Yosemite Tree and Mist in Winter Photography @ InkTorrents.com by Soma

Wandering Camera – Yosemite Birthday Surprise

Yosemite Tree and Mist in Winter Photography @ InkTorrents.com by Soma

 

Hello Everyone! Welcome to this month’s Wandering Camera.  Winter is full of birthdays at our home.  Mine was in early January.  I like to spend it quietly hiking with my camera, and eating my favourite meal cooked by my husband.  This year he got me a pair of snowshoes, and, serendipitously, there was a huge snow storm just a few days before my birthday.  Naturally, I had to spend it at Yosemite.

 

 

Yosemite Badger Pass Snowshoe Photography @ InkTorrents.com by Soma

 

 

I wanted to snowshoe on my birthday.  However, a change of weather in turn changed our plans.  We ended up going to the Badger Pass snowshoe trail the day after.  It was a crisp, cold and sunny day in the snow with a lot of smiling faces.  We seem to be always the last ones to get off the trail.

 

 

 

Yosemite Badger Pass Snowshoe Photography @ InkTorrents.com by Soma

 

 

One of these days I will learn to leave the mountain trails before darkness falls.

 

 

 

Yosemite Hoarfrost Photography @ InkTorrents.com by Soma

 

The next day, we were at the park before sunrise.   The temperature that morning was -11C.

As we were wandering about,  we noticed that all the trees in a meadow had turned white with Hoarfrost.  It forms at very cold temperatures.  We promptly put our snowshoes on, and went off walking in the knee-deep snow to the grove of trees to see them up close.

 

 

Please click on the image thumbnails to see the pictures –

 

 

The low winter sun was shining behind the tree branches,  reflecting lights from a myriad frosty diamonds.  It was breathtakingly beautiful. 

I wish I had brought some soap water and straw, could have tried making ice bubbles.  Something to look forward to next time!

 

 

 

Yosemite Black Oak Photography @ InkTorrents.com by Soma

 

The last morning there I wanted to spend in a little more time in the snow before heading out.  “A little more” ended up being close to two hours.  As my husband said, it was hard enough to keep me away from snow before.  Now with the snowshoes, I was unstoppable.  One last look and a last photo, then it was time for the drive home.

 


 

 

The Birthday Surprise

 

Yosemite Tree and Mist in Winter Photography @ InkTorrents.com by Soma

 

 

The weather forecast for my birthday was cloudy skies, but no rain.   Then, all of a sudden in the afternoon, it started to rain and then snow began to fall.    I was out of the car faster than a lightning bolt, beelining for the trees.

There was a not a single grown-up in the vicinity, only children playing.  I felt very happy to be part of that group.

 

 

 

Yosemite Tree and Mist in Winter Photography @ InkTorrents.com by Soma

 

 

When we left the trees,  the storm clouds started to break on the north side.  If we were there, we would have seen the most amazing post-storm pink and red sky.   However, with the time it would have taken us to get there, we would likely have missed the light completely.  So we decided to drive into the clouds instead.

 

 

 

Yosemite Gateway To the Valley View Winter Mist and Storm Photography @ InkTorrents.com by Soma

 

 

I could not have been happier.   Blue hour in winter is my most favourite time for photography.  That day, Mother Nature added storm clouds and mist, and this birthday girl was over the moon. 

After setting up the camera, I watched the clouds and the mist flowing and playing in the meadow and the mountains behind until complete darkness surrounded us.   My surprise birthday present from Mother Nature. 

 

 

 

Painting with fountain pen ink @ InkTorrents.com by Soma

 

 

Once we got back to the hotel, my husband gave me the other set of birthday gifts.  Then he busied himself with cooking while I played with my newly-acquired inks and pens.

 

 

 

Painting with fountain pen ink @ InkTorrents.com by Soma

The Dragon and the little boy

 

This is a painting I started with the fountain pen inks I got for my birthday.  A story for another day.

 

 

 

Yosemite Gateway To the Valley View Winter Mist and Storm Photography @ InkTorrents.com by Soma

 

 

March marks the end of outdoor time for me due to severe pollen allergies that cause chest constriction.  Until October, fresh air is basically off limits except for a very limited time early in the morning when the air is completely still.

Spending a birthday in cold winter rain and snow and walking in -11C temperatures is probably not most people’s cup of tea, but it was a flask-full of tea for me!   You will have to excuse me for being head over heels in love with the subtle and quiet beauty of winter and all that is considered dark and gloomy weather. 

