look behind them. 680 00:38:34,999 --> 00:38:37,550 They can focus in on a sound, 681 00:38:37,550 --> 00:38:40,130 and almost don't even need to see to be able to pinpoint 682 00:38:40,130 --> 00:38:41,170 where that mouse is, 683 00:38:41,170 --> 00:38:43,470 or where the flying squirrel is on the ground. 684 00:38:44,920 --> 00:38:46,510 - [Narrator] Curved talons are designed 685 00:38:46,510 --> 00:38:48,123 to grasp hold of prey. 686 00:38:49,980 --> 00:38:53,330 Layers of filaments and feathers filter out the wind, 687 00:38:53,330 --> 00:38:55,643 making it a silent flyer. 688 00:38:58,781 --> 00:39:00,583 A male and female mate for life. 689 00:39:01,610 --> 00:39:03,501 This sensitive species won't nest 690 00:39:03,501 --> 00:39:07,220 unless conditions are optimal. 691 00:39:07,220 --> 00:39:09,840 The spotted owl isn't listed as endangered, 692 00:39:09,840 --> 00:39:12,650 but its reproductive rate is dwindling. 693 00:39:12,650 --> 00:39:15,190 According to Susan, national parks 694 00:39:15,190 --> 00:39:17,750 are critical to wildlife research. 695 00:39:17,750 --> 00:39:20,970 - We're just trying to find a little pellet. 696 00:39:20,970 --> 00:39:24,710 We have forests the way they were 500, 600 years ago. 697 00:39:24,710 --> 00:39:26,960 To have it to see what it would look like as a visitor, 698 00:39:26,960 --> 00:39:29,863 and to have it for science is just beyond precious. 699 00:39:31,960 --> 00:39:34,280 - [Narrator] The part of the park called Wawona 700 00:39:34,280 --> 00:39:35,600 was once the halfway point 701 00:39:35,600 --> 00:39:38,630 between Yosemite Valley and the foothills. 702 00:39:38,630 --> 00:39:41,663 Today, it's the historical center of the park. 703 00:39:43,210 --> 00:39:46,743 Cross a covered bridge, and step back in time. 704 00:39:48,770 --> 00:39:51,473 A collection of old cabins from various locations 705 00:39:51,473 --> 00:39:56,463 is set in a timeline from the 1870s to the 1920s. 706 00:39:57,370 --> 00:40:01,323 There's an original ranger's patrol cabin, and a jail. 707 00:40:02,990 --> 00:40:05,610 When roads were rugged, a blacksmith's shop 708 00:40:05,610 --> 00:40:08,413 was more of a repair shop for wagons and harnesses. 709 00:40:11,632 --> 00:40:12,465 - You get the award for the first 710 00:40:12,465 --> 00:40:14,543 triangle of the day I think, look at that. 711 00:40:15,710 --> 00:40:16,603 Wow! 712 00:40:19,530 --> 00:40:21,330 - [Narrator] At the Wells Fargo building, 713 00:40:21,330 --> 00:40:24,259 people once bought stagecoach tickets to the park. 714 00:40:24,259 --> 00:40:27,009 (wagon rattling) 715 00:40:30,660 --> 00:40:35,660 The Wawona Hotel, one of California's oldest resort hotels 716 00:40:35,670 --> 00:40:38,243 dates back to the 1870s. 717 00:40:39,330 --> 00:40:41,020 The main building and cottages 718 00:40:41,020 --> 00:40:43,663 have Victorian era detail and charm. 719 00:40:45,210 --> 00:40:48,103 Inside, the parlor is furnished with period pieces. 720 00:40:52,379 --> 00:40:54,380 To harken back to simpler times, 721 00:40:54,380 --> 00:40:56,779 wide verandas are for dining, 722 00:40:56,779 --> 00:40:59,573 and lawn chairs are for relaxing. 723 00:41:01,030 --> 00:41:04,860 The golf course, considered state of the art in 1917 724 00:41:04,860 --> 00:41:07,010 is still a challenge. 725 00:41:07,010 --> 00:41:08,821 While you're perfecting your swing, 726 00:41:08,821 --> 00:41:11,273 keep an eye out for coyotes. 727 00:41:15,179 --> 00:41:19,900 For an unexpected retreat into old world elegance, 728 00:41:19,900 --> 00:41:22,490 outside the park's Wawona entrance, 729 00:41:22,490 --> 00:41:27,490 the Chateau du Sureau, means castle by the elderberries. 730 00:41:27,690 --> 00:41:29,250 This five diamond member 731 00:41:29,250 --> 00:41:32,330 of the prestigious Relais & Chateaux Organization 732 00:41:32,330 --> 00:41:34,203 is a dream destination. 