Greetings from Yosemite National Park

When I was a kid, my father took me and my sibs camping in Yosemite in the early 60’s. All day and night we heard people yelling: “Elmer”, “Elsie, Gilbert!” repeatedly. Being newbies to the park, we had no idea what was going on. My Dad,OBM, told us that they were probably the names of kids (like us) who had gotten lost. This was, indeed, a cautionary tale for us pre-adolescents. Especially for me, since my first name is “Gilbert”. So we took to yelling the names of these assumed unfortunates to help find “The Three” and return them to their poor parents. On a subsequent trip, I found out that we were yelling the names of some prominent local bears that frequented the Valley’s dump!

Sincerely,
Gil(bert)

Yosemite National Park

With its sculpted granite rock formations, towering ancient sequoia trees and spectacular waterfalls, it's no wonder Yosemite is one of the most celebrated national parks in the world.

State(s): California

Established: 1890

“They restore my soul. They help in the struggle against global warming. They provide us with a much needed alternative to modern technology.”

National parks represent the best of America. Why do you care about protecting and preserving them? Tell us why parks matter to you!

{{ active ? "Cancel" : "Begin"}}

Success! Thanks for sharing your story with us.

You’ll be notified by email when your story is approved and added to the collection on the My Park Story homepage.

In the meantime, you can share your own story page with your family and friends — and help us spread the word about these priceless memories and priceless places!

Here’s your unique story page link:

{{ storyUrl }}

* indicates Required fields

Click to choose a file to upload

Submitting your story means that you agree to our Terms of Service

More Stories

  • Greetings from Yosemite National Park

    Snow-capped peaks, alpine lakes, and lush meadows. I was surrounded by these stunning views while hiking Gaylor Peak in Yosemite. The peak is accessible via a relatively short but steep hike, offering an exhilarating challenge for hikers like me who seek panoramic vistas of the Sierra Nevada. Higher up the…

  • Greetings from Yosemite National Park

    Entering Yosemite National Park, I looked up through the sunroof to see The Nose, a wall climbing route on the world-famous summit El Capitan, and a path once thought impossible to scale, yet conquered since by a select few individuals. At that moment, I recalled Connor Herson, the youngest person…

  • Greetings from Yosemite National Park

    My family loved to go camping in Green Creek in the Eastern Sierra Nevadas in California. We would stay for a week at a time and some trips my dad would add a few hours to our drive home by through Yosemite. My sister and I loved those detours. We…

Donate

Preserve Our Parks

Make a tax-deductible gift today to provide a brighter future for our national parks and the millions of Americans who enjoy them.

Donate Now