Now back in San Francisco, I’m recalling the emotions I felt at Yosemite National Park. Starting with the delightful fall colors, it was a familiar yet foreign sight, as I hadn’t associated autumn foliage with Northern California. The crisp, dewy mountain air was cool and refreshing, carrying a pleasant, almost sweet, pineyness as I inhaled through my nose.

The Mariposa Grove sequoias were a sight to behold. Each tree hundreds, if not thousands of years old, enduring forest fires, drought, torrential rain, and battered by winds over the millenia. The Grizzly Giant’s upper branch itself was as large as some of the other sequoias in the grove. 

As we emerged from Wawona tunnel, Yosemite Valley gradually revealed its majestic beauty. The colorless overcast painted a solemn mood — hundreds of jagged granite cliffs and towering monoliths sprawled throughout the valley. My camera lens seemed to capture only grayscale. El Capitan stood imposingly, as if a stone guardian presiding over the rest of the valley. Half Dome, Glacier Point, and Bridalveil Falls completed the rest of the picturesque sight. I took in the sprawling view, in awe of the natural formations in front of me and their sheer scale.

Visually arrested, I began imagining the valley’s forbearers. Before millions of tourists passed through year, before the 19th century settlers, and perhaps even before the indigenous Ahwahnechee people (I enjoyed reading the exhibits). I wondered how early humans lived here some 8-10,000 years ago. Could they have worshipped these monoliths? Perhaps perform sacrifices above the immense cliffs and rocks (I pictured Ari Aster’s Midsommar scene)? What it must have been like to exist in pure unity with nature, living off of what the land offered, hunting with spears and atlatls, gathering bark and acorns, building habitat… surviving.

Then, someone appeared in front of me. As it came into focus, I realized someone was asking me to take their photo. Pulled out of my fun daydream, I felt a bit out of sorts for the next few hours.

Overall this was a refreshing trip. Full of beautiful scenery, quiet car rides, and marijuana.