YosemiteBlog.com

Edie’s Image of the Day: Dogwood Blossoms

Edie Howe — Wed, 16 May 2012 18:16:12 +0000

Dogwood Blossoms, Yosemite National Park(Cross posted from The Little Red Tent)

Edie’s Image of the Day: Fern Spring

Edie Howe — Tue, 15 May 2012 23:00:47 +0000

Fern Spring water comb, Yosemite Valley(Cross posted from The Little Red Tent)

Yosemite Nature Notes 18: Water (video)

Loyd — Tue, 15 May 2012 13:28:44 +0000

There’s another great video from the Yosemite Nature Notes team this one entitled Water. It’s really cool. Check it out!

Be sure you watch in HD and full screen. The video is beautiful and it’s worth it.

Great job, guys.

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Yosemite Falls Webcam Timelapse by Jorma Rodieck

Loyd — Tue, 15 May 2012 13:21:10 +0000

You’ve undoubtedly seen the awesome timelapse videos Jorma Rodieck does over at Halfdome.net. Well now Jorma has started making videos of the brand new Yosemite Falls webcam from the Yosemite Conservancy. Check it out by clicking the link below.

Yosemite Falls Timelapse

Edie’s Image of the Day: Sierra Dogwood

Edie Howe — Mon, 14 May 2012 17:00:06 +0000

Western Sierra Dogwood in the rain(Cross posted from The Little Red Tent)

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Photo of the Day: Eastern Dogwoods by Joe Dsilva

Loyd — Mon, 14 May 2012 13:43:05 +0000

Today’s Photo of the Day is a beautiful shot of Dogwood ‘blossoms’ from Joe Dsilva. I actually learned something new when I read Joe’s post on his photo. Pretty cool. Take a look.

Eastern dogwoods can be either white or pink, though more than often you find the pink ones. They are not native to Yosemite, and you will find them only in the quarters in Yosemite village, with blossoms spreading over to the bicycle trail parallel and east of the village drive. ( See flickr map for more accurate location ).

The fun fact is that these are not truly flowers, they are “bracts” which are modified versions of leaves. This is another reason why the dogwood blooms last long. So what is the true part of the flower ? check my previous shot of the single Pacific dogwood, you will see the tiny flowers right in the center !

So technically they are neither “wild” nor “flowers” .

It was hard to find a good composition initally, then I stumbled on a branch that was lit up by the late afternoon sun against the backdrop of a dense canopy in the shadows. The contrast in lighting and colors appealed to me.

Beautiful shot. I like what you did and the colors and contrast are awesome. Thanks for sharing, Joe.

Be sure to check out Joe’s other photos on Flickr and like his page on Facebook or connect with him on Google+.

Photo by Joe Dsilva

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Prescribed Fire May Make Smokey Conditions in Wawona Area

Loyd — Mon, 14 May 2012 13:29:37 +0000

Since I was diagnosed with severe asthma last year I’m very cautious about the air I breathe. That’s why I pay attention to prescribed burn notices in and around Yosemite to make sure I don’t have any issues. That means if you’ve got asthma like me, you’ll probably want to stay away from the Wawona area while this prescribed burn takes place this week as it may make the air a little less than favorable.

Yosemite National Park Fire Managers are planning a prescribed fire in the northwest Wawona area in the southern portion of the park on Wednesday, May 16, 2012. The ignition of the burn is dependent on weather conditions. Favorable weather is expected throughout the week, which will allow for optimal smoke dispersion. The total prescribed fire area will include 846 acres and is estimated to take several days to one week to complete. This will be the first prescribed fire of the 2012 fire season.

The prescribed fire will take place in the vicinity of the 2007 lighting caused fire, known as the Jack Fire. The fire is designed to reduce hazardous fuels in the Wawona Wildland Urban Interface area. Burning this segment will form a barrier to the community of Wawona from the spread of unwanted wildfire approaching from Turner Ridge to the north and from the South Fork Merced River drainage to the northwest. This project ties together multiple and historical research, natural and prescribed fires, and mechanical thinning.

Another objective for this project is to conduct ecosystem restoration by applying fire to landscape adapted to thrive in fire conditions. Fire is a natural process that plays an integral role in shaping the Yosemite landscape. Densities of shade tolerant tree species, such as white fir and incense cedar, and forest litter and duff have accumulated to unnatural levels in the absence of fire. Through the application of fire, a more natural vegetation composition on the forest floor can flourish.

Smoke from the fire may be visible throughout the park, but may be more evident in the Wawona area and the southern portion of the park. Additionally, fire equipment and fire crews will be present in the area of the fire and along roadways. Visitors and park employees are urged to drive slowly and with caution through the burn area.

(via NPS)

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Can’t get to Yosemite? Check out the new Yosemite Falls webcam then

Loyd — Mon, 14 May 2012 13:20:01 +0000

We all love the Yosemite Conservancy for the great work they do around the park fixing this, funding that, but in the end it’s the webcams on their site with their beautiful views that keep people flocking to their website. Well they just added one more and this one has a spectacular new view, Yosemite Falls! Check it out here!

