A strong desire to see Fall colors was the impetus for a weekend trip
over Yosemite's Tioga Pass. Our tentative goal was the quaking Aspen groves
along Lee Vining Creek. Most of the campgrounds, including Toulumne Meadows,
had already closed for the winter so we stayed the first night at the
Silver Maple in Bridgeport.
The next day under the probable threat of the first big winter storm, we had breakfast in
Lee Vining and began our return. The Aspen groves were beautiful but were a
media blitz. It was all I could do to keep other photographers out of the
picture. By the time we returned to Toulumne Meadows the storm had begun. To know more
see: Lembert
Dome,
Olmsted Point Restoration,
Mono Lake Map and Apple
Tree - Fishcamp.
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Olmsted Point |
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Olmsted Point along Tioga Pass is under construction. Years of Marmot tunnels and weather damage have undermined the walkway. |
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Lembert Dome |
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Lembert Dome, as seen from the Toulumne Meadows Bridge, is a favorite for climbing. |
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Lee Vining Grade |
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The adventurous 12% grade down highway 120 into Mono Basin. |
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Bridgeport Sunset |
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Sunset colors at the North edge of town. |
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A Flash of Color |
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The quaking Aspen along highway 395 make for some bright splashes of color to the high desert scenery. |
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Lee Vining C.G. |
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The Aspen groves in the valley along Lee Vining creek are a part of the campground. |
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Aspen Grove |
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Looking East along the campground access road. |
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Lee Vining Creek |
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This picture was taking from a campsite along Lee Vining Creek. |
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Toulumne R.S. |
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The storm began in earnest as we briefly stopped at the Toulumne Meadows Ranger Station. |
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Meadows Snowstorn |
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Toulumne Meadows is mostly obscured during a substantial snowfall. |
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Tenaya Lake |
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Looking N.E. towards Tenaya Lake with Polly Dome on the left and enshrouded Tresidder Peak on the right. |
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Olmsted Point |
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The view out towards Half Dome in Yosemite Valley |
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Apple Tree Inn |
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Our second nights stay was at Apple Tree Inn in Fishcamp. |
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