I just got back from a weekend in Yosemite. Spring is coming late to the park. The oaks are just starting to seriously bud. The dogwoods are starting too. Some just have a little green bud on them, others are to the stage of having the green blooms coming out.
The river is rising. Last year at this time, the Merced was bumping the bottom of swinging bridge. This weekend, it is still a few feet below the bottom of the bridge. However, the weather was quite warm and there is still a LOT of snow in the high country. I saw the river come up quite a bit from Sat. morning to Sunday afternoon. I would not be surprised to see the campgrounds flood again.
I hiked the mist trail and up to the top of Nevada Falls. If you are in the park, I highly recommend the trail. Bring rain gear, but it is a really spectacular hike.
If you can get to the park in the next two to three weeks, I think you will hit it prime. The waterfalls, raging now, should be even better and the dogwoods should be in prime form.
I suspect Tioga will open late this year. The park service website said they just started working on it. Due to the late storms, equipment and resources have been used to keep the other roads open.
Here is a URL to a list of opening dates in prior years. Last year it opened end of June and I believe there is more snow now than a year ago.
Discussion
3 repliesThe river is rising. Last year at this time, the Merced was bumping the bottom of swinging bridge. This weekend, it is still a few feet below the bottom of the bridge. However, the weather was quite warm and there is still a LOT of snow in the high country. I saw the river come up quite a bit from Sat. morning to Sunday afternoon. I would not be surprised to see the campgrounds flood again.
I hiked the mist trail and up to the top of Nevada Falls. If you are in the park, I highly recommend the trail. Bring rain gear, but it is a really spectacular hike.
If you can get to the park in the next two to three weeks, I think you will hit it prime. The waterfalls, raging now, should be even better and the dogwoods should be in prime form.
Here is a URL to a list of opening dates in prior years. Last year it opened end of June and I believe there is more snow now than a year ago.
http://www.nps.gov/yose/trip/tioga.htm#dates