Nature's Abstract Winter Art

Spent a couple days at Yosemite this week. There were plenty of people at the Lodge, but very few in the park otherwise, so overall it was quiet and uncrowded. The park received substantial snowfall in December, but there has been virtually no precipitation for over three weeks. The snowpack thaws a little every day, freezes every night, and is trampled by the tourons. Thus, it has evolved into quintessential Sierra Cement...almost solid ice. Beautiful to view, treacherous to walk upon. Winter seems to be conducive to a lot of abstract nature photos. You have to put up with the cold, and walk carefully on the ice...the Fargo walk, kind of a waddle putting your feet straight down and lifting them straight up...works well. But it's worth the beauty trip.

This pond in a valley meadow has been long frozen, with some broken ice added. Late in the afternoon, the light becomes wondrous.

Yosemite Falls, reflected in the Merced River during a calm morning.

When the river gets a few ripples, an impressionist effect is achieved.

A boulder draped with old snow. This was the first time I had visited Yosemite in midwinter. It was peaceful and gorgeous, unspoilt; perhaps like the park was all the time a century ago. I saw a bear, a coyote, and a bobcat during my stay. I'll make more winter visits!