tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5211670216140060946.post8883544240927363786..comments2024-03-17T18:37:36.377-07:00Comments on Geotripper: It Was That Kind of Day: Half Dome from the Central ValleyGarry Hayeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00531226195147986457noreply@blogger.comBlogger59125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5211670216140060946.post-63732406957531116862020-08-29T09:12:17.340-07:002020-08-29T09:12:17.340-07:00I'm very late to the party but only stumbled o...I'm very late to the party but only stumbled on Professor Hayes's blog post last night. I have a FB page "Hunting Half Dome" that is set to public and on which you can see the photos and video I've taken of Half Dome and into Yosemite Valley. You can't see into Yosemite Valley everywhere, but I've been to a "notch" in the foothills that I believe is key to this. It's really just a visible V created by two hills, but I call it a notch. Beware, there is another notch in the foothills so if you are in Turlock and sad that you can't see HD on a super clear day, look just barely north of east and you'll see the right notch. <br /><br />(1) When I'm in Oakdale and I find the "notch" in the distance, my line of sight is into an area too far south to be "Yosemite". (2) As I drive toward Turlock and am in an area clear of trees or higher ground, I begin to be able to see Half Dome in the right side of the area opened by the "notch". (3) As you continue to drive south (and east), you begin to be able to see El Capitan too. I think this is probably why El Capitan Drive in Delhi is called that. I haven't been able to get good sighting from Merced, but if you head to Hopeton, you can absolutely see the top of Half Dome as well as El Capitan as you look through the notch. <br /><br />If you are ever driving the 99, there is a breathtaking view when you are above Taylor Road, but you have to know where to look and be a passenger in that 70 mph car. I've seen it from the Bradbury overcrossing, so if you are on 99 and want to try that, on a clear day it's possible and safer to go slowly. <br /><br />I heard about it from a CSU Stanislaus secretary (Tina Cody in the Art Dept) who, as I recall, had worked upstairs in the '60s before trees blocked the view for her. In the '90s, she told me where to go to have a view and I've enjoyed hunting for other good vantage points ever since. You all can math yourselves out of this, or you can just enjoy and take a look around your area for cool things in the distance. We can see Half Dome from the Central Valley. It's cool.Donna Creightonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18120848518300022241noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5211670216140060946.post-11962990881277299302020-08-29T09:12:15.317-07:002020-08-29T09:12:15.317-07:00I'm very late to the party but only stumbled o...I'm very late to the party but only stumbled on Professor Hayes's blog post last night. I have a FB page "Hunting Half Dome" that is set to public and on which you can see the photos and video I've taken of Half Dome and into Yosemite Valley. You can't see into Yosemite Valley everywhere, but I've been to a "notch" in the foothills that I believe is key to this. It's really just a visible V created by two hills, but I call it a notch. Beware, there is another notch in the foothills so if you are in Turlock and sad that you can't see HD on a super clear day, look just barely north of east and you'll see the right notch. <br /><br />(1) When I'm in Oakdale and I find the "notch" in the distance, my line of sight is into an area too far south to be "Yosemite". (2) As I drive toward Turlock and am in an area clear of trees or higher ground, I begin to be able to see Half Dome in the right side of the area opened by the "notch". (3) As you continue to drive south (and east), you begin to be able to see El Capitan too. I think this is probably why El Capitan Drive in Delhi is called that. I haven't been able to get good sighting from Merced, but if you head to Hopeton, you can absolutely see the top of Half Dome as well as El Capitan as you look through the notch. <br /><br />If you are ever driving the 99, there is a breathtaking view when you are above Taylor Road, but you have to know where to look and be a passenger in that 70 mph car. I've seen it from the Bradbury overcrossing, so if you are on 99 and want to try that, on a clear day it's possible and safer to go slowly. <br /><br />I heard about it from a CSU Stanislaus secretary (Tina Cody in the Art Dept) who, as I recall, had worked upstairs in the '60s before trees blocked the view for her. In the '90s, she told me where to go to have a view and I've enjoyed hunting for other good vantage points ever since. You all can math yourselves out of this, or you can just enjoy and take a look around your area for cool things in the distance. We can see Half Dome from the Central Valley. It's cool.Donna Creightonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18120848518300022241noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5211670216140060946.post-24629108378659079992020-07-20T17:01:49.416-07:002020-07-20T17:01:49.416-07:00I've been following this for a while. I recent...I've been following this for a while. I recently went to my cousin's house in Hilmar, CA. I asked him whether you can see Half Dome from the central valley. He immediately said, "Definitely. I