By Jessica James
jlj138@txstate.edu
SAN MARCOS – Sophomore Jared Jones follows his own beat, as an aspiring DJ, hoping to break on to the Central Texas music scene.
Texas State SiA Travelogue: Yosemite 2019
A travelogue dedicated to Study in America at Texas State University. Follow our journey to Yosemite National Park June 16 - June 21.
Monday, July 8, 2019
Friday, June 28, 2019
An Early Morning Mist Trail Adventure
An Early Morning Mist Trail Adventure
That included a surprise bear appearance
by Gabriella Molinagcm37@txstate.edu
Steps Taken: 33, 110
It was still dark out when the alarm rang at 4:30 a.m. After struggling to get up for some time, the adventure began around 5 a.m. Following a path that we discovered earlier in the trip (Thanks to Kaleb), we made our way to the Mist Trail. Determined and ready, we embarked on this trail. At first, nothing too out of the ordinary. The trail consisted of smaller hills that eventually lead up to bigger hills. As we kept going further, the steeper the hills became. Eventually, we found ourselves eye level with the side of a mountain that was once high above us. Moving right along we ran into a group of about five people who had stopped in their tracks. "There's a bear right after you turn past that rock," one woman said. Exuberantly, we continued past them, hoping to see the bear for ourselves. Lo and behold, there stood a brown bear nibbling on the brush around it. It had a tag on its ear, and it looked up at us as we tried to get pictures and videos for evidence.
Brown Bear from the Mist Trail Photo by Gabriella Molina |
Standing at the rail on our way to complete Vernal Falls trail Photo by Mike Garcia |
Art Center Experiences
Art Center Experiences
It's not just for the kids
By Gabriella Molina
gcm37@txtstate.edu
Steps Taken: 21, 885
Today's planned activity was nature journaling. Before the nature journaling began, my goal was getting some usable b-roll for my new mini-documentary topic: why families visit Yosemite. I began going around talking to parents in the art center and their children. The art center was a very interesting place. A few of the parents liked the fact that it was a nice air conditioned building, which offered a spot where parents and children could cool off after hiking. After doing an interview, I joined the rest of our class for our nature journaling. This activity was directed by the art center coordinator Lora Spielman. Lora did a great job conducting the nature journaling. I chose a little green stem that was sticking up from the ground. I liked how small, yet intricate it was and the bright green color of it stuck out to me the most. After looking closely, I could see that the small green leaves poking from the stem had very tiny brownish yellow spots on the ends. All of these little details I paid very close attention to after hearing Lora explain important it is to pick up on the details when it comes to nature journaling.
My favorite part of the nature journaling would have to be finally painting our sketches. Lora showed us how to use our brush to create different looks depending on whether we paint on dry paper or if we get it wet first. Using both techniques, I developed different looks to decorate around my painted sketch.
Overall nature journaling was something I throughly enjoyed. It was nice to focus on something so small that I think gets often overlooked in an everyday setting. Being in Yosemite has made me more aware of the nature around me, and hearing Lora describe the different things that there are to pay attention to has helped it become more of habit. Being more aware is something that I plan on taking with me when I go back home.
Wild Goose Chase of a Day
Wild Goose Chase of a Day
By Gabriella Molina
gcm37@txstate.edu
Steps Taken: 18, 376
Wahhoga Roundhouse in Yosemite's Indian Village exhibit Photo by Gabriella Molina |
This day was an adventure to say the least. It began with Mike and I getting together and brainstorming our best questions for an interview about the Southern Sierra Miwuk Nation to discuss their legacy here in Yosemite and the building of the Wahhoga Roundhouse. Our dream interview was cut short. In fact, it didn't happen at all. Feeling discouraged, we looked towards other sources that we could get in touch with to get the story that we each so desperately wanted. We remembered our friend Kaleb (from the tour yesterday), and figured if he wanted to help, the time would be now. However, neither of us had his contact info, or a means for getting it. We walked over to the Yosemite Visitors Center to ask someone else from the Conservancy for Kaleb's information. While waiting in line, Mike began a conversation with an older woman in line behind us. We explained the story that we were working on and how difficult it had been for us to get an interview. The woman told us that she was from this area and that her and her family come back to visit often. In fact, she had been around so long here that she knew Julia Parker. For those who don't know, Julia Parker is the last living Miwuk member still being featured at the museum here in Yosemite Village, making her the perfect person to interview for this story! The older woman explained how Julia Parker usually waits for a YARTS bus at a certain time of a day every day. So there we go, Mike and I. We sat and waited and waited... and waited. No sign of Julia Parker whatsoever. Feeling a little defeated, we made our way back to Half Dome to meet with Dale. After some discussion, we came to the conclusion that changing our story would be necessary to produce something in time for our deadlines.
