See Yosemite Today YOSEMITE for a complete calendar of GUIDE what’s happening Your Key to Visiting the Park in the park. WINTER/SPRING 2001-2002 25¢ VOLUME XXXI, NO. 1 Seasons of Magic NPS Photo by C. W. Brown Look Cottonwood trees and Upper Yosemite Fall from Cook’s Meadow. Inside! very year, visitors and friends ask the same Valley Map . Back Panel question: When is the best time to visit Park Map Yosemite? For me, that’s easy—winter or Planning Your Visit. 4 & 5 spring. Just when the crowds of summer Eand fall become a memory, just when the Merced The Changing Seasons. 2 Camping . 3 River slows to a crawl, just when I think I’ve forgot- ten what rain sounds like, winter happens. Then Backpacking & Valley Day Hikes . 6 spring. And if you are fortunate enough to visit General Information . 7 Yosemite during these times of the year, it’s when magic happens as well! Continued on page 1 YOSEMITE GUIDE Your Key to Visiting the Park WINTER/SPRING 2001-2002 VOLUME XXXI, NO.1 Seasons of Magic Continued from front cover If I were to narrow it down even fur- MIRROR LAKE & HOT CHOCOLATE SPRING: ther, I would have to say that some of my Take a shuttle bus to The Ahwahnee LUNAR RAINBOW favorite seasons occur on the cusp—as fall and hike or ski out along the paved trails Can you really see a rain- fades to winter or winter explodes into just behind the hotel. (If it’s snowy, try bow at night? During the spring. These cusp seasons are where not to walk in ski trails.) This pleasant spring on clear nights of a full things can change literally overnight. On path will take you over a historic bridge moon, stop by the bridge at a November afternoon, you might see a or two crossing Tenaya Creek, then head the base of Lower Yosemite pencil of water trickle down the face of up to Mirror Lake. It’s a pleasant 3-4 mile Fall and take in a lunar rain- Yosemite Falls, then wake the next morn- round trip that’s great on a clear day. bow! ing after a rain to see it gushing! Picture Mirror Lake is perhaps one of the quietest yourself at that same spot in March: You corners of the Valley during this time of WATERFALL WATCHING might wake in the morning to see Upper year. Enjoy an in-your-face view of Half Yosemite is world-famous Yosemite Fall frosted over in walls of ice Dome from this spot, as well! Don’t forget for its spectacular waterfalls— that come crashing down as the day to stop in at The Ahwahnee before or Yosemite Falls, Bridalveil Fall, warms up. after your journey for some hot chocolate. Vernal and Nevada Falls. But Here are some of my favorite outdoor a visit to Yosemite in spring THUNDER & SNOW CONE isn’t complete without taking things to do and see during what I laugh- Have you noticed a snow cone at the ingly refer to as the “off season.” in the other great Valley falls. base of Upper Yosemite Fall this winter? Have you seen Horsetail Fall This distinctive feature forms from the (an ephemeral, spring fall WINTER: frozen spray as it blows down the water- along the east buttress of El WILDLIFE WATCHING fall. The pile also rises higher as frozen Capitan)? Royal Arches You may think that all of Yosemite’s spray accumulates into ice sheets on the Cascades (directly behind creatures are safely tucked away in walls of the adjacent cliffs. When the ice The Ahwahnee)? The Giant hibernation during the winter. On the sheets shed, they pile up at the top of the Staircase cascades down contrary, this is a great time to find a snow cone. This mound of ice and snow Glacier Point just above Curry quiet place to stop and observe wildlife. can sometimes reach heights of about 300 Village. Sentinel Fall (the Early mornings and evenings provide the feet, about as tall as a 25-story building! world’s tenth largest waterfall) best viewing. Coyotes can often be seen FRAZIL ICE & STREAMS OF SLUSH careens down Valley walls just trotting through white meadows, some- Waterfalls in the park occasionally to the west of Sentinel Rock times stopping to pounce on prey still produce a late winter and early spring and can be seen easily from active under the blankets of snow. Deer phenomenon called frazil ice at the base Leidig Meadow, west of sometimes browse in the snow looking of the fall. Small ice crystals develop in Yosemite Lodge. for leftover shoots or acorns. turbulent super-cooled stream water when GIANT SEQUOIA GROVES NPS Photo the air temperature suddenly Spring is a great time to take “Every clear, frosty morning loud sounds are heard drops below freezing. These in the big trees. There