Yosemite without snow...

[jasonjoo]

Thanks kswatapug. I would really hate to be stuck in the rain, especially if it lasts for the duration of my trip. At this point, I'm not even bothered about not having any snow. No snow is fine, but the rain is not!

Thanks Kiron Kid. Let's just hope it doesnt rain

 

[Russ - SVP]

Jason

Yeah, rain can kinda suck. When we were two days up El Cap, it began to rain. Had to bail and leave our gear hanging, while waiting it out in Camp 4 and Mountain Room Bar. Once it subsided, we jugged back up, and finished the climb. The weather reports that are on the chalk board in the mountaineering shop (Curry Village) are quite accurate.

Kiron kid

 

[jasonjoo]

Thanks for the heads up Kiron. Lets hope for some snow

 

[kjsphoto]

Thanks for the heads up Kiron. Lets hope for some snow

Hope is a loose word more like pray. It is so dry around here us locals are getting nervous for the coming summer. I wish it would dump snow to be honest...

 

[LizzBartlett]

Since you're located in SoCal you can easily head up the east side and find snow. The 120 is now closed over Tioga Pass due to snow.

If you're into doing some hiking or skiing, I'd check out Bishop Canyon and see if you can get to South Lake. Or go up to Rock Creek and get winter shots of Bear Creek Spire. On that side of the Sierra you can also shoot at Mono Lake or see if you can get into Bodie. There are also a number of hot springs scattered around for a soak after a long day out in the field.

There's more to Yosemite than the Valley.
IBBY!
Lizz

 

[jasonjoo]

Kevin, I'll be praying all weekend! Lets pray for some snow

Lizz, I believe Tioga pass is closed, and so I'm not sure of other ways to get to Mono Lake or the Lee Vining area. I won't be snowshoeing or skiing, so a lot of things snow related outside the valley is out of my reach. I'm sure there is much more to the valley (and Yosemite for that fact), but I haven't been there since childhood, so I would really hope for the best

Ahh the forecast is calling for rain. No snow I can handle, but the rain? That would make things downright dreary

Thanks for all the input folks. I really appreciate it! Thanks!

Jason

 

[kjsphoto]

Thanks

Tioga pass is now closed, it closed last week. Just to let you know how bad it is, I was up on the pass about two weeks before it closed and their is no water. You could just walk across anywhere there used to be water. I have never seen it that low. It is cold so it is icy, so the roads can be dangerous in the mornings or shaded areas so if you do decide to visit be careful, black ice is the worst...

120 does not have that much snow on the pass, I can see the mountain range from my house, very spotty, but it is the ice, it is bad and dangerous especially as their are no guard rails and if you go over the edge,well lets say you are not walking away from it.

If you make it to Yosemite, check out glacier point, it is very pretty, also see if you can get over to Bodie as well. If you cant hit it early in the morning it is pretty when their is frost on the ground. Also check out the big tress, they are on the Glacier point side, i tis pretty through their as well. Yosemite also has a lot of places you can just pull over, take a short walk and be in beauty, tons of forest like scenes, just have to look.

 

[LizzBartlett]

Kevin, I'll be praying all weekend! Lets pray for some snow

Lizz, I believe Tioga pass is closed, and so I'm not sure of other ways to get to Mono Lake or the Lee Vining area. I won't be snowshoeing or skiing, so a lot of things snow related outside the valley is out of my reach. I'm sure there is much more to the valley (and Yosemite for that fact), but I haven't been there since childhood, so I would really hope for the best

Ahh the forecast is calling for rain. No snow I can handle, but the rain? That would make things downright dreary

Thanks for all the input folks. I really appreciate it! Thanks!

Jason

Jason,
Yes, 120 is closed for the season (as is the Glacier Point Rd.) and they lock the gate just outside of Lee Vining. You can get all the road info and even check out webcams on the national park website (www.nps.gov/yose).

Where in SoCal are you? If you are around LA or south then you take 15 to 395 north. Even if you are a little further north you can get to the east side by way of 178(?) from Bakersfield. This is also a really nice drive. Mono Lake should still be somewhat accessable, you can go up into the Buttermilks around Bishop (have breakfast at Jack's and check out Mountain Light and Vern Clevenger's galleries)

Whatever you do make sure that you have fun!

IBBY!
Lizz

 

[jasonjoo]

Thanks Lizz. My itinerary for now is confined to Yosemite Valley. I would really love to visit the Mono Lake area sometime soon though!

The weather forecast is calling for rain. This is going to be a wet trip

Edit: Interesting, www.accuweather.com says it will rain, but www.weather.gov says it will snow Monday through Thursday! Hmm...