can see it from my kitchen window on a clear day! Snow helps outline the peaks." There was no second-guessing himself or wondering. When I first heard about this, a few years ago, I didn't believe it. I think that's because when you drive into Yosemite valley, you wind around the peaks and Half Dome seems tucked away. But if you're on top of Half Dome, especially at night, you can clearly see the central valley lights. Russhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10753292309391186489noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5211670216140060946.post-9425574875296059762020-02-08T06:17:02.606-08:002020-02-08T06:17:02.606-08:00A year later... perhaps I've missed it somewhe...A year later... perhaps I've missed it somewhere in the discussion, but isn't there a classic black-and-white photo from (almost?) exactly the same place, showing a grain elevator in the foreground and El Capitain and Half Dome looking almost like a huge painted backdrop behind them? I've been looking for that on the web but haven't been able to find it recently...<br /><br />—B2Bill Williamshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04841203437601853931noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5211670216140060946.post-6347219447222100972019-12-17T20:21:46.750-08:002019-12-17T20:21:46.750-08:00Wow. I never knew there was such controversy abou...Wow. I never knew there was such controversy about this. I was just looking for a website that would help me identify the snow covered peaks that I can see from my Merced Co property. I must confess that I do believe this so-called myth. I guess seeing is believing. I have seen, with my "naked eye", and I believe. I have seen HD from several locations on Santa Fe ave, East Ave, Monte Vista, and Oakdale/Montpelier/Waterford. It has to be an elevated spot in the road where orchards don't obscure, and a very clear day. You're basically looking up the Merced River Canyon into Yosemite Valley. It all lines up. I have also seen it up close and personal. It is one and the same. Another thing... you know how the moon looks all big when it rises above the eastern horizon and then magically shrinks when it is high in the night sky? Hmmm. I wonder if that is what happens to HD in these pictures.<br />Interesting...Lesleyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01524174581339357441noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5211670216140060946.post-27860583125349526842019-03-18T19:09:14.835-07:002019-03-18T19:09:14.835-07:00Totally comedy that people are so willing to fight...Totally comedy that people are so willing to fight that this "IS NOT" Half Dome.<br /><br />I've been visiting the park, and hiked nearly all of the trails around the valley, and off 120 and 140... and many into the back country. I live in the central valley, and road bike on the route that absolutely exposes (but only from a very select angle) the face of Half Dome.<br /><br />Glacier point is nearly 30 degrees southwest from the peak of Half Dome. The view up the river valley absolutely does cut into the range allowing a much more face-on view of Half Dome; which is why Glacier Point will not be anywhere near cutting off this view. "Tunnel View" is also south west from the peak of Half Dome, which is totally irrelevant.<br /><br />This view is almost perfectly westward from the peak, and even a bit north.<br /><br />There is only a VERY strict angle that you can see it. You also have to be far enough away for the lower foothills to have a low enough angle of view that they also do not cut off the view.<br /><br />These "close up" views are using HUGE HUGE HUGE magnification; like 600X to show the face with such detail from the valley.<br /><br />You can ALSO see the valley from the diving board when it's actually clear enough (rare).<br /><br />Unless you're moving slow enough to catch the glimpse (which cycling has offered me)... you're not going to ever even notice it when driving where it's viewable (especially at 55mph+).<br /><br />Trace a line from the summit of Half Dome down into the valley at Ballico, and you're pretty close to the angle you must be at to see it.<br /><br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5211670216140060946.post-54410703951308268292019-02-25T09:30:35.196-08:002019-02-25T09:30:35.196-08:00You are welcome to continue your quest to prove th...You are welcome to continue your quest to prove this is not Half Dome, but you will not find a candidate in the Sierra foothills that comes even close, and I have other pressing issues to deal with. Your own picture (https://www.flickr.com/gp/97195299@N08/9ui1sH) provides some of the best evidence that we are looking at Half Dome. You took the picture when clouds obscured the peaks behind Half Dome, leaving three main features prominent: Cloud's Rest on the left, Half Dome, and Sentinel Dome on the right. El Capitan is present in front of Half Dome and slightly to the left but it is 1,200-1,800 feet shorter than HD, so it is barely visible over the other ridges in front. One point that bothers me is that you keep mentioning Glacier Point. It is simply not visible from anywhere to the west. It's at 7,200 feet and entirely behind Sentinel Dome (8,122 feet). You will never see Glacier Point in any of these pictures. Zooming in on Half Dome in your picture, you can see the black streak of mineral deposits down the middle of the face which separates the