winter someplace else
I hopped a jet plane west the other evening… As we flew over the Rockies, I peered down at the Earth’s surface and saw the ski runs of my local hill glowing blue in the moonlight. Just east of that was my little town, sparkling in the night. There are few places that could peel me away from Colorado in winter because you all know how much I *love* my Colorado winters. But where I am now is certainly one of them. In the morning, we drove east and succumbed to the temptations of the Central Valley.
carnitas taco and chicken enchilada
chile relleno and tacos: carnitas, carne asada
If you love the cold months (and even if you don’t), you have probably determined that winter is a harsh mistress. Her storms are unpredictable, moody, tricky. Sometimes she gives too little and sometimes she gives too much. It can be a messy business traveling when she would rather you just stay put.
once we arrived that evening, the snow started coming down
We live in the mountains and we live with snow more months of the year than not, but coming here in winter is always magical to me. Coming to Yosemite any time of year takes my breath away, but winter is particularly wonderful because there aren’t nearly the hordes of people crawling the landscape like they do in summer.
and you wake up in wonderland: upper and lower yosemite falls
It has been a while since we’ve encountered a maritime snowpack. It’s called Sierra Cement for a reason. The snow is wet, heavy, and packs down to make structurally coherent snowballs and fortresses in contrast to our Rocky Mountain champagne powder that blows like fairy dust off your gloves and feels like a million butterflies catching you as your skis plunge into several feet of the stuff. But untrammeled snow is lovely no matter its density and it is especially so here in Yosemite.
tranquil
The weather isn’t doing what I had hoped nor even what the forecast had predicted, but that doesn’t matter so much. What matters is making the most of what you’ve got and appreciating that you’ve got it. Booyah!
jeremy playing around in the snow
wait a sec, how deep is the snow?
yay, yosemite!
February 19th, 2011 at 2:49 am
Lovely snow pics!
Cheers,
Rosa
February 19th, 2011 at 6:17 am
Wow I would love love love to see Yosemite in the snow! These are some truly gorgeous photographs! Great job, thanks for sharing them!
February 19th, 2011 at 7:13 am
My husband and I visited Yosemite in February 2002. I was on crutches, having just broken my leg in a skiing accident in Lake Tahoe (I didn’t know it was broken at the time since I refused to have an MRI of the leg until we got home). Yosemite was snow-covered, just like the photos you’ve shown us. There were only a handful of other visitors, and Yosemite valley was silent. It was an awesome experience. The peacefulness and serenity that I felt is hard to put into words.
Thank you so much for bringing it back to me this morning.
February 19th, 2011 at 8:24 am
so beautiful! you have mad skills. those snow shots are just stunning, can feel the magic all the way over here.
And love the shots of jeremy, looks like you’re both having a blast!
February 19th, 2011 at 8:53 am
Just beautiful! Your Yosemite pictures brought back some wonderful memories. My first visit to Yosemite was January 1977. It was magical. Thank you for taking me back!
February 19th, 2011 at 9:19 am
Gorgeous, gorgeous shots…can’t wait to see if you post more in your photo blog!
February 19th, 2011 at 7:41 pm
Sheer beauty, pure and simple!
February 19th, 2011 at 9:22 pm
stunning photos! these photos profess my yearning for yosemite
February 19th, 2011 at 10:51 pm
I love this post. Especially the ending.
February 19th, 2011 at 11:30 pm
Oh, how lovely. If you’re disappointed with the weather, your photos sure don’t show it! They make me want to be there, too.
February 19th, 2011 at 11:56 pm
It’s strange to be living in a desert country (although it’s winter here, it’s still about 27 C today) and being transported into a ‘winter wonderland’ – a cliched phrase but totally suitable here. The picture with the tall trees and waterfall in the distance is my absolute favourite. I almost feel that my breath will appear as a cloud before me!
February 20th, 2011 at 12:31 am
Your pictures capture such amazing views of Yosemite.
February 20th, 2011 at 5:43 am
No matter where we live, I think we all love the changing of the seasons. Sometimes I can’t wait for winter to be over. But as I look at your beautiful pictures of this enchanting season, I realize as nature sleeps and rests so must we. Thank you reminding me just how tranquil and lovely winter can be. Paulette
February 20th, 2011 at 8:09 am
Nice get away! We are Skiing Mt Bachelor this weekend for a little change of scenery. Amazing!!!!!
February 20th, 2011 at 12:57 pm
Wow, whenever I look at your photography you make me want to move! However, I question whether or not my thin, floridian blood would freeze upon exiting the car.
February 20th, 2011 at 12:58 pm
Awesome. Thanks for sharing!
February 20th, 2011 at 3:30 pm
Really lovely photos. I especially love the one of the stream. However, did you mean to write “some place” as “somplace?”
February 21st, 2011 at 10:11 am
Jen, this photos are so amazing! Thank you for sharing them with us.
February 21st, 2011 at 11:09 am
That looks wonderful. It is totally comfort food!
February 23rd, 2011 at 6:42 am
Where is the Mexican food from?
February 23rd, 2011 at 8:55 pm
Absolutely amazing! The waterfall photograph brought tears to my eyes. I am entirely envious of the fact that you saw it in person.
February 28th, 2011 at 10:31 am
Thanks everyone! Happy to share it with you!
Sally – had you been there, it would have :)
Alyssa – ahhh, thank you for catching that!!
Meghan – we went to Taqueria La Estrella in Manteca, California. Soooo good (probably sooo bad for me too).