Arriving at Yosemite, Greeted with a Tour
Arriving at Yosemite, Greeted with a Tour
By Gabriella Molinagcm37@txstate.edu
Steps Taken Arrival Day: 11, 718
Steps Taken Day 2: 18,376
Arriving in Yosemite
Getting to Yosemite was quite the journey. A sleepy one, I might add. It began with a 5 a.m. arrival at the Austin airport. Lack of planning of my end led to an unexpected additional carry-on check. A water bottle, a bottle of shampoo, and my holy grail hair serum were the culprit items that exceeded the allowed quantity of 3.4 ounces of liquid in a carry-on bag. Once on the plane, the only goal in my mind was to get a nap in, which happened. After waking up in Phoenix, me and the rest of the group quickly boarded on to another plane that would take us to Fresno. Once on that plane, I almost immediately settled back into sleep. Finally in Fresno, we loaded up the vans and made way for Yosemite. On our way there, we stopped for a meal at 1850 Restaurant and Brewery in Mariposa, CA. It was a fun "Welcome Lunch" as our professor called it, and we all got the chance to get to know each other a little better before finally getting to Yosemite.Kaleb Shows us Around Yosemite National Park
Kaleb talking about the Yosemite Conservancy Photo by Gabriella Molina |
Ponderosa Pine Bark Photo by Gabriella Molina |
Thursday, June 27, 2019
Final Day
Day 5
By: J. Del Valle
Jcd165@txstate.edu
Missing home, but enjoyed this once in a lifetime experience
Wow I can’t believe that I been at Yosemite for five days already. Being able to combined the outdoors and education made it very enjoyable. I was able to learn the history of Yosemite, but also learn how to capture the beautiful angles of the park as well. I was definitely out of my element, since day one the cell service hasn’t been so great. Which I will admit I enjoyed it, but I do miss text messages from my family and also missing my dogs back at home. But this trip has taught me so much especially being outdoors. Our last night here our professors put together a dinner for the group and to end it with a evening play by a John Muir impersonator- which one of our professor is obsessed with John Muir- this play was pretty different it was a story telling theme play. Which allowed the audience to participate and ask John Muir questions. After the play we headed back to our campsite and started packing for tomorrow’s departure. It’s been real Yosemite can’t wait to visit in the near future.
By: J. Del Valle
Jcd165@txstate.edu
Missing home, but enjoyed this once in a lifetime experience
Wow I can’t believe that I been at Yosemite for five days already. Being able to combined the outdoors and education made it very enjoyable. I was able to learn the history of Yosemite, but also learn how to capture the beautiful angles of the park as well. I was definitely out of my element, since day one the cell service hasn’t been so great. Which I will admit I enjoyed it, but I do miss text messages from my family and also missing my dogs back at home. But this trip has taught me so much especially being outdoors. Our last night here our professors put together a dinner for the group and to end it with a evening play by a John Muir impersonator- which one of our professor is obsessed with John Muir- this play was pretty different it was a story telling theme play. Which allowed the audience to participate and ask John Muir questions. After the play we headed back to our campsite and started packing for tomorrow’s departure. It’s been real Yosemite can’t wait to visit in the near future.
Mirror Lake Trail
Day 4
By: J. Del Valle
jcd165@txstate.edu
Where art thou’ fisherman?
This morning was a bit different for me, I needed to find a fisherman to interview for my feature story. Which started off pretty complicated because I kept getting dead ends. But luckily a host at lower pines campgrounds gave me a lead and said I can find fisherman at Mirror Lake which was about 2.5 miles from my camp site. In tow with me was my professor and graduate assistant Tony we were all excited to get the day started and on our walk we got to talk just about everything from upbringings, family and education. It was nice to get to know my professor and graduate assistant on a personal level. While on our walk to the lake I accidentally routed us in the wrong direction, which put us behind 20 mins-it was honest mistake. After reaching our destination all three of us were in awe once we came across Mirror Lake and embraced the beauty that was right in front of us. But yet again I reached another dead end and did not find one fisherman in sight. Trying to think of another angle for my story my professor was kind enough to help me out and give me some ideas to considered. Once we made it back to our campsite I started on my venture for my feature story It was the start of a long day for me. After the day was done I was able to get three interviews, a good amount of pictures and b-roll for both my mobile storytelling and feature writing class. My day ended on a good note.
By: J. Del Valle
jcd165@txstate.edu
Where art thou’ fisherman?
This morning was a bit different for me, I needed to find a fisherman to interview for my feature story. Which started off pretty complicated because I kept getting dead ends. But luckily a host at lower pines campgrounds gave me a lead and said I can find fisherman at Mirror Lake which was about 2.5 miles from my camp site. In tow with me was my professor and graduate assistant Tony we were all excited to get the day started and on our walk we got to talk just about everything from upbringings, family and education. It was nice to get to know my professor and graduate assistant on a personal level. While on our walk to the lake I accidentally routed us in the wrong direction, which put us behind 20 mins-it was honest mistake. After reaching our destination all three of us were in awe once we came across Mirror Lake and embraced the beauty that was right in front of us. But yet again I reached another dead end and did not find one fisherman in sight. Trying to think of another angle for my story my professor was kind enough to help me out and give me some ideas to considered. Once we made it back to our campsite I started on my venture for my feature story It was the start of a long day for me. After the day was done I was able to get three interviews, a good amount of pictures and b-roll for both my mobile storytelling and feature writing class. My day ended on a good note.
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