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Thread: Meetup in Yosemite?

  1. #1
    http://www.spiritsofsilver.com tgtaylor's Avatar
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    Meetup in Yosemite?

    The Tioga pass road through the park in OPEN! It's closed at the moment (12/01/) due to the high wind event but those winds will die down this afternoon and the weather forecast is for clear and dry weather through the middle of next week at the least.

    Anyone out there interested in a photography meetup in Yosemite in the next few days? I'm thinking an out and back or overnighter to Cathedral Lakes (leave the cars at the Pass while one driver hitches back).

    Thomas

  2. #2
    windpointphoto's Avatar
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    Re: Meetup in Yosemite?

    Can't understand why everyone's not jumpin' at this idea. Temp drops two degrees and no one is ever seen again, least of all the lucky person hiking back from the cars.

  3. #3
    http://www.spiritsofsilver.com tgtaylor's Avatar
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    Re: Meetup in Yosemite?

    The weather forecast through next Wednesday is spectacular with highs in the upper 40's and lows in the upper 20's and clear skies throughout the forecast period! The current wind storm, which is expected to subside tomorrow (Friday) afternoon, swept all the crap from the atmosphere and, coupled with the low angle of the sun (winter solstice is just 3 weeks away), the lighting and visibility is a good as it gets. Photography at high noon will work! Check out the lighting on the parks webcams. Beautiful! Because of the nearness to the solstice the light is far better right now then it will be when the road opens again in late May.

    There are several short day hikes from Tioga road to pristine and spectacular alpine setting to photograph: Gaylor Lakes, Elizabeth Lake and Cathedral Lakes for example, with the first two being only about 4 mile RT hikes from the road and are rated as "easy" hikes! Cathedral Lakes (easy to moderate because of distance) is a little longer, ~8 miles or so RT, with Upper Cathedral Lake being about a 1/2 mile further. If you have the time and inclination you could camp at lower or upper Cathedral Lake, catch the early morning light, and hike over Cathedral pass to photograph Echo Lake and Peak carrying just camera and film, and then back to the car on the 2d day.

    This is only the 5th time since 1980 that Tioga Road was still open in December and probably won't last past the coming week.

    Thomas

  4. #4
    http://www.spiritsofsilver.com tgtaylor's Avatar
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    Re: Meetup in Yosemite?

    From this mornings NWS forecast discussion for the Yosemite area:

    ONE WIND CONCERN IS THAT THE MODELS FORECAST THE SURFACE-PRESSURE
    GRADIENTS TO TIGHTEN AGAIN TONIGHT AS THE SHORT-WAVE MOVES OVER THE
    GREAT BASIN AS IT DROPS INTO THE TROUGH. GRADIENTS ARE FORECAST TO
    BE LOWER THAN WITH THURSDAY/S EVENT...WHICH SAW THE PEAK WIND AT
    FRESNO COME WITHIN 3 MPH OF THE RECORD GUST FOR DECEMBER /45 MPH
    VICE 48 MPH ON DECEMBER 28TH 1991/.

    THE NEXT FORECAST CONCERN IS THE THREAT OF FROST THIS MORNING. AT
    10Z /0200 PST/...THE TEMPERATURE AT THE HANFORD MUNICIPAL AIRPORT
    HAD FALLEN TO 31 DEGREES AND DEWPOINTS IN THE CENTRAL AND SOUTHERN
    SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY WERE MOSTLY IN THE MID 20S TO LOWER 30S. AS WINDS
    SUBSIDE...TEMPERATURES WILL CONTINUE TO FALL AND COULD REACH 32
    DEGREES BY DAYBREAK WITH 2-4 HOURS BETWEEN 29-32 DEGREES LATER THIS
    MORNING. CONDITIONS ARE MORE FAVORABLE FOR A MORE WIDESPREAD FROST
    WITH TEMPERATURES A COUPLE OF DEGREES COLDER SATURDAY NIGHT.

    THE WEATHER PATTERN IS FORECAST TO REMAIN STAGNANT THROUGH THE FIRST
    PART OF NEXT WEEK. AN UPPER-LEVEL LOW MOVING OUT OF THE GULF OF
    ALASKA IS FORECAST TO RIDE OVER THE TOP OF THE RIDGE...FLATTENING IT
    AND PUSHING THE RIDGE WESTWARD AS A TROUGH ROTATING AROUND THE LOW
    DROPS INTO THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST AROUND MIDWEEK. THE 00Z ECMWF IS
    MORE ROBUST WITH THE TROUGH...DIGGING IT INTO CENTRAL AND SOUTHERN
    CALIFORNIA NEXT THURSDAY. DIFFERENCES BETWEEN THE ECMWF AND GFS
    BECOME MORE PRONOUNCED NEXT FRIDAY INTO THE WEEKEND...LOWERING
    CONFIDENCE IN THE FORECAST FOR THE END OF THE 7-DAY FORECAST PERIOD.


    Here in the Bay Area the winds have subsided and it's a beautiful mild day out.

    Thomas

  5. #5
    http://www.spiritsofsilver.com tgtaylor's Avatar
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    Re: Meetup in Yosemite?

    No one going? Shoot, I'm going to have the whole place to myself!

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    Re: Meetup in Yosemite?

    tgtaylor,

    If I were anywhere near there I would JUMP at the chance to go. I'm always been astounded by Adams work in Yosemite, and would love to try my hand at some of its sights. Alas, I hail from the cold reaches of Alaska. A different type of scenery, though beautiful.

    Thanks for the post,

  7. #7
    http://www.spiritsofsilver.com tgtaylor's Avatar
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    Re: Meetup in Yosemite?

    Thanks Logain!

    Although the winter solstice is less that 3 weeks away, it's like spring in northern California.

    http://www.flickr.com//photos/gallery_alternative/show/

  8. #8
    LF/ULF Carbon Printer Jim Fitzgerald's Avatar
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    Re: Meetup in Yosemite?

    Be in the park on the 17th.

  9. #9
    http://www.spiritsofsilver.com tgtaylor's Avatar
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    Re: Meetup in Yosemite?

    Although not likely given the current weather conditions, it's entirely possible that Tioga road will be open on the 17th. So far the latest closure was on December 11th back in 1995. So this may well be a record year.

    http://www.flickr.com//photos/gallery_alternative/show/

  10. #10
    ROL's Avatar
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    Re: Meetup in Yosemite?

    Quote Originally Posted by tgtaylor View Post
    I'm thinking an out and back or overnighter to Cathedral Lakes (leave the cars at the Pass while one driver hitches back).

    Thomas
    Hitching back may be problematic given the amount of traffic near day's end, at this time of year. The latest I've been up there was Thanksgiving, many years ago (not counting skiing across in February in the early '70's). I found shooting conditions not optimal for my tastes. Too little snow (the reason the road is still open), dormant vegetation – kind of beat up looking. Still, I'm with you in spirit, if only for the adventure of taking advantage of a rare opportunity. I've been thinking about going myself, but photography wouldn't be my primary motivation. Have fun!

    Here's some inspiration from a month ago (actually a proof I'm don't intend to print):
    5X7 FP4+ (PMK Pryo)

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