Yosemite Valley
March 6, 2026
The weather was cool and mild, starting around 45°F in the morning and climbing into the 50 to 61°F range during the day.
There weren’t many clouds in the sky. The dream is always dramatic clouds after a big storm. Without that kind of drama, the day turned into a reconnaissance mission.
Neill and I started the morning below El Capitan’s Dawn Wall, hoping to catch the first light on the granite. The wall was lit up, but the trees, rocks, and river in the foreground were still in deep shadow, so none of the photos worked out.
Next we stopped at Cook’s Meadow. The boardwalk leading across the meadow toward the Merced River makes a nice foreground with Yosemite Falls rising above the trees in the distance. Some of the few clouds we would see all day drifted passed at just the right time.
I later walked down to the icy bank of Yosemite Creek. There was a bend in the river just before the point that it joins the Merced River.
The water coming off Yosemite Falls must be colder than the Merced because the creek was full of floating chunks of ice drifting downstream. I tried a long exposure as the ice floated past, but it didn’t turn out quite as awesome as I had imagined.
Next, we headed over to Lower Yosemite Falls.
Tourists were milling around the viewing area taking selfies with the waterfall behind them. I got a few curious looks when I stepped off the paved path and worked my way down the rocks toward the water.
I come back to this spot often. Someday there will be moody clouds and a bright rainbow in the mist. But not today.
From there we looped over to Bridalveil Creek below Bridalveil Fall.
This area stays in shadow into the mid morning, which makes it a good place for long exposures before the harsh midday sun reaches the valley floor. The creek was rushing over rocks and fallen branches on its way toward the Merced River.
Before heading out of the valley, we stopped once more for a photo of Bridalveil Fall.
The sun was starting to filter through the trees and catch the mist near the base of the falls.
We made a few more stops on the way out of the park. I didn’t take any more photos, just scouted a few spots for the future.