733 00:41:37,340 --> 00:41:39,979 With only 12 rooms, a stay here 734 00:41:39,979 --> 00:41:43,693 is all about privacy and hospitality. 735 00:41:46,530 --> 00:41:49,110 - The great manor houses of Europe in the old days, 736 00:41:49,110 --> 00:41:53,050 when the affluent invited their friends over, 737 00:41:53,050 --> 00:41:54,950 it was all about, they knew 738 00:41:54,950 --> 00:41:56,660 they were gonna be taken care of. 739 00:41:56,660 --> 00:41:58,230 They had this beautiful bedroom, 740 00:41:58,230 --> 00:42:00,960 and there was a staff assigned to them, 741 00:42:00,960 --> 00:42:03,227 and they just were spoiled. 742 00:42:03,227 --> 00:42:06,033 It's a different kind of stay. 743 00:42:06,033 --> 00:42:09,360 (people chattering) 744 00:42:09,360 --> 00:42:11,633 - [Narrator] At Erna's Elderberry House Restaurant, 745 00:42:11,633 --> 00:42:14,513 artful dishes are always evolving. 746 00:42:18,010 --> 00:42:21,810 - I believe food parallels all other art forms, 747 00:42:21,810 --> 00:42:23,637 and when you dive into photography, 748 00:42:23,637 --> 00:42:27,440 or get into the waterfalls out here, 749 00:42:27,440 --> 00:42:29,750 it shows in the plate also. 750 00:42:29,750 --> 00:42:32,393 I think we have a pretty beautiful product. 751 00:42:35,660 --> 00:42:37,294 - [Narrator] The dining room with chandeliers 752 00:42:37,294 --> 00:42:42,294 and impeccable tablescapes is yet another idyllic setting. 753 00:42:43,960 --> 00:42:47,453 - Beauty makes your soul feel good. 754 00:42:47,453 --> 00:42:50,967 It's important that we still remember how it used to be, 755 00:42:50,967 --> 00:42:52,530 and that it does feel good. 756 00:42:56,393 --> 00:42:59,143 (dramatic music) 757 00:43:03,150 --> 00:43:04,693 - [Narrator] Yosemite's Merced River 758 00:43:04,693 --> 00:43:08,700 originates in the snowfields of the High Sierra, 759 00:43:08,700 --> 00:43:11,643 then descends over 12,000 feet. 760 00:43:15,690 --> 00:43:18,820 Explorers who came upon it after traveling through 761 00:43:18,820 --> 00:43:23,296 bone dry terrain called it "the River of Mercy." 762 00:43:23,296 --> 00:43:26,046 (pleasant music) 763 00:43:29,550 --> 00:43:33,043 A float through the park makes for effortless sightseeing. 764 00:43:39,176 --> 00:43:42,640 (people chattering) 765 00:43:42,640 --> 00:43:46,020 In the spring, outside the park's western boundary, 766 00:43:46,020 --> 00:43:50,193 the Merced becomes mighty with class three and four rapids. 767 00:43:51,680 --> 00:43:56,210 Frigid temperatures and swift currents 768 00:43:56,210 --> 00:43:58,523 make it one exhilarating ride. 769 00:43:59,729 --> 00:44:02,562 (people cheering) 770 00:44:06,580 --> 00:44:10,023 One of the most scenic stretches of wild river in the world, 771 00:44:11,800 --> 00:44:16,496 the Merced mirrors the lush and serene Yosemite Valley. 772 00:44:16,496 --> 00:44:18,940 (birds chirping) 773 00:44:18,940 --> 00:44:21,610 Once upon a time, there was a sister valley 774 00:44:21,610 --> 00:44:23,470 called Hetch Hetchy, 775 00:44:23,470 --> 00:44:26,413 a Native American word for meadow grass. 776 00:44:27,680 --> 00:44:32,475 This treasure now lies under a reservoir eight miles long, 777 00:44:32,475 --> 00:44:35,363 the park's biggest body of water. 778 00:44:36,940 --> 00:44:39,130 - So we're standing here looking at a reservoir, 779 00:44:39,130 --> 00:44:41,900 which you have to remember would never be built today. 780 00:44:41,900 --> 00:44:43,990 I mean, this is something that 100 years ago, 781 00:44:43,990 --> 00:44:47,590 people had a real different notion of national parks. 782 00:44:47,590 --> 00:44:50,463 - [Narrator] Even then, the dam was controversial. 783 00:44:51,540 --> 00:44:53,963 The saga began in 1906. 784 00:44:56,669 --> 00:44:59,910 In the aftermath of a great quake, 785 00:44:59,910 --> 00:45:02,803 San Francisco burned to the ground. 