may booming and reverberating from side to side of the ice crystals become pressed still be some snow on the Valley…The strange thunder is made by the fall of together as more crystals ground as late as April, but sections of ice formed of spray that is frozen on the form, transforming creeks with some sturdy hiking face of the cliff along the sides of the Upper Yosemite Fall. This frozen spray gives rise to one of the most into streams of slush. Frazil shoes, you can head off into ice sometimes reaches a interesting winter features of the Valley—a cone of ice some of the quietest places on at the foot of the fall…”—John Muir depth of more that 20 feet earth. See pages 4 or 5 or refer along Yosemite Creek at to Yosemite Today for grove the Lower Yosemite Fall. locations and details. In 1997, it was above TO LEARN the railings of the Lower Kristina Rylands contributed to this article. Yosemite Fall Bridge, almost She serves as editor-in-chief for Yosemite MORE... completely burying it. National Park and has lived in the area See Yosemite Today for winter for 9 years. and spring activities through- out the park. Check out the Yosemite Field Seminar catalog which offers SUPERINTENDENT’S MESSAGE outdoor classes throughout the winter and spring. Call Welcome to the story of America’s response to terror- and granite domes. Yosemite’s story truly the Yosemite Association at Yosemite. The ism in its management of the site of the unfolds when we look up and beyond 209/379-2321 or visit their tragic events of Oklahoma City Bombing. And in the the Valley walls. Whether you take to the web site at www.yosemite.org. September 11 have future, we will tell the story of September slopes of Badger Pass, enjoy a walk to caused us all to 11 and America’s response. Mirror Lake, or simply appreciate that look at what it National Park Service sites—such as the this amazing place has been set aside for means to be an Statue of Liberty, the light of America’s future generations, I encourage you to American. Our promise; Fort McHenry, inspiration for make your own Yosemite connections. NPS Photo national parks tell our National Anthem; and Yosemite, Enjoy your visit. National parks like YOSEMITE the story of America’s struggles and suc- scenic wonder of America’s greatness— Yosemite not only help us appreciate the GUIDE cesses. The USS Arizona Memorial at symbolize the very freedoms attacked on stories of our nation’s heritage, but help Published by the National Park Service, Pearl Harbor tells the story of how Ameri- September 11. From parks we can learn preserve what we value most for the ben- in cooperation with the Yosemite ca united and responded when attacked about important moments in our history. efit of future generations—the natural Association and Yosemite during World War II. Manzanar National We can learn how we’ve treated each and cultural wonders of this great land. Concession Services Corp. Historic Site, a lonely internment camp other in the past. We can learn about NPS Editor and Coordinator in Nevada, tells the story of where Ameri- what we value as Americans. Kristina Rylands can citizens of Japanese ancestry were While you are here, I hope you will see Production by Skip Gaynard Designs sent as a reaction to this attack. The Yosemite National Park for more than David A. Mihalic Printed by Casey Printing, Inc. Email comments on this issue to National Park Service is beginning to tell just spectacular scenery and waterfalls Superintendent Yose_Guide@ nps.gov 1 CHANGINGCHANGING SEASONSSEASONS Special Protection for Special Places Visitors to Yosemite are the park’s most important guardians. With Photo by Denise Guidi nearly 4 million people watching Half Dome winter scene in Ahwahnee Meadow. over its special plants, animals, WINTER/SPRING TRIP PLANNING historic, and archeological sites, imagine how well-protected these When planning a trip to Yosemite, keep The road to the Mariposa Grove is also are available at retail outlets for purchase, park resources could be! in mind the changing seasons. The timing closed in winter. but not for rent. of your visit will determine the amount of WILL I NEED TIRE CHAINS? TEMPERATURE During your visit to Yosemite be clothing to bring, the availability of differ- ent campgrounds and parking lots, and the It is recommended that you carry tire Weather in Yosemite can change rapidly aware that there are people who need for tire chains. Call road and weather chains in your vehicle (including rental during all seasons of the year.