Barbara Rich Photography: Half Dome

Friday, November 18, 2011

Yosemite ~ A Slice of Heaven on Earth ~ Day 2

We left Yosemite Valley the first day through the west gate on the road to El Portal. A soft snow continued to fall until we were well outside the gate and I was envisioning what winter wonderland awaited our return to the valley the next morning. After a restful night's sleep, we headed back up the road to Yosemite. Half way up we were greeted with the magical flush of white from the night before that had left a fresh blanket of snow along the Merced River and adjacent mountainsides.

Before reaching the entrance gate , we came across several deer off to the side of the road. This big guy seemed unaware of the traffic jam he was creating by people pulling over to get a snap shot of his awesome rack.

Once inside the gate we headed up to the vista point at Tunnel View. The road to Glacier Point is closed each year in the Fall due to weather conditions so Tunnel View was the highest point we could observe the valley from the south side. The weather was freezing with a light rain turning to slush at times.

We noticed icicles had formed where the water had dripped from the rock wall outside the tunnel as we got out of the car to view the valley east through a mist of rainy fog. El Capitan could be viewed to the left with Bridal Veil falls to the right and Half Dome almost totally obscured by the fog through the opening to the middle.

Our next stop would be a close up view of Bridal Veil Falls. As we made our way cautiously up the icy walkway, signs of Autumn still clung to the trees around the base of the falls.

In spite of the freezing weather, Bridal Veil Falls had a sufficient rush of water over the top. As the water plummeted to the bottom of the falls, frozen patches along the sides left some interesting patterns on the rock cliffs.

We continued our journey towards Upper Pines, found a place to park and hiked in to the Happy Isles Nature Center. The rain was now turning into snow, covering our footsteps behind us.

Dave and Kathy pose along the trail

The evidence of an Autumn not ready to succumb to the thought of winter continued to present itself in an amazing contrast of color against this wonderland of white.

We found our way to a bridge over the Merced River and watched the magical show unfold. The flakes were coming down harder with each minute, clinging to the tree branches and continuing to build their caps of snow on the rocks. For me, this was one of the most beautiful scenes of our day.

After hiking back to the car, we once again headed for the warmth of the Ahwahnee Hotel. The persistent snow had brought others like ourselves inside to witness the start of the holiday decorations while enjoying the comfort of the lodge and its incredible view of the snow covered meadows outside.

Mom, Me, Kathy and Dave at the Ahwahnee

Once it appeared that the snow had lightened up, we decided to venture out into the meadow. The Royal Arches in back of the Ahwahnee were barely visible through the mist.

As the snow continued to lighten, we decided to head over to Lower Yosemite Falls and make the hike up to the base. We came across another of Yosemite's deer herds with this healthy buck drawing quite a crowd in the vicinity of the parking area.

Mom joined us as we walked the path to the lower falls, stopping here and there enroute.

Finally we could here the sound of the falling water and there in the path in front of us was the overlook to Lower Yosemite Falls. The inner warmth brought on by the beauty of this scene overrode the chill we were feeling from the falling snow and freezing temperatures.

These were the last snapshots of the day and a fond remembrance of how wonderful it was to share this slice of heaven called Yosemite with family. Our first visit there as a family was sometime during the late 1950s. They no longer push the fireball over Glacier Point in the evening as they once did and buses now transfer the bulk of people from sight to sight; however, the magic and the beauty of this valley still lingers, unchanged, no matter the year, no matter the season.

I leave you with an excerpt taken from a letter John Muir wrote to Mrs. Ezra Carr November 15, 1869

“I must return to the mountains-to Yosemite. I am told that the winter storms there will not be easily borne, but I am bewitched, enchanted, and tomorrow I must start for the great temple to listen to the winter songs and sermons preached and sung only there.”. . . . .John Muir

Sunday, November 6, 2011

Yosemite ~ a slice of Heaven on Earth ~ Day 1

The magic of light and shadow manifests itself magnificently in the Yosemite Valley. It had been many years since I had visited Yosemite National Park and when my brother Dave suggested we venture that way the day after Thanksgiving, 2010, I jumped at the idea. Armed with cameras and lenses, I fully intended to document this place, so rich in natural beauty that surely it has be a slice of heaven on earth.

We entered the Park at the Big Oak Flat Entrance. While the sky was a clouded blue, several snow falls in the preceeding week had left an accumulation of snow still clinging to the shaded tree branches and marking a clear boundary of the snowplows efforts on the roads.

Our first stop high on the pass overlooking the Yosemite Valley was a feast for the eyes. The breathless beauty of the snow covered landscape was just a lure to the majestic view of the Cathedral Rocks, with El Capitan to the left and Half Dome further up the valley, both caught in an afternoon glow of light.

Dave, Mom and Kathy

Thanks to the conservation efforts of John Muir, much of the Yosemite Valley appears the same as it did some 100 years ago.

On the east side of the tunnel just past the summit, we stopped to view the Merced River snaking its way across the snow covered valley floor far below.

Once we arrived in the Yosemite Valley and crossed the first stone bridge, we were greeted with the sight of untouched snow leading to the banks of the Merced River. We stopped long enough for Dave and I to get out, take a few pictures and leave our footprints behind.

Bridal Veil Falls and El Capitan were our next stop as we worked our way east catching a quick view of the steep walls of part of the Cathedral Rocks visible through the trees.

We viewed Bridal Veil Falls, caught in the long shadows of the afternoon sun, from a distance across the snow covered meadow. The second photo is a zoom in with the telephoto lens.

And true to the magic of the valley light, El Capitan was sitting across the way with its face all aglow. The second image is a stitched, 3 shot panorama.

Our next stop traveling east once again was a view of Upper Yosemite Falls. A forgotten snowman welcomed us to the meadow for a better view of the falls. As we crossed the foot bridge over the Merced River we were immediately mesmerized by the beautiful view being reflected in the afternoon sunlight and still waters of the river.

Me, Dave and Mom with Upper Yosemite Falls in the background

Dave and Kathy ~ Upper Yosemite Falls

Looking further east through the valley opening, Half Dome could be seen in the far right towering above the snowy valley walls.

Dave with Half Dome in the background

Half Dome

As we turned to walk back to the car, a magical show was beginning to unfold. The sun was angling low in the sky and casting a glorious beam of light between the Cathedral Rocks to the left and El Capitan to the right.

The light continued to illuminate the trees and the snow covered meadow, quickly moving its way across as a late afternoon mist was starting to build low to the ground.

In an effort to warm up, we decided to make our way to the Ahwahnee Hotel before heading out to our night's accomodations in El Portal. Mist was continuing to build across the snowy meadows in the valley.

The Ahwahnee exhibits the grandeur of its architecture which was brought to life in the early 1920s. Huge, double faced fireplaces offer a comfortable place to rest while warming the body. Large windows offer an outside view of the snowy meadows surrounding the hotel as well as several of Yosemite's iconic attractions.

We settled into one of the seating areas to relax after warming up, with a view through the trees of Half Dome. Through the changing light I suddenly looked up and saw the marvel of the sun casting the last of its evening hue on Half Dome. The illumination was most amazing and served as a perfect end to a perfect day having experienced, indeed, a slice of heaven on earth!