Above Frozen Tenaya Lake: Christmas Eve Hike up Tenaya Peak

Tenaya Lake from Tenaya Peak, 12/24/11 (photo by Beth Pratt)

Tenaya Lake taken from Tenaya Peak, summer (photo by Beth Pratt)

Last week I walked and glided in sneakers across the frozen Tenaya Lake, delighted to be up on Tioga Road after the National Park Service reopened it--a rare experience in winter. The weather has remained fair, and indeed we seem likely to break the all-time record for the latest closing of Tioga Pass in the road's history--January 1.

Today, I watched the skaters having fun on the lake--but from 2,000 feet above them! I decided that since I walked across Tenaya Lake last week, I would walk above it for my Christmas Eve hike. What an amazing day! Although the lack of snow and almost balmy temperatures made for perfect fall hiking (in December) I was a little alarmed at the lack of snow as I hiked mostly on bare granite. Despite fears of an impending drought, I had a marvelous day in Yosemite and the perfect early Christmas present-the chance to explore the winter world of the high country near Tuolumne.

Here's a video I took from the top of Tenaya Peak. You can see people skating far below and I included a 360 view.

And some more photos:

East shore of Tenaya Lake with skaters (photo by Beth Pratt)

People and skaters along Tioga Road (photo by Beth Pratt)

Tenaya Peak (photo by Beth Pratt)

Tenaya Creek frozen (photo by Beth Pratt)

Mildred Lake (photo by Beth Pratt)

Vogelsang from Tenaya Peak (photo by Beth Pratt)

Mt Conness and Lembert Dome from Tenaya Peak (photo by Beth Pratt)

West shore Tenaya Lake in the afternoon (photo by Beth Pratt)

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Bighorn sheep in Anza-Borrego State Park (Photo by Beth Pratt)I enjoy sharing my adventures in Yosemite and the other marvelous natural places that California has to offer. If you like reading this blog, would you consider making a donation to the National Wildlife Federation to help support my organization's work in California? As the new California Director for NWF, I am really excited about the programs and initiatives we are developing in the state that will help protect the wildlife I cherish.

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Pika in Yosemite at Gaylor Lakes (photo by Beth Pratt)California’s Wildlife Needs YOU!

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Walking across Tenaya Lake in Yosemite

Update: hear about my adventures and the story behind the dry December on KQED news. 

Tenaya Lake from the west shore (photo by Beth Pratt)

After hearing the news of Tioga Pass reopening on Friday afternoon, I knew I couldn’t resist the lure of seeing Tuolumne Meadows this late in the season. The road opening this late in the winter is a rarity—since 1980, it’s been open only three times in December and the latest date was December 11 (although it did reopen briefly in 1999 on January 1).

But the statistics don’t capture the magnificence of the sublime season in Tioga Country. I stood on the west shore of Tenaya Lake and listened as the ice shifted and broke—it sounded like whales singing (you can hear this music at the beginning of the video I posted in this entry). At the more solidly frozen eastern shore, I slid across the lake in my sneakers, accompanied by Paul, a resident of Crowley Lake, as he skated and yielded his hockey stick. We both agreed on the sheer awesomeness of being out here so late in the year. Touching one of the tops of the “ghost trees” peeking out of the ice of Tenaya Lake definitely ranked as one of the coolest nature moments of the year for me.

Driving to Tioga Pass, I gazed at my favorite mountain friends, Mt Conness, Mt Dana, Mt Gibbs, and Cathedral Peak—and also noticed their distinct lack of a winter coat. Last year the snowfall shattered a number of records, but so far this season winter seems slow to arrive. Although we need the snow and the water it brings (70% of our water in the west comes from snowpack), I am grateful into this rare glimpse at the winter world of Tuolumne and the Yosemite high country. So my request to Mother Nature (and the National Park Service) is to keep the pass open through the holidays, and then let it snow!

Ghost tree in the ice on Tenaya Lake (photo by Beth Pratt)

Playing hockey on Tenaya Lake (photo by Beth Pratt)

Tioga Lake (photo Beth Pratt)

Tuolumne Meadows from Pothole Dome (photo by Beth Pratt)Mt Conness from Saddlebag Lake Road (photo by Beth Pratt)

Ice bubbles on Tenaya Lake (photo by Beth Pratt)

Dana Meadows (photo by Beth Pratt)

Mammoth Peak and Dana Fork (photo by Beth Pratt)

What a day in Yosemite! Tioga Pass, Tuolumne Meadows, Gaylor Peak and TWO Bald Eagles

Santa came early for me this year and gave me the gifts of Tioga Pass opening, blue Sierra skies with 50F temperatures at 10,000 feet, and not one but two bald eagle sightings in one day. Maybe I was good this year!

After hearing that Tioga Pass reopened yesterday, I dashed up to the high country this morning, wandered around Tuolumne Meadows and then climbed Gaylor Peak. On my drive up the Merced River Canyon near Briceburg, I spotted a bald eagle perched on a tree. I rarely see bald eagles in this area, so imagine my surprise later in the day when another one soared above me while I hiked up Gaylor Peak. The good weather is supposed to continue this week, so I urge you all to take a trip up to Yosemite National Park and drive to Tuolumne to see the winter landscape. For those who can't make the trip, here's a selection of photos I took today. Enjoy!

Bald eagle in Merced River Canyon on highway 140 near Briceburg (photo by Beth Pratt)

Bald eagle soaring over Gaylor Lakes in Yosemite (photo by Beth Pratt)

Tioga Lake from Gaylor Peak (photo by Beth Pratt)

Granite Lake from Gaylor Peak (photo by Beth Pratt)

Tuolumne Meadows, Cathedral Peak, and Mt Hoffman from Gaylor Peak (photo by Beth Pratt)

Gaylor Lake Basin from Gaylor Peak (photo by Beth Pratt)

Tuolumne Meadows (photo by Beth Pratt)Tenaya Lake with Mt Conness in background (photo by Beth Pratt)Gaylor Peak (photo by Beth Pratt)

Mt Dana and Mt Gibbs (photo by Beth Pratt)Clouds Rest (photo by Beth Pratt)