 

I look forward to seeing your photos and reading about them.

 

Wandering Camera art and photo linky party @ InkTorrents.com by Soma Acharya

 

Wandering Camera starts on the last Thursday of every month.  Photos, art and creative-themed posts, including other linky parties are all welcome.

You can continue to link up multiple posts.  

Please add a link back to this website. 

Have fun!!

You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!

Click here to enter

I am linking up with the linky parties on my Events And Links page.  Please pay a visit to some of them.

 

 

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Valley View Sunrise In September Yosemite National Park @ InkTorrents.com by Soma

Wandering Camera – Three Days In Yosemite

Valley View Sunrise In September Yosemite National Park @ InkTorrents.com by Soma

 

Welcome to Wandering Camera!  Around this time of the year I come out of my summer hibernation by camping in the chill air of the High Sierra Mountains between 8000ft and 10000ft.  This year however, we had to change our plans at the last minute due to the wildfires.

I have been to Yosemite Valley in every season but summer.  The days are too hot with temperatures ranging between 28C – 36C, while my melting point is around 16C. 

I was, however, so desperate to see the mountains that we drove to  Yosemite Valley with the mercury hovering around 48C.

 

 

Taft Point And El Capitan Yosemite National Park @ InkTorrents.com by Soma

 

We spent the first morning visiting a few favourites.  There was a heat advisory that day, and  it was clear that we needed to wake up extremely early to enjoy the summer outdoors.

We wanted to hike at least one trail.  Hiking to Taft Point was short enough for us to be back by mid-morning, before the day got too hot.  We got up at  5 AM, and after a little coffee, it was time to make the 45-min drive to the trail head.

 

A panoramic view of the Yosemite Valley  was waiting for us at the end of the 1.1-mile hike.  El Capitan (the massive rock on the right side of the photo)  towers over us in the valley, and here we were looking down at it.

 

Please Click on the image thumbnails to see the photos and read the captions –

 

 

 

At 7700ft elevation, Taft Point sits about 3500ft above the valley floor without guardrails.   If you suffer from acrophobia, you will really want to brace yourself. 

 

We also found four fissures with very sharp and long drops.   Please Click on the image thumbnails to see the photos –

 

 

 

My husband very gently reminded me that it was time for me to get back with these kind words – “Going out with you is like going out with a Yeti.  I need to get you back in your icebox before you melt away.”

 

 

Taft Point Yosemite National Park Nature Journal @ InkTorrents.com by Soma

 

A sketch of Taft Point from my own handmade watercolour nature journal.

 

In the afternoon, clouds started rolling in above the valley.  That night, we heard loud thunder followed by rain.  Beautiful, torrential rain, accompanied by the most delightful petrichor.   Nature is always full of surprises here in the Sierras, and I LOVE her for it.

 

 

Valley View Sunrise In September Yosemite National Park @ InkTorrents.com by Soma

 

I was hoping beyond hope that I would get a wonderful sunrise the next morning.  We again got up at 5AM, and drove into the valley.  Initially the clouds were really low, so I didn’t get to see a peach/pink sunrise.   Still, watching the sun come up over the Cathedral Rocks to slowly wake up the north side of the Valley was ever so beautiful.  I believe I even spotted a little mist on the Valley floor.

 

 

Purchase Golden Hour At Half Dome Yosemite Naitonal Park @ InkTorrents.com by Soma

 

 

It turned out to be a beautiful, cool day!  The sun kept on playing hide and seek, lighting up the granite rock faces here and there.  That afternoon we read by Cook’s Meadow over mugs of tea.  With that, the day and our time there was over.  We finished our stay watching the last light of the day decorate beautiful Half Dome.

 

With a deep feeling of sorrow and yearning, I said goodbye to my mountains.

 

 

 

Wandering Camera art and photo linky party @ InkTorrents.com by Soma Acharya

 

Wandering Camera is a monthly event that runs on the last Thursday of every month.  If you follow me via email, you will get a reminder.

All photo and art/creative-themed posts are welcome.  You can continue to link up multiple posts.

Please add the badge or a text link back to this site on your blog, or on each post that you link up.  I look forward to visiting you.

Have fun!!

You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!

Click here to enter

I am linking up with the linky parties on my Events And Links page.  Please pay a visit to some of them.  

 

 

 

Leave a comment

 

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