I am a bit overdue for my posts so I will try to post two blogs this week - Day 4 and Day 5 of my California trip (posts will be separate).
I mentioned in my previous post, that on my Day 4 I will be exploring Valley floor following Photographer's Guide to Yosemite by Michael Frey, then I will participate at Photographer's Walk program offered for Free by Park Rangers and then travel via Rt 120 to Sub-alpine terrain of Tuolumne meadow and possibly climb Lambert Dome and at the end take sunset pictures of Half Dome reflecting in Mirror Lake.
The Sunrise on May 27th 2014 (Day 4) was around 5:50am. According to Michael Fey book I had up to 60 minutes from sunrise to get the best light. Some of the iconic vistas in Yosemite are best during sunset, but there are a few that are absolutely gorgeous during the sunrise.
I woke up around 5:15-5:30am and by 6am was in the car trying to find exactly the locations of the best shots as specified in the book. (Note: you don't have to have a book to follow to find great spots to photograph. There are plenty in the park. I just wanted to challenge myself. Following locations in the book made me also feel like I was in class of the famous photographer. This little book was giving me this very feeling of a great guidance).
So my first stop was to catch El Capitan in the soft morning light before sun gets way above the horizon and the turn grant colors into white. I stopped at El Capitan picnic area to take the pictures:
My next stop was to catch Cathedral Rock as a reflection with morning light. There was very little snow in Yosemite this past winter and there was not much puddles of water on the valley floor. However I've got lucky:
I continued my drive around the Valley and took the shot of Bridal Veil Fall from the North Side Drive:
I turned around at Pohona Bridge and continue on South Side drive. I stopped at Cathedral Beach and picnic area and tried to photograph El Capitan and Merced River in the morning lights:
I continued my ride to Swinging Bridge to take pictures of Upper Yosemite Fall reflecting in the river:
After I finished with photos as I planned, I thought I have more than enough time to go to get gas (I wanted to make sure I have enough), get coffee and be ready for my Photographers Walk (I had about 50 minutes to spare). In order to get gas I had to drive all the way out (north west) to Crane Flat gas station. I under estimated this drive just a little bit. With all the twists and turns the 14.6 miles took me about 23-25 minutes to drive, plus filling gas, plus driving back and finding parking spot. All-n-all I was late for photographers walk by about 10-15 minutes and no breakfast (instead of this trip to the gas station I should be going to now empty dining room of Ahwanee Hotel and take pictures, which I eventually never had time... sigh). Luckily for me I was told at the Ansel Adams gallery (initial meet point) that I can easily catch up with the group at Cook's Meadow. Huffing and Puffing with camera backpack and tripod I caught up with the group. The next hour I spent following our guide around the Meadow and taking pictures of Upper & Lower Yosemite Falls and Merced river from El Capitan Bridge (I had Cliff Bar for breakfast):
After finishing with the Walk (it was interesting to hear the history. My only complaint was that the guide dwell on each point a little bit too long and for some reason had discussion right under the beaming sun and not in the shade) I realized that I was a bit behind the schedule and by the time I got to the camp my partner (yes, I was not traveling alone) reminded me that I took all his clothes. He had everything in the car and not in the tent (like I did from the night before). While he was getting ready I made us lunches which consisted of Spam Sandwiches with humus and apples. We started our drive via North Side drive to Big Flat Road to Rt 120.
On the way to Tuolumne Meadow I stopped at the popular stops like Olmsted Point and Tenaya Lake:
Half Dome from Olmsted Point
Tenaya Lake
When I reach almost the highest point of my drive snow patches were visible on the ground and the air was significantly cooler (at least 10-15F) than on the bottom of the Valley. The plan was to climb Lambert Dome and walk around the Meadow. I've got very excited when we've got to our destination, and (although I did my research) I parked at the wrong parking lot for climbing Lambert Dome. All information I read about climbing Lambert Dome that the best place to park is on the right side of Tioga Road at the parking lot dedicated for Dog Lake trail, which is after I passed dome on my left. Then I should start on Dog Lake trail and later to split from that trail and climb the dome. Unfortunately I did not drive long enough. So we parked on the left side of the road (parking lot for Lambert Dome trail) and started on the trail, which was a much longer route and we never completed it. (After I broke my ankle a few years ago and got pulmonary embolism, which was later treated and eliminated, my lungs became very weak. I was swimming 3 times a week prior to this trip for about a year, but high altitude (6K) was not allowing me to ascend easily). After gaining a few hundred feet of elevation, even before we reached trail to ascend the dome I was feeling way to tired and gasping for air and we turned around (I guess waking at 5:30am and running around for a few hours and then driving up, didn't help). So all I could do is to take more pictures:
Lambert Dome
Tuolumne Meadow
One thing I have to mention about my experience with this sub-alpine meadow that we were too early in the season. Everything I read about the Meadow, it mentioned flower blooms and pretty colorful landscape. Since we were at the end of May, there was some snow on the ground, and temperatures were in lower 50th, flowers were not ready to bloom yet so landscape was of a beige color.
After fiasco to climb Lambert Dome and no flowers blooming, we got into the car and started our way back to the camp. We needed to get to the camp, rest a little and make sure we have enough time to get a good spot to photograph Half Dome in the sunset light reflecting in Mirror Lake. We stopped on the way back at Tenaya Lake and had our sandwiches.
Back at the camp, we had just enough time to clean up and get ready for a 2 mile walk to Mirror Lake. As I mentioned earlier, there was very little snow this past winter in Yosemite. As a result creek feeding Mirror Lake was weakening quick and even at the end of May the lake was drying out. Smaller the surface covered with water - more difficult to take reflection pictures of the monolith as big as Half Dome. (One suggestion: when you are trying to take picture in the mountains during sun-rise or sun-set, keep in mind that about half of your image will be in shade and the other half over-exposed. The compromise is "Half Natural Density Filter" - one thing I did not have.) Eventually I found a spot that I liked, but lack of this filter made me wonder if at least one shot will be worth showing. Luckily for me I took one underexposed shot and got myself a winner:
It was time to go back to camp. Eat risorony and chicken and get ready for the next day.
Next day (day 5) plan was to have breakfast early, climb Vernal Fall an drive to Wawona to see Mariposa Grove of Giant Sequoias
