Yosemite through Tioga Pass

An Autumn Day Trip

On a warm, almost summery day in early fall, I took a drive along the Tioga Pass in to the east part of Yosemite National Park.  Tioga Pass, California Highway 120 is located just past Lee Vining and Mono Lake and is the scenic drive through Yosemite.  Due to the high elevations of the pass reaching 9,943 feet, 3,031 meters, the winding 36 mile long mountainous road is closed during the snow season, from late fall to late spring.

The topography along Tioga Pass and Highway 120 changes dramatically with granite boulders and rugged mountainous cliffs that take one back through the eons of time.

 Suddenly, the view changes to an alpine lake as Tenaya Lake shimmers nestled against the Polly Dome, Medlicott Dome and Tenaya Peak.

 

Tenaya Lake was created by the Tenaya Glacier which flowed down to the Yosemite Valley.

 

Rock climbers enjoy the challenge of ascending the ancient granite slopes.  

Standing at the base of a huge granite bolder and looking through my 500mm lens, I feel small and insignificant.  I spot a young evergreen that has somehow managed to take root on the upper ledge and I can feel John Muir's spirit quoting, “When one tugs at a single thing in nature, he finds it attached to the rest of the world.”

The afternoon sky is  hazy from the summer wildfires, however the unique shape of Cathedral Rock can still be seen towering in the distance.

Olmsted Point with Clouds Rest and Half Dome peek out over the landscape of tall pines and evergreens. 

With the shorter day, the sun begins its descent, a cool breeze signals its time to turn back and head for home.  As I leave the park, I am again reminded of John Muir when he wrote, “Climb the mountains and get their good tidings. Nature's peace will flow into you as sunshine flows into trees. The winds will blow their own freshness into you and the storms their energy, while cares will drop away from you like the leaves of autumn.”

 

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What an exciting and interesting photo-adventure this day has been.  I love it when I am drawn to an area and not knowing what to expect I get treated to new experiences. 

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Photography places me in the moment where I can share that moment in time. It becomes a life story as represented by my interaction with the scene. The happiness and beauty or the sorrow and strife; how I focus leaves a lasting impression that might touch the viewer on a spiritual level.

 "Reflecting Nature's Artistry" 

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