As we continue our lifetime search for the world’s greatest swimming hole, one of our favorites is near Tuolumne Meadows, Yosemite. Above are pictures in very early summer with too much water flow for safe swimming and in late summer with lupine blooming.
In July it takes gumption to get in and swim, but any time of the year the water is cold.
Below, views of the falls in July and June closeup from upstream:
Two pictures from an August 2002 trip:

Check out the size (16 inches?) of the trout nibbling at his Teva!

Photo of group in July 2003 by Wendy Sato:

These black clouds over Lembert Dome, (with thunder and lightning), explain why the photo of the last people on the 2004 trip was not taken in the water:
Thunderstorm and lightning safety has the answer to the question: Why can’t you swim during a lightning storm? A strike on a lake doesn’t kill all the fish in the lake.
August 2006:
more pictures of swimmers are at:
De Anza College Outdoor Club Tuolumne trip August 2006
A deer on the trail to the swimming hole:
Where were they when they got that great picture in Yosemite?
Where can I take a photo that looks like the one on a Yosemite postcard I just bought?
Places to take photos of Half Dome, Bridalveil Fall, El Capitan, Yosemite Falls and Staircase Falls.
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At bears you will find:
links to general info about bears,
then practicalities of camping and backpacking around bears, (Food Storage , what to do if you see a bear, how bears get into cars, info for backpackers) and lots of stories about bears getting into cars, tents, camps, etc., mostly geared towards De Anza College Outdoor Club trips around bears in California (especially Yosemite National Park) and Grand Teton National Park.
And the answer to the question:
Why don’t the rangers just move the problem bears?
and the question:
How can I keep a bear out of my campsite? (You can’t, but you can almost always keep it out of your food.)
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The Yosemite National Park rangers would like you to call them if you see a bear in Yosemite,
no matter where it is or what it is doing,
at 1 (209) 372-0322.
If you can, in all the excitement, try to notice if the bear has a tag (usually on the ear), the color of the tag and if possible, the number on it (the tag is large enough that with a telephoto you should be able to read the number).


