Dan's Outside

Trees, Leaves, and Grass – Mirror Lake

Trees, Leaves, Grass – Mirror Lake. Yosemite National Park, California. April 21, 2007. © Copyright G Dan Mitchell. (Sales)

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May 1, 2007 Posted by gdanmitchell | Yosemite | Comments Off on Trees, Leaves, and Grass – Mirror Lake

Half Dome and Yosemite Valley, Dawn

Half Dome and Yosemite Valley, Dawn. Yosemite National Park, California. April 21, 2007. © Copyright G Dan Mitchell. (Sales)

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April 28, 2007 Posted by gdanmitchell | Yosemite | Comments Off on Half Dome and Yosemite Valley, Dawn

Tioga Road Opening Date – My Wild and Almost Completely Uninformed Guess

(An old article – posted here so as not to lose it during the site transition.)

Many of us begin watching for the opening of Tioga Pass Road this time of year. Guessing the actual opening date seems like a relatively harmless sport, so here goes.

The road has opened as early as April 29 (in 1988 during a severe drought) and as late as the beginning of July (after some heavy/late snow years). This year the conditions are much more like the former than the latter.

According to the April 25 update at the Tioga and Glacier Point Roads Plowing Update page, the initial clearing of the road all the way to Tioga Pass has been completed. What remains is described as road widening and clearing of pull-outs and side roads.

In the past I think that there has been a tendency to open the road on a weekday during during the middle or towards the end of the week, but perhaps not Friday.

So, I’m going out on a limb and predicting that it will be possible to drive across Tioga Pass road this year on Thursday, May 3. (If I’m wrong, my backup date is the following Thursday.)

For anyone contemplating an early season visit to the Tioga Road high country, do be aware that when the road first opens few, if any, services will be available – campgrounds generally open later and the store, grill, post office, etc. at Tuolumne probably won’t open for a few weeks.
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April 27, 2007 Posted by gdanmitchell | Yosemite | Comments Off on Tioga Road Opening Date – My Wild and Almost Completely Uninformed Guess

Four Oaks, Yosemite Valley

Four Oaks, Yosemite Valley. Yosemite National Park, California. April 21, 2007. © Copyright G Dan Mitchell. (Sales)

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April 27, 2007 Posted by gdanmitchell | Yosemite | Comments Off on Four Oaks, Yosemite Valley

Valley View, Above Wawona Tunnel

Yosemite Valley View, Above Wawona Tunnel. Yosemite National Park, California. April 21, 2007. © Copyright G Dan Mitchell. (Sales)

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April 26, 2007 Posted by gdanmitchell | Yosemite | Comments Off on Valley View, Above Wawona Tunnel

Spring Storm, Yosemite Valley

Spring Storm, Yosemite Valley. Yosemite National Park, California. April 20, 2007. © Copyright G Dan Mitchell. (Sales)

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April 25, 2007 Posted by gdanmitchell | Yosemite | Comments Off on Spring Storm, Yosemite Valley

Evening Rain, Yosemite Valley

Evening Rain, Yosemite Valley. Yosemite National Park, California. April 21, 2007. © Copyright G Dan Mitchell. (Sales)

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April 25, 2007 Posted by gdanmitchell | Yosemite | Comments Off on Evening Rain, Yosemite Valley

Meadow and Mist, Yosemite Valley

Meadow and Mist, Yosemite Valley. Yosemite National Park, California. April 21, 2007. © Copyright G Dan Mitchell. (Sales)

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April 22, 2007 Posted by gdanmitchell | Yosemite | Comments Off on Meadow and Mist, Yosemite Valley

Prime Time for Waterfalls?

(An old article – posted here so as not to lose it during the site transition.)

Seen at Yosemite Blog:

The Modesto Bee: “With his camera perched on a tripod and pointed at Yosemite Falls, Vaughn Hutchins didn’t have to think very long when asked about the perfect time to photograph one of North America’s tallest waterfalls.

‘Right now,’ he said Thursday, glancing at the puffy, wind-blown clouds drifting elegantly in and out of Yosemite Valley.

Hutchins, 52, of Eureka and many other Yosemite aficionados know the waterfalls are peaking more than a month early this year because of the skimpy snowpack.

Indeed, this may be the earliest peak since 1919 for 2,425-foot Yosemite Falls, say park officials.

Their message to Yosemite fans: Don’t wait until Memorial Day to see the falls this year.”

Sounds like it may be time for my annual Yosemite Valley waterfall pilgrimage sooner rather than later.

Timing visits to the Valley falls is an interesting subject. I’ve seen many people in the Valley later in the summer – July, August, and even September – who were disappointed to find that the falls did not look like what they had seen in photographs. In my experience, typical years bring the most impressive display in May and perhaps the beginning of June, though this can vary quite a bit. In very wet years the display can last longer, and this year I think that later than May will be too late. (Not that there aren’t plenty of other reasons to visit the Valley…)

One issue to keep in mind is that some of the falls, in particular Yosemite Fall and Bridalveil Fall, are fed by runoff from relatively low basins just north and south of the Valley. The snow melts out of these mid-elevation areas surprisingly early, and is often almost completely gone before the peak season begins. (Nevada and Vernal Falls are fed by the Merced River, which has its source at the Sierra crest.)

Not so well known to Valley visitors is the fact that there can be some very beautiful seasonal falls much earlier in the season, particularly during late winter and early spring melt periods. These occur as the low level snow melt reaches its peak.

With luck, you may find me in the Valley soon trying to catch this years likely-fleeting waterfall display.
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April 17, 2007 Posted by gdanmitchell | Yosemite | Comments Off on Prime Time for Waterfalls?