Pretty cool, huh? Ok, to thank the Yosemite Conservancy for putting in this great new webcam you really should go sign up and become a member. As I said before, the Yosemite Conservancy does a lot of great work around the park including funding rehabilitation and upgrade projects, teaching classes, printing materials and putting in great webcams like this one. It’s money well spent. You also get:

15% discount on all books, maps, posters, calendars and other products sold by Yosemite Conservancy stores
15% discount on the outdoor courses conducted by the Conservancy in Yosemite
15% discount on stays at the Ostrander Ski Hut
Listing in the Honor Wall Register at the Valley Visitor Center
Subscription to the Yosemite Conservancy newsletter

Plus you’ll know you’re doing something to help keep Yosemite beautiful. Donate as much as you want. You can find out more information here. It’s worth it.

Edie’s Image of the Day: Waterview

Edie Howe — Fri, 11 May 2012 18:00:46 +0000

Glacial erratic boulders dot the waters of Tenaya Lake(Cross posted from The Little Red Tent

Edie’s Image of the Day: Dawn of Time

Edie Howe — Thu, 10 May 2012 18:00:57 +0000

Bristlecones against dawn clouds(Cross posted from The Little Red Tent)

Edie’s Trip Report: Tioga Road

Edie Howe — Wed, 09 May 2012 18:06:44 +0000

(This article cross posted from The Little Red Tent)

I took a trip across Tioga Pass yesterday, and can report the following observations.

The road itself is completely clear of snow, with only small amounts of run-off from nearby snow banks. It’s also in good conditions, with some repairs evident, and only a couple of odd dips, marked by signs.

The falls at South Fork of the Tuolumne River is significantly reduced in size, and I noted that termites were swarming on the beams of the bridge.

Siesta Lake still has some snow and ice on the south end of the lake.

The Impossible Tree still stands in the middle of Quaking Aspen Falls!

Tenaya Lake is below normal levels, in spite of the images above. Normally, the table would be covered at this time of year!

I noted that work was being done on the Tuolumne Meadows store, and was told later that they were replacing the generator. Lastly, the Whoa Nellie Deli at the Mobil station in Lee Vining still serves a mean plate of Baby Back Ribs, and Mammoth Double Nut Brown porter makes a fine chaser. Not a paid advertisement, just a happy customer.

(All images taken with the iPhone 4S, using CameraPlus app, and processed using Lightroom 4 and Silver Efex Pro 2. )

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Edie’s Image of the Day: Cloud Conversation

Edie Howe — Wed, 09 May 2012 18:00:31 +0000

El Capitan shares the sky with a drifting cloud(Cross posted from The Little Red Tent)

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Photo of the Day: Cloud Shrouded Cliffs and Snow by G. Dan Mitchell

Loyd — Tue, 08 May 2012 13:45:19 +0000

Today’s Photo of the Day is a haunting shot from Dan Mitchell. Dan’s photos are always a favorite for photo of the day not only because they’re incredibly beautiful but he also has a great story along with each one.

Among my very favorite conditions in Yosemite Valley are those of winter or late-spring days when there is snow along the cliffs high above the Valley and clouds float along the cliff tops alternately revealing and hiding trees, cliffs, and granite spires. The story behind this photograph is, as is often the case, one of being distracted from the obvious thing by some other small thing that I could have overlooked if I hadn’t looked in the right direction at the right moment.

I was in the Yosemite Valley area for a day, primarily to shoot wildflowers in Merced Canyon below the park. Between my morning and evening shooting along the Merced, I headed up into the Valley to see what I could find. Frankly, although it is always beautiful to be in the Valley, I wasn’t seeing much of anything that inspired me to make photographs. I enjoyed my time there, but eventually decided to go to a slightly different area to see what I could find. On my way back to the Valley from that other place, I passed through Wawona Tunnel, had some extra time, and decided to at least pull out briefly at tunnel view and have a look around. The scene is always tremendous, with the astonishing Valley and all of its impossible features spread before you – but it isn’t always worth trying to turn this into a photograph. I’m spoiled enough that I don’t always even take the camera out when I stop there, and this was one of those days. I left my gear in the car and just walked to the overlook to, well, look for a minute before driving on. I have a habit of looking all around when I’m in such a place since sometimes a subject can be found that is not the primary iconic thing. So I looked around… and high above and way off to the side I saw the clouds gathering around a few of the granite spires, with an occasional beam of light shining through. Ignoring the Valley itself, I now quickly returned to my car, put a long lens on the camera, put the camera on the tripod… and from the back of my car and in the parking lot (sigh… I made a series of photographs of these fog-shrouded snowy cliffs.

Great stuff as always, Dan. Thanks for sharing!

Be sure to check out Dan’s photoblog, it’s one of the best out there. You can find him at gdanmitchell.com and of course there’s always his photos on Flickr.

Photo by G. Dan Mitchell

Missing Skier Found

Loyd — Mon, 07 May 2012 20:57:21 +0000

Sad news today as the body of a missing skier was found on Mount Dana.

Searchers located and are in the process of retrieving the body of a skier, who’s been missing in Mono County for nearly two weeks.

Boris Avdeev, 31, of Ann Arbor, Mich., an experienced backcountry skier, has not been heard from since setting out on his solo backcountry ski trip on April 19.

His body was found on Thursday and members of an ice rescue team with a dozen members from Douglas County and El Dorado counties responded to help retrieve the body from steep, icy terrain located at the 10,670-foot level.

Our deepest sympathies go out to Mr. Avdeev’s family.

(via The Record-Courier)

Edie’s Image of the Day: Soopermoon, Clark’s Range

Edie Howe — Mon, 07 May 2012 14:06:08 +0000

Supermoon rising over Clark Range, Sierra Nevada range. Taken from Sentinel Dome, May 5, 2012(Crossposted from The Little Red Tent)