Playing Catch Up

I've been ignoring this blog for a while but, I am feeling the need to do some updates. I did do some major expeditions since last summer, and I have the Grand Canyon, Bryce Canyon, Zion and Yosemite pictures to prove it.

For a nice easy(?) 5 mile round trip, I walked up Taylor Creek, in the Kolob area of Zion National Park. This reflecting pool, at the Double Arch Alcove, made for a nice photo. Well, since I can't edit properly on this ancient computer, I'll have to describe the next few photos. I visited all the main scenic points at the North Rim of the Grand Canyon. I think I made the best of difficult light and haze, and found some other spots I can exploit the next time.

My visit to Bryce Canyon included a few inches of snow, overnight. Since I stayed right there at the park boundary, it was easy to wait for the skies to clear a bit, and I was right there, at the base of hoodoos hundreds of feet tall, with a lovely dusting of fresh, white snow.

A January visit to Yosemite's Tenaya Lake was a once in a lifetime visit. Rarely does the Tioga Pass Road stay open into January. The lack of snow hasn't also meant a lack of cold, though. Tenaya Lake had ice plenty thick enough walk and skate on. There was only one spot where there was open water. The sounds of the flexing ice was pretty spooky but, I never felt I was in any danger. (Other than falling on my butt once... Ouchie!)

It was a glorious day but, I wished I had seen the frozen waterfalls before it was time to leave!

Tioga Pass

I was itching to go to Yosemite and had intended to have an adventure on the edge of Yosemite Valley but, smoke from a local wildfire was too thick for good photography. Instead, I decided to go up the Tioga Pass Road (Highway 120) and see if the smoke was dissipating at the higher elevations. Even Tuolumne Meadows had some smoke so I went even higher.

Here is the view from the parking lot at Tioga Pass, almost 10,000 feet above sea level.

My destination was one of the Gaylor Lakes, mostly above timberline. I didn't use the polarizer on this shot, to see the differences. I do like how the reflection on the lake is enhanced when the polarizer isn't used.

I wandered out this and found some great spots, including this view of Mammoth Peak and the Kuna Crest. Even though these peaks are above 12,000 feet, they are not taller than Mount Dana and the Sierra Crest.

Also on that ridge, you can see the Cathedral Range, looking to the west. Named by John Muir, the Cathedral Range is an impressive polished granitic monument. Many Yosemite visitors never see the higher elevations of Yosemite.

On the way back down, I stopped off at Tenaya Lake to snap off some pics at this magical place. The lake was busy with picnickers, climbers, boaters and even swimmers in the cool water.