lighter colored parts of Half Dome. Those features were hidden in the shadows of my latest pictures, but have appeared in earlier pictures that I've posted (example: https://geotripper.blogspot.com/2018/03/yosemites-half-dome-makes-appearancein.html<br /><br />I appreciate the effort you have put into trying to understand the spatial relationships that allow Half Dome to be seen from the valley floor, but you have ignored one of the easiest proofs that Half Dome can be seen from the valley floor: the valley floor is visible from Half Dome. There are numerous pictures that show this, for instance the one at https://www.flickr.com/photos/sheldonneill/6746503597/in/photostream/. <br /><br />I will leave this discussion open for now, and you are welcome to comment when you find the mountain you seek. <br /> <br /> <br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Garry Hayeshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00531226195147986457noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5211670216140060946.post-15688635943816183982019-02-25T07:28:34.003-08:002019-02-25T07:28:34.003-08:00Professor Hayes,
We both have a problem. I'...Professor Hayes,<br /> We both have a problem. I've admitted and you concur that I have to find what that rock is, if not Half Dome. However, you also have a problem. You have to find El Capitan and Glacier Point that surround Half Dome, like they do in the Big Oak Flat Rd picture. At this point, it is a hypothesis that the valley picture is Half Dome. You have to prove it to be true. And just by saying it is Half Dome and having others agree with you, giving you a consensus, is not proof. <br />I'm giving you alternative, objective, and unbiased evidence that it isn't Half Dome. I've also been open about where I took the picture (same as 2009 picture), and I can give you the lat long if interested (use an app on your phone to figure it out), so that a bearing could be created between the 2 points. I've asked you for the same, and I hope that it is something you will eventually supply so that we can develop a bearing for your personal picture. <br />So given this alternative evidence that seems to contradict your hypothesis, it is incumbent on you, a professor, to be able to argue for or against it and to apply this evidence to your hypothesis. So I look forward to that discussion. And as I replied to Joann, this is the view of Half Dome from this bearing, regardless of distance from Half Dome - of course further away distance means a smaller Half Dome, not larger. And a lower elevation will lead to Half Dome lowering within the V shape that El Cap and Glacier Point create. Half Dome will not remain while Glacier and El Cap disappear the further away you go. That view either remains the same or disappears entirely if other features block it. But it is silly to think that Half Dome will become more prominent and the other 2 features get less prominent and disappear if you go further away and lower in elevation. If you go higher in elevation, that would be true, but we aren't going in that direction. <br />Anyways, it seems that you also have a problem, finding El Cap and Glacier in your view. I look forward to your discussion about this. And I will continue to work on my problem.<br />rmthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15447809760422783418noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5211670216140060946.post-26061059907901052962019-02-25T07:20:00.641-08:002019-02-25T07:20:00.641-08:00Joann,
I appreciate the time and effort you put i...Joann,<br /> I appreciate the time and effort you put into your reply. However, one thing needs to be made clear. The view of Half Dome from Big Oak Flat Rd lies along the bearing from the 2009 photo to Half Dome. This is big. For that is what Half Dome would look like at any distance, albeit further away it will look much smaller and at a lower elevation, it will disappear behind the features that are hiding it now. So, the view from Big Oak Flat is as good as it is going to get at that bearing.<br />Let's look at this example.<br />If you look at the New York City skyline from the top of the Statue of Liberty, you will see the Empire State Building standing out. But you may only see the top 40 or so stories (not sure if that's the number but bear with me). Now if you went to the base of the Statue of Liberty and looked at the Empire State Building, you would still see it, but you would see the top 20 stories or so, as other buildings that previously may not have blocked it, are now blocking it. So, lets go to New Jersey, further away, but in the same bearing. You will probably see a few more stories (maybe 25) because some of the close up buildings will not be blocking it. However, the same buildings around the Empire State Building (ESB) will still be around it. That skyline that is near the ESB will never change. And if you move 30 miles away along the same bearing, you will still see the same skyline. However, you will never see the top 40 stories (the view from the top of the Statue of Liberty) and the ESB will be getting smaller, not larger, the further away you are.