i heart yosemite

so i made the drive to yosemite today. and it is magnificent. it probably helps that there is snow on the trees and on the peaks. this is the first snow covered landscape i have seen this winter, so to me it is breathtaking.

i was worried that i didnt have snow chains for my tires, but turns out that i have "mud and snow" tires on my car so i am exempt from the R1 restriction (but not R2). the roads were clear enough anyway.

i didnt do much hiking bc it was late in the afternoon and i was getting my bearings. so i talked to the rangers about doing a snowshoe hike in the morning and my concern that i did not have boots. no boots? they were absolutely perplexed that there is snow all over and here i was without boots and a snow jacket. i let them know i was on plan E for 2008 and that i really wanted to come and be here, so here i was. they assured me that i should still be able to join the snowshoe and let me know where i could walk and hike in snow that is less deep. i dont think they realized that i was willing to walk in the snow anyway.

i walked around a bit, went to the museum, watched the yosemite video, and looked at art done in the park, including black and white photos by ansel adams (love it!). as the sun was setting, i headed back to my hostel. i stopped along the way to take more photos - convenient pullouts are everywhere - probably to allow people to pass the buses.

the coolest thing today was seeing a coyote on the side of the road. well i pulled over bc four other cars did. so my car is parked next to a snowbank as tall as the car window, which is down so i can take clear photos of the coyote. it got really close to my car - close enough that i was having an internal debate about what to do if it jumped through the window - after all, i did have peanutbutter breath. but it didnt. and i did get some good pictures i think. i saw another one on my way out of the park - or maybe the same one. whatever - it was still amazing and i cannot wait to post a photo. soooon.