It snowed!!

Friends Greetings from Yosemite February 22, 2015 Sunday's early morning mist and clouds brought out the photographers to Tunnel View, where they were waiting for the clouds to part...to reveal a pretty picture of El Capitan, the Three Graces, Bridalveil Fall....Yosemite Valley. The Yosemite Valley sky over El Capitan was beautiful. Ribbon Fall looked graceful ...and the rain would only add to her beauty...and volume. The Three Brothers were standing out dramatically against the sky....They were indeed....outstanding. The light was shining on them perfectly.

The promise of snow was in the air!!!

Climbers were playing on a big boulder....bouldering. They were not too bold to attempt a big climb today. They were happy all the same. At noon, light rain in Yosemite Valley ..... but light snow at the snow line of 6000'. The hillsides were beautifully dusted with snow!!! along Highway 41, heading toward Yosemite West. It was wonderful to see the whitening of the landscape. In a few days this snow would melt....and the white dotted forests soon become green again. The feathery snow flakes flying down from the clouds....in the midst of our mild spring- like winter... the gentle breeze blew the falling snow flakes....Tomorrow, the clouds would lift and the sun would shine on the plants that just weeks before...had begun springing forth with life. This snow would be a most welcoming, yet fleeting sight. The snow made it easier to spot deer...still di?cult to photograph them, however. The snow beautifully decorated the pine trees...and the white fir trees. The sugar pine cone looked pretty....surrounded by white flakes of snow. Water is stored as snow and ice. An immense reservoir of water is stored in the snow on Yosemite' high-country mountains. Winter storms in the mountains determine the water and power supply for some of the state of California. This snow melts with the spring thaw and fills the creeks and rivers....and waterfalls. If spring is late, the melting will be more sudden, resulting in floods.....Yosemite Valley's most recent flood was in 1997. In Yosemite, most precipitation occurs in winter. The first snowfall comes to Yosemite after November 15, the last before April 15. In Yosemite Valley....Total winter snow depth averages 74 inches....but seldom more than 2 feet at a time. Ten inches of snow melts into one inch of water. John Muir..."How little note is taken of the deeds of Nature! What paper publishes her reports? If one pine were placed in a town square, what admiration it would excite! Yet who is conscious of the pine-tree multitude in the free woods, though open to everybody?" The Scenic Wonders guests woke up this morning to a pretty sky...and departed with a beautiful dusting of snow scattered across the landscape. Stay in a warm cozy Scenic Wonders cabin. Ask about our special winter rates. Another terrific day in Yosemite. Sent from my iPod Photos taken by my iPod