SalvageDiver Loc: Huntington Beach CA

This year we had the opportunity to spend Christmas in Yosemite. Our son's family spent the holidays in Canada with his wife's family. It turned into an exceptional time for us since there were no crowds, probably due to covid and a large winter storm bearing down onto the park, the same storm that dropped 16ft of snow up on Donner Pass.

When we arrived, there was only a light layer of snow from a storm that came thru about a week earlier. We wanted a white Christmas and was concerned that the storm might be late. But the storm arrived on Christmas eve, easing our concerns. It started snowing non-stop for the rest of the week dropping about 5-6 ft of snow creating many many beautiful scenes in the park. I know that many in the midwest and east are tired of the snow but it's a treat for some of us out here on the west coast who don't see that much of it.

With all the new snow, the valley turned into a white winter wonderland. This was one of our best visits to the park ever. We spent our time hiking around the valley and up the Merced river toward the falls with cameras in hand. It was a photographer's paradise. It wasn't until after Christmas that I finally saw the photographers descend on the valley. But still the crowds never showed up until we were leaving the following weekend.

I hope you enjoy a few images from our trip. What I found especially fascinating was the interplay of the low clouds with the mountain peaks as they moved thru the valley. Periodically, the clouds would break for just a few moments exposing the near mountain peaks while obscuring the more distant peaks. But it only lasted for a few moments, then it was gone.

1 A view of Yosemite Valley when we arrived

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2 A view of the valley a few days later

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3 An early morning view of the chapel during a snow fall

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4 Looking across the Merced River up towards Taft's Peak on Christmas morning.

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5 Bridalvail Falls before the snow fall

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6 Bridalvail Falls a few days later

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7 When the clouds broke letting the mountain peek thru

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8 A peek-a-boo view of the upper Yosemite Falls

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9 A not very crowded Winter Wonderland

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10 The Merced River after Christmas

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UTMike Loc: South Jordan, UT

Thank you for sharing this exceptional set, Mike! I am happy that your Christmas went so well.

bbradford Loc: Wake Forest NC

You have some great photos here.

pmsc70d Loc: Post Falls, Idaho

Wow! Absolutely amazing photos.

windshoppe Loc: Arizona

Some of the best Yosemite photos I've seen. Congratulations!

dayranch Loc: Douglasville Georgia

Great images all wall hangers for sure.

tgreenhaw

These are spectacular!

I'm so happy to see the trees are so green in the Tunnel View shot. When I was there a number of years ago, many were brown from the drought.

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

Great set!

smilenangler Loc: The Flood City, Pa.

Bravo!

NMGal Loc: NE NM

Just wonderful.

ski Loc: West Coast, USA

Great series....

luvmypets Loc: Born & raised Texan living in Fayetteville NC

Absolutely AWESOME!!! I hope you have a very big wall cause everyone of those is a wall hanger!! #3 and #4 blow me out of the water!! #8 and #10 are close behind.

Dodie

joecichjr Loc: Chicago S. Suburbs, Illinois, USA

Breathtaking, eye-catching scenics done to perfection

photophile Loc: Lakewood, Ohio, USA

Very lovely scenes.

kpmac Loc: Ragley, La

Outstanding. Not the same old same old. Great set.