Clouds and mist from Tunnel View, sunrise, 7:02 a.m. yesterday
Some strange white stuff fell in Yosemite Valley Tuesday night.
Skies started to clear late Tuesday evening, and it looked like there was a decent chance of seeing an interesting sunrise Wednesday morning, so I set my alarm for 4:15 a.m. (it hurts to even write that number), and made the drive up from Mariposa to the valley.
Before leaving home I checked the Yosemite road-and-weather phone line. It said that Highway 140 and Yosemite Valley were R2 – chains or four-wheel drive required. That usually means a substantial snowfall, so I brought my high-top snow boots in case I had to wade through six inches or more. But when I got to the valley I found only and inch or two of snow on the ground. I’m not complaining though, because that’s more than we’ve had all winter, and that’s the perfect amount to add a delicate coating to the tree branches.
But the trees would have to wait. There was mist on the valley floor, and clouds above, so the sunrise held some promise. I went to a spot near Tunnel View to wait, and shortly after sunrise the clouds started to light up. It turned into a beautiful sunrise, with, at times, three layers of fluff: high, broken clouds, ground-hugging fog, and mid-level mist wrapped around the cliffs.
After awhile the sun got too high, and the light too harsh, so I drove down into the valley in search of snow-covered dogwoods. There weren’t many dogwoods in full bloom in the west end of the valley, so I headed east to the Ahwahnee Hotel. There I found more dogwoods with white, rather than green, blossoms. And as often happens, the temperature was slightly colder in the eastern end of the valley, allowing the snow to stick to the branches better.
It was a really beautiful morning. We had to wait a long time for snow, but it was worth the wait. You’ll find some of my Tunnel View and dogwood photos above and below.
And even though it was a weekday, the number of tripods around the valley suggests that many photographers must have called in sick just to photograph the snowfall. If you were there, please post a link to your images in the comments – I’d love to see them. I promise not to tell your boss. 🙂
— Michael Frye
Sunrise from Tunnel View, 6:42 a.m. yesterday
Mist and trees with Bridalveil Fall, 7:03 a.m.
Half Dome and El Capitan from Tunnel View, 7:05 a.m.
Tunnel View without icons (7:17 a.m.)
Dogwood and ponderosa pines, 7:52 a.m.
Snow-covered dogwood, 8:04 a.m.
Related Post: Early Dogwoods
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Michael Frye is a professional photographer specializing in landscapes and nature. He is the author or principal photographer of The Photographer’s Guide to Yosemite, Yosemite Meditations, Yosemite Meditations for Women, Yosemite Meditations for Adventurers, and Digital Landscape Photography: In the Footsteps of Ansel Adams and the Great Masters. He has also written three eBooks: Light & Land: Landscapes in the Digital Darkroom, Exposure for Outdoor Photography, and Landscapes in Lightroom 5: The Essential Step-by-Step Guide. Michael has written numerous magazine articles on the art and technique of photography, and his images have been published in over thirty countries around the world. Michael has lived either in or near Yosemite National Park since 1983, currently residing just outside the park in Mariposa, California.
Those are beautiful Michael! Unfortunately for me I don’t live close enough to pop in on short notice like that. Thanks for sharing.
Thank you John! Not many people can head to Yosemite on short notice, but I hope you get a chance to be there in the snow sometime.
Thanks Michael. I’ve been planning a winter/snow trip for three years now. I’m probably to blame for the drought. Please don’t tell anybody. 🙂
Aha! If only we’d known that was the problem! 🙂
Michael,
I may never make it to Yosemite again due to health problems, so it is great to have you “on duty” at 4 in the morning producing wonderful photos of this iconic park!
Thank you.
You’re welcome Eric – though I hope you do manage to get to Yosemite again.
I have some photos from Tuesday’s snowfall, but am unsure as to how to send them to you.
Thanks,
Bob
Well I don’t want you to send them Bob, but you can upload them somewhere (Facebook, Flickr, your website, etc.) and post a link to that page here in the comments.
Thank you
Absolutely magical, Michael!
Thank you Vivienne!
There are 3 photos posted on my Flickr site here. It was a magical day indeed.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/93583023@N00/16900179710/
Very nice images Bob. I especially like the Oak in Snow.
Beautiful and refreshing shots ~ the sense of adventure is there in both your photos and in your writing.
Thanks so much Randall – I’m glad you enjoyed both the photos and the story.
It is a blessing to hear the Sierra’s have finally gotten some snow. I climbed Morro Rock in a tee shirt in February and those mountains really needed more snow. Thanks for the pictures. I’m taking two quick trips from Oregon to Ca. in May so probably won’t get my fix this year.
Indeed it is a blessing Lisa. We need to be blessed a little more though.
Beautiful images Michael! I was lucky enough to get up there for this magical morning as well. When I arrived on Tuesday it was snowing in bursts and there was good light but Wednesday morning was magical. My favorite is here looking toward Curry Village: https://www.flickr.com/photos/jason_branz/16906707798/
Thanks Jason, and your two photos from that morning are beautiful. Glad you got to be there!
Michael, we left the valley after 7 days! Your book was a gift and got me to the places I needed to be, thank you!
Glad the book was helpful Jan!
Those are beautiful photos Michael. I was there from Sunday-Thursday, and it was so nice to see some moisture in the Valley. Here are a few of my amateur shots. Your blog is inspirational, thank you.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/132427195@N04/
Thanks for sharing Don. I really like the light on the first Yosemite Falls photo.
I was there too Michael..I someone missed you in the crowd…yes on a weekday!!
I was there in the night to shoot under moonlight and fleeing starts and again for that epic sunrise…
https://www.flickr.com/photos/rajaramki/16927330449/in/photostream/
Glad you could be there Raja – nice images!