786 00:45:06,070 --> 00:45:08,930 - And so when some of the architects and engineers 787 00:45:08,930 --> 00:45:11,980 from the city of San Francisco came here to Yosemite, 788 00:45:11,980 --> 00:45:14,550 they saw the mouth of the Tuolumne River 789 00:45:14,550 --> 00:45:16,672 in the Hetch Hetchy Valley, and they had the idea 790 00:45:16,672 --> 00:45:18,263 to build a dam. 791 00:45:19,460 --> 00:45:21,500 - [Narrator] The proposed dam set the stage 792 00:45:21,500 --> 00:45:24,060 for John Muir's most bitter battle, 793 00:45:24,060 --> 00:45:25,533 and a national debate. 794 00:45:27,990 --> 00:45:30,230 - He thought that this was a cathedral, 795 00:45:30,230 --> 00:45:32,249 and to build a dam and fill up this water 796 00:45:32,249 --> 00:45:35,210 was basically like taking a cathedral 797 00:45:35,210 --> 00:45:36,097 and filling it with water, 798 00:45:36,097 --> 00:45:39,463 and it was desecration in its highest form. 799 00:45:40,830 --> 00:45:42,360 - [Narrator] In the end, progress 800 00:45:42,360 --> 00:45:44,903 and sympathy for San Francisco won out. 801 00:45:45,750 --> 00:45:49,803 Building the O'Shaughnessy Dam was a feat of logistics. 802 00:45:51,200 --> 00:45:54,433 Hetch Hetchy was an extremely remote area. 803 00:45:56,170 --> 00:46:00,283 A railroad hauled men and materials up mountainous terrain. 804 00:46:03,050 --> 00:46:07,320 They constructed walls 430 feet high, 805 00:46:07,320 --> 00:46:09,940 and 298 feet thick. 806 00:46:13,710 --> 00:46:18,010 Today, the dam supplies electricity and water 807 00:46:18,010 --> 00:46:21,900 to 2.4 million Bay Area users. 808 00:46:21,900 --> 00:46:24,530 - Residents of San Francisco enjoy some of the cleanest, 809 00:46:24,530 --> 00:46:26,773 purest water there is. 810 00:46:28,770 --> 00:46:30,080 - [Narrator] With no pumps, 811 00:46:30,080 --> 00:46:32,703 the system relies entirely on gravity. 812 00:46:36,110 --> 00:46:39,610 John Muir never lived to see any of it, 813 00:46:39,610 --> 00:46:41,328 but people claim they see his face 814 00:46:41,328 --> 00:46:43,973 in the reservoir's north wall. 815 00:46:48,070 --> 00:46:51,343 Hetch Hetchy may be a 21st century marvel. 816 00:46:52,560 --> 00:46:54,520 Deconstruction of the dam, 817 00:46:54,520 --> 00:46:57,623 and restoration of the valley is being studied. 818 00:46:58,810 --> 00:47:00,374 - The O'Shaughnessy Dam was done by humans, 819 00:47:00,374 --> 00:47:02,803 and it can be undone by humans, 820 00:47:03,970 --> 00:47:06,930 and our plan for restoring the Hetch Hetchy Valley, 821 00:47:06,930 --> 00:47:10,960 it can take about five years to deconstruct the dam, 822 00:47:10,960 --> 00:47:14,260 and the scientists tell us the Hetch Hetchy Valley 823 00:47:14,260 --> 00:47:16,693 will restore itself on its own. 824 00:47:20,150 --> 00:47:21,570 - [Narrator] For John Muir, 825 00:47:21,570 --> 00:47:23,853 going to the mountains was going home. 826 00:47:26,971 --> 00:47:30,020 To represent the state of California on the US quarter, 827 00:47:30,020 --> 00:47:32,530 Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger chose images 828 00:47:32,530 --> 00:47:35,563 of Muir, the condor, and Half Dome. 829 00:47:39,500 --> 00:47:41,873 Amid the grandeur of the Sierra Nevada, 830 00:47:43,451 --> 00:47:46,672 the 211 mile John Muir Trail 831 00:47:46,672 --> 00:47:50,650 winds through park lands to wilderness lands. 832 00:47:50,650 --> 00:47:55,197 It's here Muir co-founded the Sierra Club to, in his words, 833 00:47:55,197 --> 00:47:57,287 "Do something for the wilderness, 834 00:47:57,287 --> 00:47:59,397 "and make the mountains glad." 835 00:48:05,330 --> 00:48:08,683 From Glacier Point, it is a glorious sight. 836 00:48:10,750 --> 00:48:15,650 Yosemite today is a haven for black bears and big trees, 837 00:48:15,650 --> 00:48:20,117 rock jocks, scientists, and visitors, and way beyond. 838 00:48:21,232 --> 00:48:24,300 It's the birthplace of a conservation movement 839 00:48:24,300 --> 00:48:26,091 heard round the world. 840 00:48:26,091 --> 00:48:28,924 (dramatic music)