As I journeyed from Big Oak Flat toward the enchanting Yosemite Valley, the reverberating wisdom of my dear friend and mentor, Alister Benn, echoed through the depths of my soul. With each winding curve of the road, a magnificent vista unveiled itself before my awestruck eyes.

Before me, the majestic El Capitan and the regal Half Dome reached skyward, their granite summits touched by the heavens themselves. Below, the serene Merced River wove its silvery tapestry across the valley floor, a lifeline of nature’s grace.

For a humble photographer, one who stumbled belatedly upon the revelations of the venerable Ansel Adams, this sacred land held a profound sanctity. It was with profound gratitude that I found myself bestowed with the opportunity to commune with the valley’s autumnal splendor alongside my cherished companion, William Neill. In those days of shared wonder, we seemed to capture the ephemeral beauty that graces this sacred sanctuary.

It is by far the grandest of all the special temples of Nature I was ever permitted to enter.

-John Muir