<br /><br />Same with Half Dome. That skyline, that shows El Cap and Glacier Point making a V in which Half Dome sits in the middle will not change at that same bearing. And should one go lower in elevation, you would lose the view of Half Dome completely. And if you go further away, you will also see the Big Oak Flat viewpoint as well and Half Dome and El Cap and Glacier will all get smaller, not larger, and El Cap and Glacier will not disappear while Half Dome remains. If El Cap and Glacier disappear, Half Dome also will disappear. At that bearing, this is the view of Half Dome regardless of where you stand (unless you go higher in elevation, but that's not the direction we are moving in). <br /><br />So, given the picture of Half Dome from Big Oak Flat Rd and the picture of "Half Dome" from the valley, it is more than obvious that they aren't the same thing, no matter how you spin it. <br />rmthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15447809760422783418noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5211670216140060946.post-26236744714203916702019-02-24T23:08:29.409-08:002019-02-24T23:08:29.409-08:00One more thing and then I'm finished, lol. I ...One more thing and then I'm finished, lol. I think the face of half dome (the flat portion) is about 2,000 feet! That's huge! The whole thing rises 4,700 feet above yosemite valley floor and 8,700ish feet total.Joannnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5211670216140060946.post-76789279795730407252019-02-24T23:02:09.532-08:002019-02-24T23:02:09.532-08:00Thanks Joann. I think you caught most of the salie...Thanks Joann. I think you caught most of the salient points.Garry Hayeshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00531226195147986457noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5211670216140060946.post-3779432463626874842019-02-24T22:53:00.235-08:002019-02-24T22:53:00.235-08:00Hi rmt, half dome does look pretty big in all the ...Hi rmt, half dome does look pretty big in all the photos from the central valley. I've wondered about that and it does seem odd. But it is pretty big and would stand out with it's flat face (and it's angled nicely). It looks like your photo, the third photo from the top in the post and the view from Big Oak Flat all have the same angle of the rock face. This seems to help the case that it's all the same feature/rock face. (The third photo looks like it was taken just one road to the west from your photo on Hall rd. You can see the same buildings on google street view as in the third photo, so the bearing should be basically the same). Also, comparing what you can see and how big things are to half dome from the photo taken at big oak flat road vs. the centrally valley, probably isn't completely appropriate (even if they are on the same bearing). I'll try and explain why just with my currently tired mind and eyeballing places on google maps. At the big oak flat view point, half dome is twice as far away as el capitan, so el cap would look waaaay bigger and taller. I assume el cap is bigger (right?) but because of the perspective and relative distances to the viewpoint, it seems that the size and elevation of el cap are exaggerated when viewed from the big oaks road viewpoint. I know there's a better and more scientific explanation but I can't quite think of it right now. Maybe someone else can?<br /><br />Also, even though they are on the same bearing, the Turlock location is farther south, at a much lower elevation and there is quite a bit of difference in distance between the two view points and half dome (10ish miles vs 68ish?). So, it doesn't seem like the exact same topography/features would be visible. Many, but not all, should be visible but they would look different from the two locations due to perspective, distance and extra topography/landforms visible from the Valley.<br /><br />All that being said, sometimes I look at one of these photos and think 'no way!" and other times it seems obvious it's half dome. Either way I'm jealous of those of you who can run out there on a particularly clear day and take a look. And if it isn't half dome, what the heck is it? (seriously. not being sarcastic) <br /><br />None of that is what I wanted point out. I just wanted to clarify that I think the the viewshed analysis was done from a single point (probably at the top of half dome). So only the middle of the red area on the viewshed map would have the broadest and best view of the face of half dome. Turlock happens to be in the sweet spot, right in the middle. I'd be curious if the analysis could be re-ran with a polygon covering the majority of the vertical area of the face of half dome as opposed to a single point on the ground. Must be a 3D way to do it but it's beyond what I know how to do. But I bet the red area on the viewshed map would much much smaller! Joannnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5211670216140060946.post-8589353163366714072019-02-24T22:50:32.935-08:002019-02-24T22:50:32.935-08:00Good luck on your quest. Please report when you...Good luck on your quest. Please report when you've found the rock you are looking for.Garry Hayeshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00531226195147986457noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5211670216140060946.post-63066287013603006172019-02-24T20:40:37.345-08:002019-02-24T20:40:37.345-08:00So I took a picture and found a picture. Here'...So I took a picture and found a picture. Here's the link: <br /> https://www.flickr.com/gp/97195299@N08/9ui1sH <br />You will see the one I took on 2/21/19, which appears to be the same rock that you are referring to in your blogposts. This is the evidence I have that you, or anyone else, did not photoshop it. <br />But you will notice the second picture, which is from Google Maps street view from Half Dome View Point along Big Oak Flat Rd approaching Yosemite (looking East). Half Dome is tiny in this picture and is not the tallest rock in this view. El Capitan on the left looks taller and Glacier Point, which is barely peaking out from another ridge, on the right, looks to be about the same height as Half Dome. I found this spot, because it lines up perfectly, and I mean perfectly, with the bearing from Half Dome to the 2009 photo location. This view point sits at 4700 feet elevation.