My great grandfather, Wayne Westfall, was one of the first nine rangers for Yosemite National Park! In the photo he is the fourth from the left. My great grandmother, Agnes Westfall, was a paymaster at the park as well. My grandma was raised by them in Yosemite and has fond memories of ice skating, sleeping under the stars, exploring, her high school prom at the Ahwahnee hotel, and getting married to my late grandpa at the chapel with the stellar view of Yosemite Falls. The house she lived in still stands. My mother or grandmother have taken my sister and me and our friends to Yosemite almost every year, and nothing makes me happier than to visit the fantastic place in which I have old family roots! I love bringing friends to the park and sharing the history with them, as well as making new memories with new adventures. I love to indoor rock climb, and hope to one day climb outdoors in Yosemite and backpack beyond the valley the valley floor to appreciate this breathtaking national park the way my great grandpa Wayne did.
Sincerely,
Yosemite National Park
With its sculpted granite rock formations, its towering ancient sequoia trees, and its spectacular waterfalls, it's no wonder Yosemite is one of the most celebrated national parks in the world. Emerging from the park’s famous Tunnel View is a transformative experience, showcasing the jaw-dropping, iconic sight of El Capitan rising from the valley floor with Bridalveil Falls plummeting from the rock and Half Dome shining in the background. The park also features meadows and streams, historic buildings, and vast wilderness.
State(s): California
Established: 1890
“They provide an escape from the everyday turmoil of an increasingly crowded, technology-dependent society. The parks preserve precious diverse ecological systems from human destruction. They are a source of education, inspiration, rejuvenation, conservation, and a way to save and respect planet Earth, the only planet in the universe we know of having life at the moment. We desperately need to stop our destruction of it, and supporting the parks is an important aspect of that. ”
National parks represent the best of America. Why do you care about protecting and preserving them? Tell us why parks matter to you!
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 }}-
Greetings from Yosemite National Park
Treading carefully up the rock face, I placed my hands on the ground and moved like a lizard. It was high noon and the sunlight bounced off the glimmering snowmelt ahead. Navigating the snow was tricky, but once this part of the journey was over, I finally reached a lookout…
-
Greetings from Yosemite National Park
The shadows of Half Dome gradually retreated from Yosemite Valley’s Curry Village as I reluctantly climbed out of my sleeping bag. It was 8 in the morning, and though my roommates and I weren’t lively, the nature around us was. Rubbing my eyes, I walked outside and nearly slipped on…
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