Mariposa Creek / Road Closed

Mariposa Creek - Mariposa  2006

I had made sure to bring along everything that I would need for a photo trip into Yosemite. As I drove out of Mariposa on Highway 140 I was pleased that I had gotten an early start. Then I saw the electronic sign ahead: "Highway Closed at Bear Creek Bridge."

What!!??

I pulled over and checked out the Yosemite website. Yikes . . . sure enough the road was closed between Mariposa and El Portal due to a landslide. 

Then a U-turn and back to the motel, where I was able to verify that indeed the road was closed. I quickly tried to run through various options in case I stayed an extra day in Mariposa. But I had spent a lot of time the day before taking photos in the foothills along highway 49. Luckily I was able to cancel the motel reservation.

Before leaving I went for a walk along Mariposa Creek. Nice!

Road Conditions Screenshot 2006

Half Dome

Half Dome - Yosemite  2025

Taken from Olmstead Point. Finally, a few scattered clouds!

Boulders

Boulder - Yosemite  2025

Boulder - Yosemite  2025

"In Yosemite, 'erratic boulders' are large rocks transported by ancient glaciers and left behind when the ice melted. These boulders can be made of a different rock type than the surrounding bedrock and are often found in unexpected places, such as on top of granite domes. Notable examples are found in areas like Tuolumne Meadows and at Olmsted Point."  --Gemini

I didn't have enough time to explore as much as I'd liked. I got distracted from the river/granite water features by several large (quite large!) boulders in the adjoining forest. Need to go back!

iPhone photos.

Tuolumne River

Tuolumne River - Yosemite  2025

Tuolumne River, Lembert Dome - Yosemite  2025

After parking the car I walked to the bridge and crossed over the river. My plan was to take a short walk following the river upstream . . . I seemed to recall areas where the river flowed over and through areas of sculptured granite.

Tioga Pass Mountains / Lembert Dome

Tioga Pass Mountains - Yosemite  2025

Lembert Dome - Yosemite  2025

Driving up from Mono Basin to the Tioga Pass entry station . . . easy to get through since the government shutdown was still going on. On my way to Bishop a few days ago I'd stopped at the Lembert Dome parking lot and wanted to stop by again.

I hiked up to the top of Lembert Dome in 2012 and had a little adventure coming down.

Yosemite - 2

Unicorn Peak - Yosemite  2025

Tuolumne River - Yosemite  2025

I took a short break by parking at the Lembert Dome parking area and walking over to the bridge over the Tuolumne River. Very nice! 

Photos taken with a Nikon Z7II.

Yosemite - 1

Mt. Dana - Yosemite  2025

Clouds Rest - Yosemite  2025

Views seen while driving through Yosemite in early October. This was during the government shutdown, so there weren't any lines at the entrance station. Not that much traffic, either.

Mike was once visited by a marmot at the top of Mt. Dana.

I always call this sight "Clouds Rest" but I'm not sure if that's accurate.

Yosemite Creek Picnic Area

Juniper - Yosemite  2024

Plants, Granite - Yosemite  2024

Last stop before the final drive home. When I'm here I like to take a little time to photograph the juniper seen above (earlier shots posted last year.)

Clouds Rest

Clouds Rest from Tioga Road - Yosemite  2024

Is it Clouds Rest? Actually, I don't know. All the photos on the internet seem to be of people on the summit. I pulled over and took this photo out the passenger side window, using a Sony RX100m7. 

This was in September, and driving through Yosemite required a reservation on the weekends. I couldn't get a reservation for the morning hours, so I had to time my drive through the foothills in order to arrive no sooner than noon. That was annoying. But there wasn't a line at the entry station!

I drove through Yosemite without stopping. Like I said, I knew that this day was going to be long. 

Yosemite 6 - Dana Meadows, Mt. Dana, Tioga Lake

Dana Meadows - Yosemite  2023

Mt. Dana - Yosemite  2023

Last Yosemite sightems before passing through the entry station and beginning the steep descent into Owens Valley. (I've posted an earlier 1994 shot of Tioga Lake taken with a 4x5 view camera.)

Tioga Lake - Yosemite  2023

Yosemite 5 - Storm Clouds / Trees in Fog

Storm Clouds - Yosemite  2023

Trees in Fog - Yosemite  2023

As I gained elevation driving towards Tioga Pass the clouds gathered overhead; at times the road plunged into the clouds, with views of the trees enveloped in fog.

Yosemite 4 - Yosemite Creek Picnic Area Juniper

Juniper - Yosemite  2023

Juniper - Yosemite  2006

One of my favorite subjects . . . best when there's indirect overcast light.

Top photo taken this year using a Nikon Z5. Bottom one taken in 2006 using a Sony DSC-R1.

Yosemite 3 - Yosemite Creek Picnic Area

Yosemite Creek - Yosemite  2023

Toyota, Picnic Area - Yosemite  2023

I stopped here for lunch. Actually, it was pretty cold, ended up tailgating instead of using the picnic table. 

Somehow I always expect to see bears here. It's a picnic area! But no . . . no bears, although I did spot a Mountain Quail here once.

Yosemite 2 - Dead Trees

Dead Trees - Yosemite  2023

I first noticed large amounts of dead trees in 2016. It's not totally clear to me if the trees pictured here are damaged due to fire or beetles. 

Yosemite 1 - Entrance Station / Siesta Lake

Trees, Entrance Station - Yosemite  2023

Siesta Lake - Yosemite  2023

Yikes . . . the Old Priest Road cutoff was closed! So I had to take the truck route up to Groveland, thus adding at least another 20 minutes to the drive.

After a bit, I arrived at the Yosemite Entrance Station, where I stopped to use the bathroom. I peeked around the official structures at the surrounding forest and managed some photos. Nicely overcast!

Then, after turning left at the gas station towards Tioga Pass I continued to gain elevation with a photo stop at Siesta Lake just before driving past the White Wolf Campground. 

Driving through Yosemite

Horse Training - Tuolumne County  2023

Lake Don Pedro - Tuolumne County  2023

I wanted to spend a few days in the area around Bishop in the Owens Valley last October . . . hiking, taking pix etcetera. I followed the usual route on highway 120, stopping to take some photos here and there. Of course, one of the must-visit scenic views was the one of beautiful Lake Don Pedro. (Compare to 2015 photo.)

Valley View / Fritos & Beer

Valley View - Yosemite  2020

Fritos & Beer -  El Portal  2020

Last stop in Yosemite for the postcard valley view shot. Then, lunch at my old campsite near El Portal.

Winter Trees

Winter Trees 1 - Yosemite  2020

Winter Trees 2 - Yosemite  2020

I stopped at the same spot I did last year, but no snow this time.

Boulders, Branches

Boulder, Stream - Yosemite  2020

Branches - Yosemite  2020

Some last photos taken while the sun was still behind the cliffs.

Tenaya Creek

Tenaya Creek - Yosemite  2020

Pine Tree, Branches - Yosemite  2020

I went as far as the bridge over Tenaya Creek (water level very low), then started back.