Upper and Lower Falls
By Mia DeGrazio (Age 6)
Upper and Lower Falls by Mia DeGrazio
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Yosemite Falls
January 31st, 2012Frozen Merced River: Yosemite Weekly Photos 1.30.12
January 30th, 2012A Walk Across the Water
By John P. DeGrazio
Tree Reflection Merced River by John P. DeGrazio
I was up in Little Yosemite Valley a few weeks ago which is very rare for January. While hiking back to the Valley, we saw that the Merced River was frozen over a few hundred yards above Nevada Fall. We decided to take a closer look and noticed the entire surface was frozen solid so I walked across the river to make a few images.
Utouched Pine Cone by John P. DeGrazio
Frozen Merced River by John P. DeGrazio
Nevada Fall Through two Cedars by John P. DeGrazio
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Ice: Hirsch Yosemite Weekly Photos 1.26.12
January 26th, 2012By Robb Hirsch
Ice by Robb Hirsch
Well, winter has finally come to the Sierra Nevada, and with a vengence. After nearly two months without measurable precipitation, Mother Nature’s trying to make up for it in the first storm of the season. We’ve received over six inches of rain in Groveland, just outside Yosemite, and several feet of snow has fallen in the high country over the past few days. This is some very welcome weather, even though it finally forced the closure of Tioga Pass Rd, which registered the latest closure date in history, January 17.
While the pass was still open, I made several short forays up into the high country to explore and photograph. It was an amazing landscape in which the ponds, lakes and rivers were partially, if not entirely, frozen over, but there was hardly, if any, snow even on the 13,000 foot peaks. Equally impressive as the grand landscapes were the numerous intimate possibilities, capturing the textures and graphic patterns frozen in the ice.
After considerable scouting, I found a promising sunrise location to shoot and returned the following morning in the chilly pre-dawn hours. I was set up on a really nice composition with ice patterns, the frozen Tuolumne River and the Cathedral Range from front to back, waiting for the sunrise and hoping for some interesting light. In my opinion, even the best composition needs appealing light to become an exceptional image, but on this morning the fine light never came. So shortly after sunrise I gave up on the grand landscape and walked along the river in search of more intimate scenes to photograph. Before long, I found a small patch of extremely graphic ice patterns. Technically this wasn’t a difficult image to make; I put a longer telephoto lens on the camera to isolate a small portion of the ice and attempted as best I could to align the camera perpendicular to the subject to keep everything as sharp as possible. I also used a cable release and the mirror-lockup function to minimize camera movement. The most challenging part of an image like this is deciding what to isolate. I tried to emphasize the similar, but varying sizes in the shapes of the ice, rather than making it a uniform pattern. For scale, this composition is about five inches across.
Robb Hirsch is an acclaimed professional photographer. In 2007 one of his images was named a winner in the Nature’s Best, Windland Rice Smith International Nature Photography Competition, one of the most prestigious worldwide contests. He leads guided photography sessions for Y*explore and many of his prints are for sale on his website robbhirschphoto.com.
Robb is also a lead photography instructor for the Yosemite Twin Valleys Waterfall Workshops from May 18-21, 2012 in both Hetch Hetchy and Yosemite Valleys.
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Sierra Storms and Frazil Ice: Yosemite Weekly Photos 1.23.12
January 23rd, 2012Dodging a Bullet
By John P. DeGrazio
Half Dome Through the Clouds by John P. DeGrazio
It’s been an interesting few days in the Sierra Nevada as storms have swept through the Yosemite region. I was in the Valley on Saturday and Sunday and was able to witness the return of the waterfalls and the Yosemite Creek’s famous frazil ice.
Yosemite Creek Frazil Ice by John P. DeGrazio
It was fun getting some shots around the Valley as the sun would try to poke through the clouds. Photographic opportunities abound even on stormy days in Yosemite.
Half Dome from Cook's Meadow by John P. DeGrazio
URGENT UPDATE: There was a large rock fall on the Big Oak Flat Road that occurred at 11:30pm Sunday night that has closed the road indefinitely. If you are traveling to Yosemite from the north and west, Highway 140 will be your only option until further notice. There is currently no access into Yosemite Valley from Highway 120. I traveled that road just hours before the rockfall and thankfully there were no injuries to report.