<br />Somehow for your claim to be true, the rock at 68 miles away cannot be as big as it is. And as I have claimed over and over again, the surrounding topography around Half Dome is not the same as in your photo. Putting these 2 pictures side by side makes it pretty obvious. And remember, this is at the same bearing as the 2009 photo (a line drawn between .65 miles South of Keyes Rd on Hall Rd to Half Dome runs right through this view point). So a view from Hall Rd would have to somehow get through this viewpoint and show the same topography as is shown from the viewpoint. Now you have taken pictures from a different point. The latitude and longitude of that location would be appreciated to see if there is any different bearing. I'm guessing it is different, but not by much - not so much that it would not also run over or very close to this Half Dome View Point. I think this comparison seals the deal. They are not the same thing. Now, my problem is that I have to figure out what that rock is that we can see from the valley. But it is clear, it is not Half Dome.<br />And I also have some problems with the CalTopo range, as I've been plotting points from the mountain range on a map, and there seem to be some points not consistent with where those points of interest actually are. I have more research to do on that still, but at first glance, there seem to be some problems. rmthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15447809760422783418noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5211670216140060946.post-48748397269264137242019-02-23T23:22:48.361-08:002019-02-23T23:22:48.361-08:00I don't think I'm splitting hairs as CalTo...I don't think I'm splitting hairs as CalTopo doesn't make the claim that the majority of those views are only the top of Half Dome, a point to which I don't fully disagree with as some of the locations seem a bit outrageous. However, this is your assumption of their map.<br />That map, described as line-of-sight locations between the central valley and summit of Half Dome, extend from Tracy to the Coalinga area, a wide wide swath. And surely some of those views would be the top only, but I'm guessing that they think many of those views outside your line of sight "red zone" are locations that can see "Half Dome" the way your posted pictures depict. Otherwise, what's the point of this exercise, originally?<br />Their point in the article showing this map is to verify that Turlock is within their calculated line of sight red zone for Half Dome.<br />So, without a disclaimer from them that all but the Turlock zone is just the tip of Half Dome views, I don't think you or anyone else can make that assumption. If CalTopo comes out and says as much, then I'm on board with that and we can move on.<br /><br /><br />rmthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15447809760422783418noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5211670216140060946.post-43457885221782948892019-02-23T23:09:48.721-08:002019-02-23T23:09:48.721-08:00You are splitting hairs now. I not only accept Cal...You are splitting hairs now. I not only accept CalTopo's data, I've been promoting it. But be aware that many of the sight lines will reveal only a small portion of the summit of Half Dome. The spot I've talked about at Keyes Road and the Hall Road locality show more of the dome than most other sites. As you have apparently found with your own observations. I wish you many clear days for your explorations. Take powerful binoculars or a camera with a really good zoom lens.Garry Hayeshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00531226195147986457noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5211670216140060946.post-9951940816264435902019-02-23T23:02:09.305-08:002019-02-23T23:02:09.305-08:00Professor Hayes,
You are basically claiming ther...Professor Hayes,<br /> You are basically claiming there is a single spot, although it is specific narrow sight line (as you state "The area of the valley from which HD is visible is limited"). Have you seen CalTopo's map which shows a wide swaths of the Central Valley and beyond as being able to see Half Dome? I'm assuming you have, given that you have used them as a reference to point out Half Dome to us. It is your claim and CalTopo's map that are at conflict with each other. This is what I'd like cleared up. <br />I will do my own research to see if I can see Half Dome from Oakdale or further North or further South given the right air conditions. Given it's prominence in your picture from the valley floor, it seems that it should be visible in many different bearings from Half Dome. That is my hypothesis and seems to be CalTopo's claim as well.