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The Yosemite NP is crazy right now. The water level is enormous, and all waterfalls are overflowing, just raging
The Merced river is not a river anymore, just lake and meadows are just pools of water, perfect for capturing reflections.
Lots of people but, fortunately at sunset/sunrise they are (mostly) gone.
Here are quickies I've captures this last weekend.
I managed to get up there for a one-day up-and-back visit from the SF Bay Area during the week before the Memorial Day holiday. I've been going there for decades — my first visit was probably when I was five or six years old — and I have photographed the place (and the rest of the park) a lot.
Even folks who know the place well are impressed by what is going on right now. I've seen very high water there before, but the sustained flow from the runoff of the historic snowpack is something most haven't seen before.
That meadow in the last one is lovely and a favorite location. Nice light there!
I’m going back there this coming weekend. The weather forecast shows rain and even thunderstorms (usually in the morning), and later partially cloudy, so if you’re thinking of going, this weekend might be the best one to go. No hotels near by the park/valley are available, unfortunately! It’s crazy! All are taken and some hotels want 800 per room per day, like the Yosemite Valley View Lodge. WTH is going on, oh I know, greed, or what a business major dude would say “demand”
So I hit Oakhurst! Just an hour drive to the valley, that’s not that bad and worth the drive! And take wanders with you! I’ll be waking all over that water!
Gregg B. wrote:
I’m going back there this coming weekend. The weather forecast shows rain and even thunderstorms (usually in the morning), and later partially cloudy, so if you’re thinking of going, this weekend might be the best one to go. No hotels near by the park/valley are available, unfortunately! It’s crazy! All are taken and some hotels want 800 per room per day, like the Yosemite Valley View Lodge. WTH is going on, oh I know, greed, or what a business major dude would say “demand”
So I hit Oakhurst! Just an hour drive to the valley, that’s not that bad and worth the drive! And take wanders with you! I’ll be waking all over that water! ...Show more →
I think you are right about a peak in the water. Here in the SF Bay Area we even had a bit of rain today — which is pretty unusual for June. I hear that the Sierra has been getting dumped on, and the warmth, the additional water, and the deep snow pack may well amplify things even more.
So, you found a place in Oakhurst? On a June weekend!? Consider yourself lucky! ;-)
Some of the new places (and a few of the older ones) on the park boundary are catering to a clientele that is apparently less cost-sensitive these days.
gdanmitchell wrote:
I think you are right about a peak in the water. Here in the SF Bay Area we even had a bit of rain today — which is pretty unusual for June. I hear that the Sierra has been getting dumped on, and the warmth, the additional water, and the deep snow pack may well amplify things even more.
So, you found a place in Oakhurst? On a June weekend!? Consider yourself lucky! ;-)
Some of the new places (and a few of the older ones) on the park boundary are catering to a clientele that is apparently less cost-sensitive these days.
Dan
Dan. I did. Still lots of rooms available. So it's not that bad. I've got a room at Yosemite Sierra Inn.
Yes! Just mind-boggling. I was there many years ago over a Memorial Day Weekend and tremendous amounts of water - and then able to drive Tioga Pass on it's first open day that week. But nothing like this. Otherwise mostly fall trips with very little water. So. Made reservations in Mariposa for a couple of days next week.
Beautiful! A buddy and I are working out a plan to go up there sometime next week to see the "big water". I was looking at the Yosemite Falls webcam today, and it was so foggy/misty the falls weren't visible at all. We're watching the forecast, so I hope we'll have some visibility.
Would you mind giving a hint of where you took #5 from (a PM is fine)? I don't remember seeing that perspective last time I was there (2019), would love to get a similar shot and maybe a video from that location.
