Sonora Library, CA
[Two Links to my previous visits to Yosemite in 2011 have been added below]
Mono Lake (elev: 6372') and Paoha Island as seen from US395 just south of LeeVining.
LeeVining Canyon with the sun already below the crest of the Sierra Nevada but shining on clouds above and to the west side of the crest.
Excelsior Mtn (12,442') to the NNW of Saddlebag Lake.
In the distance, the U.S. version of one of Europe's most famous mountains: the Matterhorn. California's Matterhorn Peak has an elevation of 12,264 ft.
Saddlebag Lake is the highest drive-to lake in California at 10,087 feet. Note that some fishermen nearly back into it.
Zooming in one can see why the Matterhorn is aptly-named -- it has the same sort of outcropping on one of its triangular sides as the original in the Alps.
Panning right, a view to the far end of Saddlebag Lake, which is man-made.
Note the trail around the lake. While I walked to the spot from which this photo was taken in my Cabelas Walk-Mor oxfords, the soles weren't quite thick enough when I stepped on a sharp rock; wear boots if you decide to circumnavigate the lake.
Am not certain if the snowfields near Excelsior Mtn remain all year or not. In other words, are there glaciers near that peak?
Panning left, note a couple more snowfields which are still around after a dry-than-normal winter.
Panning left, a meadow along the creek which drains Excelsior Mtn and off of which the creek dammed to make Saddelbag Lake branches.
A photo of Mt Dana (13,063'), which is on the south side of LeeVining Creek and is the nearest peak to Tioga Pass, the highest pass over the Range of Light at 9,945 feet.
The most notable rock in Yosemite: Half Dome (8,836'), as seen from Olmstead Point.
Looking to the east along the Tioga Pass Road, Tenaya Lake (8,100').
[Click once to enlarge; press ESC to return here.] A plaque which explains the process of opening the Tioga Pass Road each year (which, in more recent years, is a good indicator of the size of the Sierra snowpack and, hence, the amount of runoff to expect in streams and rivers draining the area).
A good example of glacial-smoothing!
The granite mountains in the right half of this photo were "worked over" by one or more glaciers; however, the mountain on the left seems to have excaped partially from becoming "a Smoothie."
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Links:
- 23 Apr 2011 post on Yosemite Natl Park
- 1 Nov 2011 post on drive from Big Oak Flat to Wawona
- Saddlebag Lake Resort website
- TrailPeak website for Saddlebag 20 Lakes Basin
- Wikipedia article on the Matterhorn in Europe's Alps
Su 28 Oct Actual Route: N.F. Tuolumne Riv bd - Tuolumne - N.F. Tuolumne River bd
M 29 Oct Actual Route: N.F. Tuolumne Riv bd - Tuolumne - Mono Vista - N.F. Tuolumne River bd
T 30 Oct Actual Route: N.F. Tuolumne Riv bd - Sonora Library - Modesto Resv CG
W 31 Oct Actual Route: Modesto Resv CG - Waterford - Oakdale - Tuolumne Lib - N.F. Tuolumne Riv bd
Th 1 Nov Actual Route: N.F. Tuolumne Riv bd - Sonora Lib - Tuolumne - N.F. Tuolumne Riv bd
F 2 Nov Route: N.F. Tuolumne Riv bd - Sonora Lib - Standard - Tuolumne - N.F. Tuolumne Riv bd
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Finding Campgrounds:
- RV Campgrounds from TrailerLifeDirectory.com
- Family Camping Directories from Woodalls.com
- Free campsites website
- Info on finding BLM Campgrounds
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