Yosemite Pre/Mid

Steve Arita and Bruce Wendler saw Yosemite before this weekend’s storm and today as it rolled over the Valley.

For Steve – pre storm – the weather couldn’t have been more beautiful. Neither could the scenery. He noted hardly anyone in the Valley, saying he, “just about had the whole park to myself.”

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Yesterday, “clouds slowly rolled in and as the morning progressed, it got more and more overcast, until around 12:30 or so, the winds came in and it started sprinkling.  I decided to leave around 1:30, as it was pretty overcast and windy and it started to rain as I left the park entrance.”

He was impressed by how the color had intensified since his visit a week earlier, saying “the fall colors were really brilliant with bright yellows, reds and a mix of both colors.” However, he anticipated that due to the strong winds, a lot of that color would fly away.

For Bruce – mid storm – the weather on Saturday was “closing the show.” He was sad to report that “at 4000 feet this is the last flash of color.” Bruce said that in a day Yosemite had gone from Peak to Past Peak, though it was still strong and reservations to enter the valley were at least no longer required.

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For tomorrow (Sunday), he anticipates “snow on color and a rare treat, because those storms indicate it is the finale. And the storms put a blanket over the ground and let it Rest In Peace.  Till next year.”

Despite Bruce’s conclusion, it’s not over in Yosemite Valley. While it may be for the aspen, dogwood and bigleaf maple, the black oak are still not even Near Peak. Gorgeous color will be seen on them in coming weeks with peak right before Thanksgiving Day.