Abundant mist created an exceptionally wide lunar rainbow on Upper Yosemite Fall last night.
The National Park Service announced today that Tioga Pass will open this Saturday at 8 a.m. Last year the high country still held tons of snow on opening day, and it was wintry and beautiful. It sounds like there’s even more snow this year, and I’m looking forward to seeing it!
Meanwhile, the warmest temperatures of the year have created minor flooding in Yosemite Valley. The highest water levels are expected tomorrow morning, and Swinging Bridge will probably be underwater. Some road closures are possible, and some campsites may be evacuated (perhaps already have?), but it looks like there won’t be any major closures in the near future. However, there’s still plenty of snow at higher elevations, and hot weather is expected to return in the middle of next week, so it seems likely that we’ll see more minor flooding by next Wednesday or Thursday.
All this water has created large reflecting ponds the meadows. I had yet another private workshop yesterday, and my student Durwood and I found some large patches of irises growing in and around rising ponds in El Capitan Meadow. Later we photographed thundering rapids near Happy Isles, and a spectacular rainbow on Bridalveil Fall.
All this water created perfect conditions for photographing the lunar rainbow on Upper Yosemite Fall last night. There was so much mist that the “moonbow” stretched well beyond the base of the fall, further than I’ve ever seen it before.
I’ll be heading over Tioga Pass on Saturday, and hope to post some snowy high-country photos here soon!
Irises in El Cap Meadow
Rapids at Happy Isles yesterday morning
Awesome! We’ll be there this weekend through next week. Really glad they opened Tioga Pass.
S-I-M-P-L-Y B-R-E-A-T-H-T-A-K-I-N-G!!
This is the first time I’ve ever seen Gunsight upside down. What an interesting perspective.
Great shots as usual. I was there yesterday and it looks like the rainbow was longer Tuesday nite. I could hear Yosemite falls getting louder as I waited for the lunar rainbow. Simply awesome.
Michael:
I’m planning to be up on Tioga Road on Saturday and perhaps part of Sunday. See you there perhaps!
Dan
Beautiful photos – stunning is an understatement!
Lovely images Michael
Thought you might be interested to know that Yosemite made it on to the evening news in Australia last week because of all the water flow – it was promoted as the best waterfall season in years. It was great to see the places that feature in your photos on the tv news….I half expected to see you in the background crouching down behind your tripod!
Bob
Thanks very much for your comments everyone, and for your kind words about the photos!
Ken, I’m really glad they opened Tioga Pass too! Looks like you’ll be in the park at a good time.
Patti, I hadn’t thought about that, but yes, that is indeed the Gunsight upside down. The express route to the top of Bridalveil Fall, but ropes or free-soloing skill are required.
Tom, not sure why the rainbow would be longer on Tuesday than Wednesday, but you never know about these things. Could have been the wind. Hope you got some good photos.
Dan, it would be great to see you – I’ll shoot you an email.
Thanks Claire!
Bob, thanks for letting us know about Yosemite on the Australian news. The park has been getting a lot of press lately because of the high water. Kind of strange, actually – aren’t there more important things to cover? But it’s great that you got to see this view of the park.
Oh! That moonbow is fantastic. One of these days I’ll get to Yosemite to try a moonbow. Those irises are lovely too. A touch of delicate beauty contrasted by those reflected rocks.
I love the reflection photo with the blooming plant in the middle. Great photo! They all are. 🙂 I was there this last week and it was gorgeous, and so nice to have warm weather. I also got to experience the rainbow at Bridlevail from Tunnel View that started about 4:15pm and last a good 25 minutes. What an amazing experience that was. Definitely different than what I saw at the same spot 3 years ago in February. I didn’t realize you could do the moonbow from the valley without being up near the waterfall. Next time. 🙂
Vivienne, thanks – glad you like the moonbow and the iris photos!
Thanks to you too Michele. Glad you got to see that rainbow from Tunnel View! You’re right – the light changes dramatically from summer to winter in Yosemite Valley – and of course the water flow too. And yes, you can photograph the lunar rainbow from Cook’s Meadow and other places on the valley floor. There are specific times on Don Olson’s site, which I linked to in some previous posts about lunar rainbows.