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Calm Before the Storms: Yosemite Photos from an Android Phone 1.20.12
January 20th, 2012Clouds Above Mt. Lyell
By John P. DeGrazio
Cloud Formation over Mt. Lyell by John P. DeGrazio
On what seems to be my last trip to Glacier Point before spring, I was able to lead a family to Sentinel Dome in late December which is unheard of in normal years. It was a beautiful day with a panoramic view from atop the 8’122 foot dome. I often enjoy this view of Mount Lyell in the distance and this time the image was highlighted by an interesting cloud formation above Lyell, Florence, and McClure. Half Dome, Clouds Rest, The Echo Peaks, Mt. Clark, and all of those frozen waterfalls also make this image one I was very happy to capture with my Android phone.
Photographing with a camera phone was once frowned upon as a lazy way out of making an image. With advancing technology, these phones are becoming more integral in everyday “outdoor” life. I am currently using the HTC Droid Incredible 2 phone with an 8 megapixel camera, and will share the world of Yosemite through my phone.
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Mt. Conness and the Conness Glacier: Yosemite Weekly Photos 1.18.12
January 18th, 2012Epic is an Understatement
By John P. DeGrazio
Approaching the North Ridge of Mt. Conness by John P. DeGrazio
As I stood seemingly naked about two hundred feet from the summit, I thought to myself “what did I just do?” I made the move in my head before I even set my feet, but now I was standing on a ledge with my right hand firmly in a crack and my left desperately trying to find the next hold. At that moment, I paused. I thought back to the Alex Honnold video I watched just days before and cleared my head. No, I wasn’t in any perilous danger like he was, precariously perched on the face of Half Dome. I was, however, stuck on a slightly exposed ridge heading up the final approach of Mt. Conness. After I regrouped, I was able to reach low and find my next move to a safer ledge and a virtually clear path to the summit. It was a moment that extolled a sense of pride in my problem solving ability and one I was about to share with my climbing partner until I noticed he found the same ledge about six feet below me without ever having to put himself in the situation I just narrowly escaped. Experience is a gift.
On the North Ridge of Conness by Gabriel Mange
I began rock climbing this past summer with my good friend Gabriel Mange, nature photographer and experienced climber who is joining some lofty company in Yosemite National Park. Gabe and I have now completed two climbs that are great accomplishments by my standards but not quite the level of difficulty he has achieved on peaks like the Incredible Hulk, Half Dome, and El Capitan. I have ascertained a number of summits in the past few years that were third and fourth class scrambles which required a couple of technical moves at the end. Unicorn and Ragged Peaks immediately come to mind. Cathedral Peak was my first multi pitch traditional climb. Although not overly difficult, the scenery was quite breathtaking, and I’ve been told it’s the perfect Yosemite climb for beginners. With Gabe guiding, we achieved that summit and the Eichorn Pinnacle one day this past summer.
This time our plan was to summit Mt. Conness at 12,590 feet via the North Ridge approach. We would begin our day outside the Yosemite boundary and climb up the back side of Conness around the glacier and back into the national park.
Conness Glacier by John P. DeGrazio
Communication is such an important component of any relationship. Without it, any team will certainly peril. Just how big of a mistake you can make is directly related to how large of a miscommunication there is. Team RedBro was not exempt. When we arrived at the Saddlebag Lakes parking lot, the plan was to summit Conness. I thought we were going to have an easy eight mile round trip hike up the West Ridge. Gabe’s plan was much more challenging than mine. For a more “alpine experience”, we were to approach the summit from the North Ridge, and I was down for anything. I packed a little extra food and an adequate amount of water for the extended journey but was lacking one crucial gear item, my head lamp. I always carry two head lamps in my pack. Always. The only problem was I transferred my gear to a lighter climbing pack that morning and somehow, well, no need to lament what was left behind. I did bring my cell phone with me which had a very powerful flashlight app so I was confident I would be fine. Besides, it was 8:30 am and we had about nine hours of daylight ahead of us. Our guidebook stated it should take about eight hours to complete the journey, but that is in normal conditions. This was mid January.
Crossing Conness Lake by John P. DeGrazio
As we drove to the trailhead, we were thwarted by a gate closure that added two and a half miles to our hike in each direction. I think you can figure out where this story is going. We quickly hiked up the icy road toward Saddlebag and crossed over three frozen Conness Lakes on our way to the North Ridge.
The North Ridge Approach to Conness by John P. DeGrazio
From there, our climb began up mostly third and fourth class terrain. Some moves became more difficult than others as we entered some fifth class territory but never felt compelled to rope up except for a couple of rappels to our final approach on Conness.
