Tehachapi News

Yosemite National Park: A ‘Winter Wonderland’

Looking for some beautiful, magical, winter scenes to enjoy winter activities around…look no further than Yosemite National Park. Snow falling on the ground, trees and cliffs create a sparkling winter fairyland scene that will leave you in awe.
The nucleus of this grand spectacle is Yosemite Valley, a gigantic, glacier-carved corridor walled in by naked peaks and smooth domes which reflect the light of sunrise and sunset as if forged in gold.

There are numerous waterfalls throughout the Sierra Nevada Range that blast over the rim of the canyon and descend in an eerie, slow-motion roar to feed the crystal waters of the Merced River. Waterfalls in winter are outlined in snow and ice with a rainbow glowing in front of them during a particular time every day — when the weather is right.

Lush meadows are covered in snow and crackling ice as you walk through them. Ancient groves of giant sequoias; with trees reaching 300 feet high and 40 feet in diameter are covered in a blanket of snow. The dramatic weather that comes through the valley gives Yosemite a different feeling every time.

El Capitan, the immense wall of gray granite looming like a skyscraper into the blue sky, topping off at 3,500 feet, is said to be the largest single block of exposed granite in the world.

Winter brings a special natural phenomenon that can only be seen during the last three weeks of February; a waterfall called Horsetail Falls flows over El Capitan as if it were on fire. As the sun sets for the night, the sunlight closes in on the falls making the falls light up with a blazing orange color. The experience is powerful and intense; making it one that you will never forget.

Also unforgettable is the thrilling rush of the tallest waterfall in North America, Yosemite Falls. In the wintertime, the double avalanche of water dropping 2,425 feet is much diminished, yet still magnificent. Ice cones as large as 300 feet high form on the ledge between the two cataracts and when the sun warms at midday, the ice often cracks, thundering across the valley as it bursts.

When the crowds are low and the deciduous trees and shrubs are bare, coyotes, mule deer, raccoons, the occasional black bear and other wildlife are easily sighted during this time of year.

At 4,000 feet in elevation, the valley receives less than thirty inches of snow through the season, which is just enough to lightly decorate the landscape. The average daytime temperatures are in the low-fifties and skies are often sunny, making it perfect to be outdoors enjoying the activities.

Short hikes that can be enjoyed by the whole family are to Bridalveil falls, Lower Yosemite falls, a walk through Cooks Meadow on the paths and around the valley. There is a two-hour guided walking tour that starts from the Ansel Adams Gallery in Yosemite Village that showcases the snow-dressed pines and icy waterfalls, lacy aspens and the magical reflections in the Merced River as well as a history of the park.

Ice-skating is another fun activity available in Yosemite during the winter in Curry Village. After a skate, you can enjoy a cup of hot cocoa and sit by the fire pit. Winter is the coziest indoor time of year in the park. Several villages and lodges inside Yosemite have fireplaces to cozy up to, play games around, sit and read a book or just enjoy viewing the scenery of the outdoors through the windows.

During the evenings, the lodge presents a live show, "The Spirit of John Muir: Stories of Ice and Snow," starring the legendary portrayer of John Muir, actor Lee Stetson, who spins tales and relives Muir's daring winter adventures.

Elaborate decorations and annual holiday events attracts visitors to the historic Ahwahnee Hotel. The spectacular pageant of the Bracebridge Dinner, actually a series of dinners, is based on a Washington Irving tale, "The Sketch Book," about Christmas day at Bracebridge Hall in Yorkshire, England, during the 18th Century. The merriment, the music, the lavish feast and even the dress, are recreated in a series of evenings that sell out each year.

The Vintners' Holidays and the Chefs Holidays series consist of two-day events that fill the Great Lounge with wine and gourmet food lovers, and world-famous winemakers and chefs, for seminars and tastings, followed by grand feasts in the candlelit dining room. On the south side of the park at the charming, Victorian-era Wawona Hotel, a traditional Dickens' Christmas gets underway in mid-December.
The lobby’s Christmas tree is lit during a special occasion complete with hot chocolate, cider and cookies, while resident musician, Tom Bopp, plays a 1906 grand piano, leading guests in Christmas carols. Live music and caroling and fireside readings of "A Christmas Carol" are scheduled during evenings.

You can bring gifts to the front desk on Christmas Eve, for Santa to present to the children in the afternoon before he reads Christmas stories and sits for photos with the kids.

Also be sure to ask for the printed, self-guided tour of the vintage photos in the lobby, which show the early days when guests arrived on horseback and in stagecoaches and huge sequoias were cut with handsaws.

Winter Discounts
Mid-week, non-holiday visitors to Yosemite National Park enjoy winter lodging and ski package discounts. Visit www.yosemitepark.com for more information. The park is open all year round. The lowest elevation and driest highway into the park in winter is Highway 140 from Merced to the Arch Rock entrance.

Skiing at Badger Pass
The oldest ski resort in the state, Badger Pass Ski Area is one of the best ski mountains in the country for adult beginners and intermediates, and especially for kids learning to ski. Six lifts take skiers to the 8,000-foot summit, which receives about 180 inches of snowfall annually, for downhill skiing and snowboarding.
Winter fun also includes snowshoeing, Nordic skiing and sliding on the tubing hills. Visit www.BadgerPass.com for more information.

Within the park are 350 miles of cross-country ski trails and roads, with over 90 miles of marked trails and 40 kilometers of machine-groomed and skating lanes. You also join a ranger for a guided snowshoe hike to the Mariposa Grove of Giant Sequoias, or a ski trek to Glacier Point for an overnight adventure.

From January through March, during four days preceding the full moon and the night of the full moon, a naturalist ranger leads small groups from Badger on Full Moon Snowshoe Walks on a winding, two and a half mile trail through a sparkling pine forest to a ridge to watch the moon rise over a flotilla of mountain peaks- quite a breathtaking sight. The wintertime activities of animals are described, and tales told of moony folklore. The snowy, moonlit landscape is bright as day and the heavens are scattered with stars, right down to the horizon.