Postcards from Yosemite

[DougPaul]

We also had a bad thunderstorm come in really fast...so it's pretty close to New England weather...watch and pay attention to forecasts..the Rangers are very informed!

One hazard of being in the valley: the high walls block your distant view so you may not get much warning before the thunderstorms hit you.

I was in a similar situation on Angel's Landing in Zion--a squall line came through with a short warning. (Fortunately I saw the sky darkening and got down before it hit. Some others were stuck on top...)

Doug

 

[erugs]

I have an photos from Yosemite up on my Facebook page. If I've done it right, this should take you there. http://www.facebook.com/#!/photo.php?pid=2646334&id=620753907&fbid=150399778907

 

[audrey]

We got lucky in July a couple of years ago, being on the eastern side of the Sierra, and hiking there but not near the crest. Thunderstorms could be seen and heard at a distance but would stall before they reached us. An added bonus was that they killed the smell from the wildfires on the other side of the mountain range. They also made for some dramatic photos.

 

[bjc]

We are looking at 1/2-3/4 day hikes for views and back to the hotel.

Sentinel Dome/Taft Point along the Glacier Point road was a great 1/2 day.

There are numerous such hikes near Tuolumne Meadows (Lembert Dome, Elizabeth Lake, Cathedral Lakes, Mono Pass).

You can catch a shuttle bus from Yosemite Lodge that will drive you up to Glacier Point and hike the Panorama Trail down, for a spectacular 3/4 day hike.

There is no shortage of great hikes there.