Life's A Beach

 

Harbor Seals in the Fog

Western Snowy Plover

Going Big

Making a Splash

Contemplating the Moon

Pink Promenade

Golden Glow

Seal Rock Sunset

I 💖 SF

Happy Veteran's Day!

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Yosemite This Morning

 

Lookin' Good

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Snow Day

Snowy Fall Morning on the Merced River, Yosemite Valley

November 2012

There's snow in the forecast for the mountains this weekend. Roaming around a freshly snowed-on landscape in Yosemite Valley is among the best experiences I've ever had.

The city noises of San Francisco have been left far behind. Now the soft munching of deer browsing a few feet away competes with the soft patter of snowflakes landing in the surrounding woods.

Although you can't help stopping at Tunnel View to take in the grand vista...

...it's also great to roam around quietly to hear the landscape's more intimate voices.

The beauty of an early snowstorm is having color in the trees instead of bare branches.

Cloak of Ferns

Gates of the Valley

Riverside Brushstrokes

Sealed in Ice

Dipper Catches a Morsel

Snow Pillows in the Merced

El Capitan Fog Factory

November Morning

Scouring Rush

Yosemite Valley

Not even a memory of summer crowds.

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Yosemite is Open

Yosemite Valley

November 1, 2013

 

Now that the park has lifted entry restrictions it feels tempting to head on up for a couple of days. Judging by the park's webcams it doesn't appear that fall color is as advanced yet as these images show from this date several years ago.

Another difference is that the air quality is probably not as good. I was a little disheartened this morning to see that Bay Area air quality has deteriorated a bit even since yesterday's disappointingly high numbers.

This seems more like a year of wistful memories of clean air and beautiful landscapes.

The month is young, though, and things might be looking a lot better before November fades.

Might as well be optimistic.

These two webcam screenshots were taken at about the same time this morning. Not sure why El Capitan looks so funky while Half Dome looks fine.

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