 

[kjsphoto]

This is interesting;

[YOSEMITE NAT'L PARK]
THE PARK IS OPEN, HOWEVER, ACCESS TO YOSEMITE VALLEY IS RESTRICTED FROM
2200 HRS EACH NIGHT TO 0600 HRS EACH MORNING SUNDAY THRU THURSDAY THRU 3/23/08
- DUE TO CONSTRUCTION - MOTORISTS ARE ADVISED TO USE AN ALTERNATE ROUTE -
ACCESS TO YOSEMITE VALLEY IS AVAILABLE VIA SR 41

FOR YOSEMITE NAT'L PARK ROAD INFORMATION YOU CAN ALSO CALL 209-372-0200

I guess the valley is no open 24 hours. I would call if I was heading over this way from out of the area.


You know have you ever been to Kings Canyon National Park. They say it is beautiful and it is on the way from LA to Yosemite via 395.

http://www.nps.gov/seki/
http://www.sequoia.national-park.com/
http://www.americansouthwest.net/california/kings_canyon/national_park.html

 

[patrickjames]

I would much rather go to King's Canyon than Yosemite. Yosemite has been done to death. King's Canyon never gets shot. It might not be open though since there is only one long road into it. Here is a shot from there-

Patrick

 

[kjsphoto]

I am planning on spending some time there this summer if I am still living in the area. I have heard many great things about Kings Canyon.

It really is a beautiful place and really overlooked. Thank for sharing the image.

 

[Vaughn]

Kevin and all. It just looks like Yosemite is doing road work and closing Hwy 141 and 120 during weeknights (10pm to 6am). Daytime access on those roads (and all weekend) is open. Hwy 41 from the south is not affected.

I would not recommend Hwy 120 at night during wet winter weather in any case due to snow/ice.

Vaughn

 

[jasonjoo]

I'll be sure to stop by Kings Canyon some other time. Hopefully I'll be able to visit more of these "local" places more often. For now, my itinerary is confined to Yosemite, and even from there, the valley only. I'm not well-equipped for snowshoeing or X-country skiing.

Kings Canyon will have to wait for a bit. My heart is with Yosemite While I am going to take photos, I didn't plan the trip soley for taking photos. I really just want to get some fresh air and leave Los Angeles for a few days. Being a generous host, Yosemite is allowing me to take pictures during the party

That is... if the weather permits

Jason

 

[kswatapug]

The road closure affects the section of highway between Pohono Bridge and the junction of 120 and 140 (where the dam used to be). Since that section is the only way to get into Yosemite Valley from 140 and 120, they close it at night to get some work done. It took a beating in the two high water events (1996 and 1997) and they hope to stabilize things with these repairs. There has been construction on the roads in the valley for two years running now that has closed parts of Southside Drive at various times, turning Northside Drive into a two-way road, which has made a drive into the valley a whole new experience.

The Glacier Point Road is also closed (Tioga Pass and Glacier Point Road usually close silmultaneously). If Badger Pass ski area were open, you could drive up that far. They set tracks for cross-country skiing on it beyond that point in the winter.

As a final note, if you protect your equipment from the rain, and take care to create a vapor barrier to equalize its temperature when moving between cold damp outdoor conditions and the warmer temperatures such as your hotel room, you will find that you can work (although it can be challenging) in the wet. The everchanging mist that often accompanies the rain will make for some interesting compostions as it swirls about the cliffs (especially in black and white). People often remark that Yosemite has been "done", but conditions like that are never the same one moment to the next, and if the snow line drops, it will be even better. The saying in Yosemite is that weather drives all the park visitors indoors and the photographers grab their cameras and head outdoors. Good luck!

 

[jasonjoo]

Well lucky for me, I just purchased an EOS 3 and my Canon 17-40L is weather sealed as well. If it's not down right pouring, maybe I will drive into the valley and check it out!

 

[Vaughn]

Well, jason,

If you are in Yosemite Valley, you got snow coming in on top of you right now. Be careful what you wish for, drive safely and hope you are having a blast!

Vaughn

 

[Vaughn]

Wednesday morning...from the webcams, it is a cold sunny morning in Yosemite Valley with snow on the Valley floor!

Vaughn

Wish I was there!

 

[jasonjoo]

Hey Vaughn, I JUST got back from my trip. I got more snow than I could wish for! I was taking some pictures through Tuesday's storm and it was so difficult just to keep my lenses clean. My car's battery died too, and my car got stuck in a mixture of snow and mud. It was not the trip I imagined, but I enjoyed every bit of it. Wednesday was a lot better. We had blue skies and a lot of snow on the valley floor. Some sun even broke through the clouds at sunset to shine some light on Half Dome.

Hopefully I can get my slides developed soon. I want to see how these pictures turned out!

 

[Russ - SVP]

Jason

Sounds like you had a very nice trip. I'm looking forward to seeing your images. Yosemite is definitely one of the wonders of the world. I've always considered it my second home, and a special place.

Kiron kid

 

[Vaughn]

Here is Jason's Wednesday in Yosemite Valley...if the link works and you can play it...

http://halfdome.net/cams/ahw_movie_02.php

vaughn

 

[jasonjoo]

Wow thanks Vaughn! The Wednesday clip showed that last bit of red flare from the sun breaking through the clouds. Tunnel View was quite crowded that day and I'm sure a few photographers were pleased with what they got