Besides an abundance of quail families, we are also seeing a plethora of jackrabbits in the early morning hours. They were a bit apprehensive and skittish at first, but they are getting accustomed to being watched and photographed. They eat the grass, we take their picture. Seems like a fair trade.

A lot of quail families showing up in the backyard now. Great to see they are thriving despite the heat. Interesting to watch how the chicks mimic the parents in almost everything they do. (Not like their human counterparts.)

Paid a visit to sacred territory on Sunday. If you aren’t familiar with this location, my heart aches for your loss. Go Blue ! 🏈

When the Ford Assembly Plant in Mahwah, NJ opened in 1955 it was the largest auto production plant in the US. It closed in 1980 amid a global energy crisis that hit the US auto industry hard. There’s nothing left in Mahwah now, except memories. Time is fleeting. Nothing lasts forever. Even us…

The rains came yesterday and broke the heat wave. The Daylilies are loving the return to somewhat normal temperatures again. (The people and animals are too !)

I visited an old friend this past weekend - Suraci Pond in Ramsey, New Jersey. Such a quiet, serene little gem tucked away from the chaos of this world. So many happy memories of ice skating in the winter and skimming stones in the summer. Doing Jersey proud. It’s good to see old friends again… 👀 ❤️

I’ve been to Zion National Park many times, and the grandeur of it all never ceases to amaze me. I don’t think it’s just me. I think most people feel a sense of solitude and smallness in the universe when compared to the majestic rocks. We need some of those calm moments now because of events in LA.

Politically speaking (in the US since January 20th), this sign is a massive understatement. The self-imposed and self-inflicted impediments to our freedoms and democracy will not last. “We the people” will not give in or give up. We will go around any obstacle in order to go forward, not backward. 🇺🇸

In a nod to “throwback Thursday” here’s a blast from the past: Hard to believe, but 39 years ago I was at the World Expo 1986 in Vancouver, BC. One of the happy memories was seeing “Expo Ernie”, a mechanized robot who seemed to pop up everywhere. This was considered “high tech” back then. Wow… 😉

Today’s view from the Badger Pass snow cam shows little to no snow at the ski area (at the base elevation of 7,200 feet). The view provides interested hikers with the relative snow conditions at that altitude (variations of course for shade and possible snowcat grooming). Get ready for hiking ! 🥾⛰️

Here’s an update of the awesome Yosemite snow plow crews making significant progress in the most scenic workplace in the world ! In these photos they are clearing the avalanche zones around Olmsted Point. No mention as of yet for the opening of The Tioga Road, but it looks like it will be soon !

Sometimes a nondescript photo can bring forth a myriad of memories. Molokini Crater (off the island of Maui, Hawaii) is an excellent spot for diving (scuba or snorkeling). The water is warm and pristine, and the fish are colorful and numerous. But how does one photograph future “memories” ? 🤔📷🤿

Before I fell in love with glaciology, I was deeply attracted to the study of volcanism. I actually think about volcanic eruptions every time I drive down this portion of the Glacier Point Rd. Somehow it reminds me of a molten lava flow like those in Hawaii or Iceland. I know, I need a life. 😔 🌋

Devil’s Postpile National Monument is a small out of the way gem in the Eastern Sierras. While most go there to view the rare polygonal basalt lava columns, please don’t overlook the other stellar sight in the park - Rainbow Falls ! At 101 ft, it boggles the senses and soothes the soul. Such a joy !

Great news ! The awesome Yosemite snowplow crews are busy clearing the Tioga and Glacier Point Roads ! Opening days for each have not yet been announced, but if the weather holds, they should be soon. Time to start planning those High Country outings you always dreamed of !!!! Thank you crews !!!!

When I was young we had “duck and cover” drills in school even though we didn’t know what nuclear war was. But we also had Disneyland to go to on the weekends. For children today, Disneyland has been replaced by Dystopialand. Where up is down; wrong is right; chaos and cruelty are everywhere. Sad. 😢

One of the glorious joys of wilderness treks is going to sleep under a canopy of stars and waking up to half a foot of pristine snow ! The thrill never gets old. The beauty never fails to overwhelm. Yosemite has many glorious secrets to share with all who are willing to open their eyes and hearts.