<br /> <br /><br />rmthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15447809760422783418noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5211670216140060946.post-39622863249306777032019-02-23T22:52:08.198-08:002019-02-23T22:52:08.198-08:00I absolutely agree with Ray Prock. I too live in a...I absolutely agree with Ray Prock. I too live in amongst an agricultural community. And I'mm aware of the recent and persistent thevory occurring to agriculture equipment(copper wire, bee hives...) And roadway safety is a absolute must! A 10 acre orchard doesn't seem like someones backyard to City folk. Yet most farmers know more about the condition of that rear 660ft, than most know about their own front door. <br />In my prior comment my use of the word speculation was purposeful. While I'm intimately familiar with Yosemite Valley, extending as far North as Crabtree trail head and eastward to Sunrise. The areas South are not familiar to me. I've only traveled the 140hwy less than handful of times. I say this because having used the "Redbarn" in rmt photo, the tree visible off Montpelier east right-of-way in both rmt and your photo as a means to determine a bearing for the sightline. These sightlines extending towards Half-dome lead me to an intersection with Sweetwater ridge, midpines area. I had to ponder the idea that a snow covered Sweetwater ridge in a photo, could appear similar to a snow covered Clouds Rest. Using the height of Sweetwater in the focal length calculation resulted in distance accuracy confirmable in mensuration. And for me explains the additional observable features in the background of the photographs. Having stood atop Half-dome more than a dozen times, and numerous more time on both El Capitian the Upperfalls. And Cloudsrest was a weekly day hike for me during an extensive period in my life. Seeing features in the photographs towering above in the background above those you say are Cloudsrest and Halfdome is difficult for me to...wrap my head around. <br />As to the question of another object in the sightlines also appearing similar to Half-dome. I can only comment that a rainbow in the dark was only a lyric in a song, until I saw one for myself. And the appearance is more common than I first had imagined.<br /><br />The curvature calculations I used: https://dizzib.github.io/earth/curve-calc/?d0=67&h0=5&unit=imperial <br />However, we must assume the realative value of both the observation height and object viewed as an elevation above sea level. Regardless of there individual geography position. <br /><br />Lastly, I've no desires to disapprove or prove. Rather, I'm interested in exercising my limited knowledge and the tools at my disposal to better understand this fascinating subject. And that those other eyes following these exchanges will refrain from disparaging dialogue regarding beliefs.<br />The topic of whether one believes or disbelieves Half-dome is visible in the photograph, from Hickman rd. or the moon will not further understanding. <br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5211670216140060946.post-78566185838806661112019-02-23T22:48:27.664-08:002019-02-23T22:48:27.664-08:00Nephi.
I appreciate your calculations of line of ...Nephi.<br /> I appreciate your calculations of line of sight. However, using 8800 feet is the not the right way to go at it, for there is much more of the rock visible than the tip top of it. It looks like at least 2000-3000 feet of that rock is visible in these central valley photos. So, instead of using 8800 feet, you should try various exercises using 7000, 6000, 5500 and 5000 foot elevations to see if anything is blocking the middle towards bottom of the rock, as that is clearly visible in these pictures. <br />rmthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15447809760422783418noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5211670216140060946.post-64746251067164237972019-02-23T22:46:07.581-08:002019-02-23T22:46:07.581-08:00And I've gone to this area to view "Half ...And I've gone to this area to view "Half Dome" and as a skeptic, would like to put to rest the "photoshop" narrative. This rock, as shown in these pictures by Professor Hayes, does exist and is not photoshopped. I have pictures of it. <br />I went on Thursday (2/21) just after the sun set, with somewhat clear views and Saturday (2/23), with crappy clarity. I am taking GPS points as to the various places I've gone to and will use a triangulation method of comparing various points where I stood along with easily identified landmarks in photos to determine exactly where this "Half Dome" is. <br />Similarly, I would like the good professor to provide us with his GPS points of where he has taken his pictures so that we can determine the bearing of the line of sight between his location and Half Dome. <br /><br />I have done the same with the 2009 photo site (Hall Rd .65 miles S. of Keyes Rd). I took photos of "Half Dome" at this site on 2/21, when the air was clear, but the sun had just set. I took GPS points on where I stood and was able to identify a barn in the picture and to get a Google Map GPS reading on it. At first look, the bearings different by a degree, leading to an 8200 ft difference in location at 68 miles. Might be significant. <br />I have discovered a number of good locations to view the mountains in and around that specific area and when I have a good viewing day, will take pictures there of Half Dome and try to figure out bearings from those various locations to see if they all line up on Half Dome, where all these bearing lines meet. I didn't see Half dome on 2/23, with the air quality and lighting not so good. Will try again in the future.