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For my 73rd birthday, Sharon and I drove to Yosemite again. Another major storm was forecasted, but we decided to take advantage of a special rate at the Yosemite Lodge anyway. The weather was gloomy most of that day and the rain started when we arrived at the valley floor. El Capitan and Half Dome had snow from previous weeks and there were still patches of the white stuff in the valley. But that evening the rain turned into snow, so at least we had something to look forward to the following morning.

While Sharon was getting ready, I took a quick walk through the snow to take some pictures. Notice Yosemite Falls to the left and Half Dome to the far right. You have to go into the meadow to get this panoramic view. Something you don't want to do in the summer.

I stopped on this bridge where a group of people were enjoying the scenery like me. I asked one if he minded if I took a 'picture of the picture takers'. He told me that they were not 'picture takers' but 'photographers'. I beg your pardon.

A fter breakfast we drove to the Ahwahnee Hotel, parked the car and took a long hike towards Mirror Lake. For the first half hour we did not see a soul, but fresh deer and coyote prints in the snow told us we were not the only creatures here.

On one of the foot bridges is a marker showing how high the water level was during several floods. The highest recorded one occurred in 1997. Along one of the paths is another sign that is a least seven feet above the road. Notice the various floods that have occurred since I was born in 1937.

We also found this hippy vehicle and wondered if anyone still lived in it. It looked like a tree had taken care of the back section.

After our walk we stopped at the hotel, had some hot chocolate and warmed our tootsies at the fire place with a couple books.

Late in the afternoon the sun poked its head through the clouds and turned the valley into a winter wonderland. Slowly the sky became pink and the granite walls, that were in the shade, turned purple. Wispy clouds still swirled around us making for an erie spectacle. Yet another surprise in Yosemite.

This lasted for only a few minutes and then, when the sun was set, all was back to normal. We checked out the following morning but had decided to have brunch at the Ahwahnee, It was cold and the falls showed how ice crystals had formed from the spray. The night before had also seen a wedding party at the hotel and this ice sculpture was what was left behind. And, yes, that is a strawberry that Sharon is holding.

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