I when I hiked up here from Tuolomne Meadows in the 1975 (?), the trail was often obscured by the deep snow pack. I met two very young kids, boy and girl, who had map and compass but had apparently lost their way. Having been here many times before, I led them up to the Cathedral Lakes where we wandered around and I took this photograph. Then we went back to Tuolomne Meadows where I met their slightly upset Dad who was happy I had gotten the "explorers" back. Turned out he was the ranger in charge of the area and had spent the winter here with his wife and children. The kids had been home tutored and helicopters had periodically flown in fuel and provisions to the snowbound family. He said 800 inches of snow had fallen up here that winter, which explained why so much snow still remained in July. The family's only break came at Christmas when they all cross country skied down Tioga Pass to the small town at it's base. Quite a trip; I was impressed.

Pond in Dana Meadows late June

Same pond in Dana Meadows, late July

Behind me, elevated above Tioga Pass, are small lakes, like the one above, created by the snowmelt.

This photo and the three below were all taken at about the same spot in Tuolomne Meadows but at different times of the year and in different years. They show the changing moods of the meadow and its rugged beauty.

The Tuolomne River flows through the campground and meadow. In June it is flush with waters from the winter's snow melt.

Long time ago. In the mid 70's I had a VW square back. This was the year of the gas shortage and a gallon pumped at the Tuolomne Meadows store cost $2.50. And you could only get gas until noon. The guy in the photo is my partner for the summer and a little surprised by snow falling in June. However he was more surprised by the company who came for breakfast.

Two bears came into the campground, a brown and a black. The campers on our right had a pop-up camper and had secured (?) their food behind mosquito netting draped from their awning.. The campers on our left, in a Winnebago, tossed out an opened Campbell's soup can stuffed with hot dogs to see what the bears would do. The black bear made short work of the mosquito netting and proceeded to chow down. The brown bear unsuccessfully tackled the stuffed soup can. I, with bacon and eggs already on my backpacking stove, was getting nervous. The bears decided to switch campsites and did so by crossing through mine. Soon thereafter, they switched again. Amid all this traffic, partner and I finished the bacon and eggs and washed up the dishes. Just as I was ready to put the fragile spun aluminum cook set away, the black bear finally decided to investigate our table. He put his paw neatly inside the large pot, doing no damage; sniffed the Joy detergent, which possibly had bacon grease on it from my hands; bit it in half; and ambled away foaming at the mouth. The ranger, later hearing my story, cited both campers for "contributing to the delinquency of bears."

I like to photograph alpine flowers, whether I can identify them or not. I have a small book that depicts a few varieties, but often what I find in the meadows isn't in the book.

Alpine flowers have to be hardy. Here are some coated by a late June snowfall and frost.

Across Yosemite Valley from the Tuolomne Meadow side, is famous Half Dome and the hanging valleys where the waters of Nevada and Vernal Falls spectacularly cascade.

These final two views of Half Dome and Yosemite Valley were taken from Glacier Point. In the mountains beyond is Tuolomne Meadows where our photo journey began.