<br />rmthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15447809760422783418noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5211670216140060946.post-87997404976558751332019-02-23T22:44:58.168-08:002019-02-23T22:44:58.168-08:00No one is claiming there is a single spot in the v...No one is claiming there is a single spot in the valley. I've posted views in the past from sites several miles apart. The area of the valley from which HD is visible is limited, however, as shown by views from the summit of HD showing only a portion of the valley floor (follow the links in the comments to find the pictures). The various views show more or less of the dome. Some spots are better than others.Garry Hayeshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00531226195147986457noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5211670216140060946.post-62847886391786879102019-02-23T22:37:16.753-08:002019-02-23T22:37:16.753-08:00There seems to be some conflict between the claim ...There seems to be some conflict between the claim that Half Dome can only be viewed at a certain spot in the valley as it lines up with Yosemite Valley and Joan's point that there is way more area in the central valley that Half Dome is visible with and CalTopo's map showing all the various locations that Half Dome can be seen from. Someone is not correct here, for if Half Dome can be seen from many different vantage points in the Central Valley, then the narrative that the reason we can see Half Dome from the Central Valley is because of that line of sight down Yosemite Valley is only visible in one specific area is not correct. Both can't be true. There is either an exclusive view or not. <br />rmthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15447809760422783418noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5211670216140060946.post-50488752628482386582019-02-23T22:12:28.260-08:002019-02-23T22:12:28.260-08:00Or this photo from the Lick Observatory just a few...Or this photo from the Lick Observatory just a few days ago! Note the second photo with a few landmarks labeled. Looks pretty much like the photos in this post but with a few clouds. <br />https://twitter.com/LickObservatory/status/1097646752163741696<br />JoannJoannnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5211670216140060946.post-28696381464531962542019-02-23T21:53:27.059-08:002019-02-23T21:53:27.059-08:00Check out this article about GIS viewshed analysis...Check out this article about GIS viewshed analysis: http://caltopo.blogspot.com/2013/05/viewshed-analysis.html<br /><br />Scroll about halfway down to see the viewshed of Half Dome. There is way more area in the central valley that half dome is viewable from than from Yosemite itself. It also shows how it's viewable from the Lick observatory. <br /><br />I agree that it seems almost crazy that it could be viewed from the Valley, but it seems to be possible. Btw, I grew up in the Valley and go to Yosemite multiple times a year and have hiked to the top of half dome, so I'm pretty familiar with the area (and GIS is my job). <br /><br />I don't think it's appropriate to compare views from Yosemite Valley or places like tunnel view to those in the Central Valley because they are so much closer to Half Dome (and tunnel view is also more north than Turlock, so the viewing angle is different). These closer viewing areas can be impeded by things (even things lower in elevation than half dome) but between the viewpoint and Half Dome. Currently I live at the base of some pretty large mountains (they rise extremely quickly, no foothills really) and peaks that are much taller than anything around them are blocked from view at my home from landforms much much lower in elevation than the peaks. If you drive further away, somewhere flat, you can clearly see the peaks. <br /><br />I've scoped out some good spots in the valley that I think half dome should be visible from but unfortunately whenever I'm visiting I either don't think about it, the air is way too crappy or there are clouds covering the mountains on the rare clear days. I'm currently planning a summer trip with a possible summit of half dome. Maybe the air will be clearer than my last trip and I will be able to see the Central Valley! Joan<br /><br />Joannoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5211670216140060946.post-62855180144130642672019-02-23T19:36:54.946-08:002019-02-23T19:36:54.946-08:00Here are a few tips to help not raise suspicion of...Here are a few tips to help not raise suspicion of the property owners near this intersection. There is a group of us who are very diligent about suspicious vehicles in the area. Unfortunately the less than stellar members of society are creating heightened awareness that affects everyone. <br /><br />Please obey any signs you encounter on property lines and not venture into private property.<br /><br />There are several areas along the roadways that are safe enough to pull off and get a view of this unique sight.<br /><br />If you do need to enter private property for any reason head to one of the houses or farm offices to try to find the property owner. <br /><br />We don't want to hinder those of you who are trying to see something truly special so please help is out. <br /><br />Thanks!Ray Prockhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10022073743273221385noreply@blogger.com