Oprah and Gayle's Big Yosemite Adventure

I was reminded of the Oprah episodes I watched last fall during lecture today. Oprah responds to a Yosemite Park Ranger, Shelton, who writes in asking for her to visit the park to inspire more black visitors to America's National Parks. Oprah and her best friend (????....), Gayle, head out to Yosemite for some "classic" camping. Besides the laughs, the show displays many of the visual wonders of the park and what "camping" has become. As a camper myself, their experience is a bit upscale for my taste. Then again, it's Oprah.

I'm not very good at the whole hulu, youtube, and other tv show streamer deal, but if you're in for a laugh and some beautiful shots of Yosemite search for Oprah and Gayle's Big Yosemite Adventure (and hope you can find a ....legal.... copy of the show online). Otherwise check out the trailers:
http://www.oprah.com/showinfo/Oprah-and-Gayles-Big-Yosemite-Camping-Adventure-Part-1_1
http://www.oprah.com/showinfo/Oprah-and-Gayles-Big-Yosemite-Camping-Adventure-Part-2

Bierstadt and Yosemite

Just added a link to "Albert Bierstadt--The Complete Works," with 375 or so images of Bierstadt's work. Here is one of his views of Hetch Hetchy Valley.

Hetch Hetchy Valley

The Wiki article on Hetch Hetchy provides an overview of the reservoir controversy.

Yosemite History: Carleton E. Watkins, photographer

Nice web site devoted to Carleton E. Watkins, whose photographs of Yosemite in the late 1800s helped publicize the natural wonders of the new national parks. The site includes links to other collections of Watkins's work, including stereoviews at http://www.carletonwatkins.org/ .

Camping in Yosemite