As I drove home from my hike on Thursday night, I thought to myself how much fun you can have in Yosemite in any weather. We made it to Nevada Fall on the Mist Trail that day and the group had a great time despite the rainy conditions. The cloud-filled skies added to Yosemite’s mystique.
We also began our hike in the middle of the afternoon which was away from the norm and although it was crowded heading up the trail, the peaceful descent was quite a treat. The weather changed on the drive home as I reached Crane Flat, and snow began to fall. The serenity of the scene allowed me to pause to reflect how truly wonderful a place this is. We had a dry early winter but have received several storms since mid February that have helped our drought situation. We are not out of the woods yet, but each storm moves us closer to better times. I didn’t know what to expect on my drive in the next morning. The snow never really accumulated to much below 7000 feet so there were no major road issues, and they currently are completely clear.
The Valley told a different story as the clouds shrouded all the major peaks which was quite a scene. Yosemite Falls popped out of the clouds as if it was a magician’s grand illusion. On the South Wall of the Valley, Sentinel Rock would appear and then disappear just to reveal the identity of the true guardian of Yosemite.
Half Dome was the star of the show in the early morning light as photographers lined Cooks Meadow for their chance to capture the rare scene. Light changes rapidly in the valley, and they packed up almost immediately after the capturing of this image.
The rest of the day was spent walking through the meadows around the valley. So much life and color is returning to Yosemite as the meadows fill in with water. Wildlife abounds as our group encountered several mule deer, a coyote, gray squirrels and begging ground sqirrels. We also heard countless songs and were able to spot a variety of birds including Stellar Jays, Robins, Acorn Woodpeckers, Ravens, Sparrows, Ducks, and Red Winged Blackbirds. I’m still waiting for my first bear sighting of the year but remain patient. For now, I am enjoying another change of season in Yosemite.