It is mid-April. For years I used to get real antsy about now wondering when The Tioga Road would open for the season. Yosemite Valley is beautiful for sure, but my heart belongs to the High Country. The Cathedral Peak & Lakes area is like bear central (and too crowded) but pretty to photograph. ⛰️📷

I saw this Mt. Lyell glacial comparison photo on the internet the other day and I was mortified. The twin lobes are almost gone (MacLure is suffering too). I found a few of my older pictures of the glaciers (as seen from the Kuna Crest), and they virtually disappeared in my lifetime. How sad ! 😢😢😢

I once created a photo essay book for a friend centered around the Sierras in both light and shadow. The color photo was the cover of that book. The B&W version was an afterthought (a fun with filters exercise). Of all the mountains I have seen in my travels, the Sierras are still my favorite ! ⛰️❤️

There have been some really bizarre (okay, senseless and stupid) events undertaken in Yosemite over the years (things like the Glacier Point Firefall) but was there really a need to allow 31 people to huddle together on the tip of Lost Arrow Spire ? I will never understand this publicity stunt. 🤬

Sadly, Mirror Lake also has another name - Mirror Meadow. That’s because it is not always full of water. When the snows of the High Country melt, the flows thru Tenaya Canyon diminish and the lake dries up. Meadow succession takes over. It’s still a beautiful sight to behold, but I miss the lake. 😢

Mirror Lake, in Yosemite, is aptly named. Sadly, it is seasonal in nature, but when it is present, the reflections it provides are stunning. Yes, it sits at the base of Half Dome, but there is more to this ephemeral body of water than just that majestic peak. Mount Watkins dominates the lake ! 👀📷

There are so many marvelous wonders in Yosemite. There is the vertical grandeur. The glorious play of light and shadow. The panoramic immensity from many lofty peaks. But there is also the serene beauty of the inverted Yosemite. One where reflective images rival the actual vertical ones !! 👀⛰️❤️

Yosemite is a beautiful Park. But its beauty does not end at its boundary lines. Geography/geology do not begin/end with protective lines drawn by governments. Such is the case at Tioga Pass. The Park “ends/begins” there, but there is sublime beauty in Tioga and Ellery Lakes, just outside the Park.

An approaching fog bank is symbolic of the anger of much of America now. Like a fog that creeps up and overtakes anything (or anyone) it comes upon, the angst is real. The American people are mad. They have found their voice. They have found their cause. They are mobilizing. They will resist. 💪🇺🇸

When you come upon a bloom in Yosemite, behold it with your heart, not just your eyes…. 🌼❤️👀

More blooms from Yosemite (at various elevations and various times during the year)

Wildflowers bless Yosemite most times during the year when there is no snow. They give without asking. They bring smiles without limit. Luther Burbank had this to share about them: “Flowers always make people better, happier, and more helpful; they are sunshine, food and medicine for the soul.” 🌺🌼🌸

Do you see anything special in this forest view ? My hiking companion didn’t. Maybe you don’t either. Yosemite is an amazing place, full of wonderment and surprises. It’s also a place where you learn to expect the unexpected. And hopefully, unlike me, you always have the proper camera lens ready.

There was a time, when the last glaciers melted, that Yosemite Valley was around 1,500 - 2,000 feet lower than it is today. Over time, sand, silt and rocks filled it up to the level it is today. But imagine it then - it was basically as deep as the Grand Canyon ! How awesome that must have been !!!

Frantic visitors to Yosemite use many types of transportation. They use cars, trucks, commercial buses, motorcycles, RVs, taxis, bicycles, horses, and the ever present Shuttle buses - but there was a time when the pace of life was slower and visitors simply toured the Park in open wagons like this.

John Muir once called these creatures “hoofed locusts” because, if unprotected, they could denude vast swaths of beautiful landscapes. But the damage of the 4-legged beasts pales in comparison to what the 2-legged beasts in Washington could do, all in the name of “drill, baby, drill.” STOP THEM ! 🙏🌲

The Yosemite Chapel is a humble structure and place of solitude and spiritual reflection in one of the most heavily visited National Parks in America. Originally built in 1879, it sits quietly among the trees reminding all who pass by that there is more to life than just the hurriedness of today.

