High Sierra Topix

maverick wrote:Looks like a fun trip Copeg, any pictures of Tuolumne Meadows/River?
I am heading up to the area on the 24th for several days.

Sorry, no photos of the Tuolumne. It was flowing though. The falls below Glen Aulin should be going full force right about now.

Have much of the winter gear however in the past I've always been a drooling funatic heavily into skiing at resorts that usually lasted till early April. Like almost every weekend while working and 3 or 4 days a week all season during years I didn't work. However increasingly over the last 15 years the end of my skiing season has been in conflict with spring wildflower work, especially down south where the best times are often from end of February on. And that has gotten to the point it is difficult for me to get in any skiing in at resorts or in the backcountry during spring.

From an aesthetic viewpoint as a photographer, I far prefer fresh snow landscapes. Sort of shots like these where snow smoothly coats everything like fine crystal. With 4x5 foregrounds can show the fine detail of snow crystal though such doesn't show in these web size pics. I am huge fresh powder skier and just love dry cold powder snow scenes because I've lived those days so much and its really magic.

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http://www.davidsenesac.com/Gallery_B/06-E2-1.jpg" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
http://www.davidsenesac.com/Gallery_B/06-E1-3.jpg" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
http://www.davidsenesac.com/Gallery_B/06-E2-2.jpg" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Any snow work I've done the last decade has pretty much been about being in the right spot when the right storm is forecast to hit. Although my website gallery just has a few Yosemite Valley pics, I have others at places like Carson Pass that are not too far from roadsides. Tough to bring much photo gear like I lug very far into the backcountry across snow because winter camping requires heavy warm 4-season stuff. I'll let the new generation of hardcore types over at ttips with lighter DSLRs farm all that stuff. Instead what is an easier strategy for me is to wait for the right late season storm to hit in zones pretty much melted out and easy to boot in to. Like a cold storm mid May to mid June dropping only a few inches of new snow overnight at one of the trans-Sierra highway passes where one can easily boot it out from after it passes. And much of which is likely to melt out due to ground warmth within a few days in any case. But which when fresh and while the sun is really low in altitude will look like crystaline magic. Pack out to the right landscape, tent, and wait out a storm. Then get up the next day at dawn with Sorels dressed warm and stomp out to the planned spots.

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Gorgeous photos!

Mike

Copeg wrote:
"Sorry, no photos of the Tuolumne. It was flowing though. The falls below Glen Aulin
should be going full force right about now."
Exactly why I am going on the 24th, plus it is a full moon (waterwheels by moonlight)!

Nice photos!

I love the Box Lake outlet photo. And, I, too, never tire of that view. Thanks.

Sure looks purdy!

OK, I'm heading for Little Lakes tomorrow! (Signing out to get ready...)

My trip to Little Lakes started out sort of ho-hum and turned out holy cow! I was hoping an early start would beat the wind, but there were breezes already. Then the approaching wind storm sent a band of wispy clouds through...delightful! No ice at Box Lake, but Long Lake was about 50% covered.

3 vehicles at trailhead parking (including mine) when I departed...22 vehicles when I returned.

THANK YOU SO MUCH for the amazing photo of Box Lake!!! I so wanted to take that same hike this past weekend but my grumpy husband (why do I bring him???) did not want to hike thru the snow. Must cancel garage sale this weekend.....

(I just read and found out that I could attach a photo from my own files... )

Yesterday...