Rappelling off the North Ridge by John P. DeGrazio
On the Summit of Mt. Conness by Gabriel Mange
We finished the climb and reveled on the summit for a bunch of photos and videos before we began our descent.
Mt. Conness by John P. DeGrazio
We knew we only had an hour of daylight so we wanted to start moving quickly. Only we didn’t because the setting sun made the images too good to resist.
Seeing Stars by John P. DeGrazio
We took our time and finally headed off the West Ridge of Conness and dropped down into the lakes basin.
Dropping Down the West Ridge by John P. DeGrazio
We made it off the car sized boulders just before dark but spent the next few hours picking our way through ice and snow at a methodical pace.
Walking on the Moon by John P. DeGrazio
Unfortunately, although my cell phone flashlight app was powerful, it was not designed for cold weather and kept powering off. I would literally place it inside my shirt to warm it up about every 20 minutes or so just so it could function. What a rough lesson to learn. We were never in danger, just a bit uncomfortable that we had to wait so long to finish our hike. I know Gabe was frustrated and I am forever thankful for his patience. The light was a major annoyance that attributed to our slow pace. Since the trails were snow covered, we never had a true grasp of exactly where were. We headed in a northeast direction in an attempt to reconnect with the road we hiked in on earlier that morning. Once we began to climb a rocky ridge, I knew something was terribly wrong. We were gaining elevation instead of dropping into the drainage where we parked. We decided to turn east and finally descended from the talus slope. We immediately found the trail and were elated. Once back on the path, we could breathe a sigh of relief.
Sun Sets on Yosemite by John P. DeGrazio
Only, we temporarily lost the trail again at a creek crossing. After a few minutes of route finding, Gabe rediscovered the trail and we were soon on our road back to my car. The last mile of every hike seems to last about two hours and this journey was no different. We were both thrilled to see the car. We were each exhausted and had to scrap the dinner plans we made earlier because it was already 9:30. The best thing we each took from our little mishap was neither one of us lost our cool as we maintained our composure throughout.
It was easily one of the best days I ever had in Yosemite, and I consider Gabe a great friend. He is an incredibly patient person since he is on his way to becoming a world class climber and I am past my prime just appreciating the sport for the first time. Despite our age difference, the RedBros are ready for our next climb. With snow finally in the forecast this week, we may have to wait until spring.
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Bodie State Park: Schermeister Sierra Nevada Photo Update 1.13.11
January 13th, 2012
Full Moon Over Bodie, CA by Phil Schermeister
California Ghost Town
By Phil Schermeister
Shown is a full moon in winter over the historic town of Bodie, CA. Bodie is one of the best preserved ghost towns in the western United States where visitors can peer into the past which is preserved in a state of “arrested decay”. Bodie is an old mining town from the 19th and early 20th centuries at about 8,000 feet in elevation on the Eastern Side of California’s Sierra Nevada Mountains.
Bodie Hotel by Phil Schermiester
Phil Schermeister is an acclaimed professional photographer who works on assignment for National Geographic and is the lead instructor for several Y*explore Masters Photography Workshops. Phil has completed dozens of major natural history photo assignments for the National Geographic Society from the grasslands of the windswept Dakotas to Mexico’s remote Copper Canyon and has been photographing the unique geologic features of the Sierra Nevada’s East Side for more than 15 years. National Geographic has published six of his single-photographer books including “Range of Light” which highlights the natural beauty of the Sierra Nevada Mountains.
Range of Light by Phil Schermeister
Y*explore is introducing two new Eastern Sierra All Digital Masters Photography Workshops led by Phil Schermeister to be offered in 2012. Please click on this link and contact us for more information if interested in exploring the Sierra Nevada of Yosemite National Park and beyond with a National Geographic Photographer.
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Adventure Week: Yosemite Weekly Photos 1.09.12
January 9th, 2012Half Dome and other Sierra Highlights
By John P. DeGrazio
The Half Dome Visor and El Cap by John P. DeGrazio
After I dropped my daughter off at school last Wednesday, I reached the Highway 108 Junction and took a detour. It was a beautiful morning, and I decided it was time for another adventure in the Sierra Nevada. Endless opportunities present themselves while living in John Muir’s “Range of Light”, and this winter is no different. Rather than lament the fact that we have not received snow in months, many outdoors enthusiasts are taking advantage of the rare chance to see the Sierra from vantage points never afforded in typical winter months. I took my six year old daughter skating on Pywiack Lake, most people call it Tenaya, a couple of weeks ago and welcomed the New Year on the Mt. Whitney Trail with TKI. Approaching the summit (but not quite reaching) of Whitney was an unexpected bonus, but it was always a goal of mine to hike to the top of Half Dome in January.