Spring begins tomorrow morning. Because Yosemite has growing zones that encompass from roughly 2,000 ~ 12,000 ft, spring comes at different times. Often it can be high summer in one region and spring in another. That being said, here are some lovely blooms found at various times and elevations.

This is the Democratic Party now. Just a tangled up mess having fallen on Friday. Once it was tall and majestic, now it has 2 courses to take. Will it just rot away into nothingness or will its falling pave the way for something even stronger. Only time will tell. But how much time is really left ?

There is also a webcam located at the Badger Pass ski area (whether it is open or not). I also view this every day (it’s a great indicator of the weather for hiking at that altitude). You can view it here (sorry, I couldn’t find a shorter link): www.nps.gov/media/webcam... Enjoy ! 👀💻⛰️

The Yosemite Conservancy is an amazing organization and has 4 active webcams in the Park. I view them every day to watch the seasons progress. You can view them at: yosemite.org/webcams/half... yosemite.org/webcams/high... yosemite.org/yosemite-fal... yosemite.org/el-capitan/ Enjoy ! 👀💻⛰️

The bristlecone pines are some of the oldest trees in the world yet they grow in a very cold, arid, high altitude environment. One of my greatest joys was to take cover under a bristlecone when a massive squall came thru. I wondered how many such squalls had this tree witnessed over its long life ?

If you’re not a fan of “The Joy of Painting” tv series, this posting may not make sense to you. Lenticular clouds are manifestations of upper level winds coming in contact with mountainous terrain. Sometimes they appear by themselves. Sometimes with a “friend”. Sometimes with a lot of “friends”. 😉

I used to get asked a lot about the best way to “climb a mountain”. I would say that sometimes you just look at it and the way up becomes obvious. Mammoth Peak in Yosemite is a perfect example. There is no defined trail. No right or wrong way. I assisted many people up it in the way I marked here.

The amazing manzanita plant is an evergreen shrub instantly recognizable by its bright red trunk. It’s a hearty shrub growing in lower to mid-level regions in the western mountains. It tolerates heat, drought, disease (and myriads of hikers who seem to want to overload their campfires with it). 😠

You will probably meet many interesting people if you frequent out of the way places in nature on a regular basis. One such person I remember called himself “Pilot” and his life’s goal it seemed was to photograph every benchmark he could find. So Pilot, if you’re still out there, these are for you !

The Sierra Nevada is a remarkable range for a variety of reasons, one of which is its effect on climate & plant growth. The west side is blessed by abundant rain/snow and the trees & flowers reflect that. The east side however is a “rain shadow” and the vegetation is often sparse and desert like.

Have you ever been in a meadow in the winter and wondered where the wildlife went ? You might be surprised that not all animals leave the area. Voles, for instance, are quite active UNDER the snow. You may not see them until it all melts, but then their sub-snow passage routes are quite obvious !

People are generally surprised when I tell them that my “favorite” mountain in the world is NOT in Yosemite, but in Jasper National Park in Canada. It is Mt. Edith Cavell. It’s beyond awesome ! If you don’t know the life story of Edith Cavell, Google her. The world needs more people like her. ❤️🧑‍⚕️🇬🇧🇨🇦⛰️

Back in the old days when it actually used to snow in Yosemite Valley, it was always a remarkable sight to watch the landscape try to reclaim the view from the clouds. The dance of parting and not parting sometimes went on for hours, but ultimately the landscape would win. I miss those magical days.

The Clothespin Tree in Yosemite is emblematic of the chaotic nature of this country at this time. The tree, like this country, was once tall and sturdy, but it was weakened over time by fire, just as we are now being weakened. Whether the tree, or this nation, lives or falls, only time will tell.

There’s an old adage that goes something like ”a picture is worth a thousand words”. Well, here’s two pictures (worth two thousand words ?) 😉 Anyone who knows what awesome sights lies between these two signs could use substantially more than those words and not even begin to describe them ! 👀🏔️❤️

Mt. Hoffmann is one of Yosemite’s iconic peaks. It’s in the center of the park; is a relatively moderate trail hike; and has stellar views from the summit. But it also has a rocky outgrowth (just below the summit) known simply as “the thumb”. It makes this peak very easy to pick out from most vistas