Winter hiking in Yosemite is an utter delight. There are no crowds and you often are treated to overpowering silences occasionally interrupted by soft sounds of a meandering stream, a wayward bird, or a dull roar from a waterfall hanging onto life. Skis and snowshoes are normally required to reach magnificent vistas, but this winter is far from normal. Park visitors are continuing to travel the trails in summer like conditions with spring and autumn temperatures as the calendar has turned to January.
I arrived at the Trailhead Parking Lot shortly after 9:30am and fully expected to be off the trail before sunset. An average hike to the top of Half Dome will last over ten hours, but I was confident I would have no problems besting that time since I was alone, but I did bring my headlamp for safety. In fact, my goal was to achieve a personal record for the hike. I never tried to hike it for speed in any previous attempt but knew the conditions would be perfect. I immediately knew what type of day it would be as I peeled away my first layer within minutes. I was so pleased to be trekking on such a balmy January morning.
As I reached the top of Nevada Fall in one hour, I knew I was setting a pretty good pace for someone not running the trail. Reaching the summit was an incredible joy and doing it in under three and a half hours felt like quite an accomplishment. It was nice to see four others make it to the summit as well. After some photos, I returned to the cables for my two hour descent. The photos I took show how spectacular the Sierra truly are on a winter afternoon but also underscore our need for some storms to come through the region. The lack of storms did make the trip plausible, however. The trail was virtually free of snow and ice. Rarely is the Mist Trail so dry, and there were literally a small handful of patches of snow that were easily avoidable as you made your way from Little Yosemite Valley to the summit. Sub Dome was bone dry and the cables were free of any moisture.
Yosemite High Country January 2012 by John P. DeGrazio
Tenaya Canyon in January 2012 by John P. DeGrazio
NOTE: If you are going to attempt Half Dome, I strongly recommend you bring a harness/safety belt and carabiner to clip yourself into the cable. This added safety measure will go a long way. Also remember the days are very short in winter so most people will run out of sunlight on this trail before returning to the Valley. Finally, I would never recommend this to anyone who has never hiked to the top of Half Dome previously. Winter is not the time to try it for the first time.
Returning home before dark was a rare treat for me that day as I reflected on how fortunate I was to enjoy that experience. After visiting Whitney and Half Dome in the same week, I felt I could have spent the remainder of winter resting, but that is not what “killin’ it” is all about.
Mt. Whitney Sunrise from Trail Camp by John P. DeGrazio
Instead, I have mapped out my plans for the next couple of dry weeks in the Sierra and took a short drive on Sunday to the Sonora Pass. My friend Joel and I decided to take a quick hike to Sonora Peak. At 11,459 feet, it is impressive but we do start the hike at 9,624 feet so we weren’t jumping for joy at our accomplishment. Well, maybe we took a few leaps, but that is what fun is all about. I returned from this short hike satisfied to cross another peak off my list and eagerly anticipate Wednesday’s next Adventure.
Sonora Peak January 2012 by John P. DeGrazio
Joel's Leap High Above the Sierra by John P. DeGrazio
John be Nimble by Joel Metzger
To be continued…
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Ice: Yosemite Photos from an Android Phone 1.06.12
January 6th, 2012Top of Nevada Fall
By John P. DeGrazio
Ice and Nevada Fall by John P. DeGrazio
There’s almost no snow in Yosemite National Park which is very rare for this time of year. There is plenty of ice surrounding the waterfalls, however. Here is what I saw a few weeks ago on top of Nevada Fall.
Photographing with a camera phone was once frowned upon as a lazy way out of making an image. With advancing technology, these phones are becoming more integral in everyday “outdoor” life. I am currently using the HTC Droid Incredible 2 phone with an 8 megapixel camera, and will share the world of Yosemite through my phone.
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Challenges of Life
December 31st, 2011By John P. DeGrazio
Danger lies in every challenge of life.
Vulnerability should not be a deterrent.
Challenge yourself every day.
It’s the way life was meant to be lived.
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