February 25, 2014
Yosemite Valley, Yosemite National Park

On this winter day, the weather in Yosemite National Park was so mild and sunny that it felt more like a spring afternoon. Chris and I decided to hike the Rockefeller Grove Trail, which is typically ideal for snowshoeing (though not this year). We were eager to see the sugar pines and scout the area for future snowshoeing adventures.

When we arrived at the trailhead, we were greeted with a “road closed” sign. Even though the fire is out, a very large section is still closed due to the Rim Fire that began last summer. The Merced Grove of Giant Sequoias was nearby, but neither of us felt like hiking that trail. Instead, we drove to the Church Bowl picnic area in the valley.

When we reached the trailhead, we were met with a “road closed” sign. Although the hunter’s illegal campfire had been extinguished, a significant portion of Yosemite remained closed due to the Rim Fire that began last summer. The Merced Grove of Giant Sequoias was nearby, but neither of us felt like hiking that trail. Instead, we headed to the Church Bowl picnic area in the valley.

We sat at a picnic table, basking in the warm sun. Brittle leaves rattled across the ground in the breeze. A squawking raven perched on a nearby table, begging for a tasty morsel of our lunch, but of course we didn’t share.

Afterwards, we wandered down the secluded path to a perfect viewpoint of Yosemite Falls. Comfortable in our silence, we sat in the shade on a cold granite bench. Nature’s symphony unfolded before us: the thundering bass of Yosemite Falls crashing down complemented the high-pitched creek trickling gracefully by. No wonder John Muir built his cabin here—the sights and sounds are truly beautiful.

As we left the area, we encountered a bobcat being pursued by several enthusiastic photographers. I squeezed into the crowd to snap a photo myself. We watched in wonder as it pounced on an unlucky victim, perhaps a rodent, or maybe it was just playing.

I can’t help but wonder what the critters throughout Yosemite think about the mild winter we’re experiencing, so different from the rest of the country. Maybe they’re asking, “Where’s the snow?” The weather forecast for the next day predicted a storm with a chance of two feet of much-needed snow. Weather permitting, we’ll bring our snowshoes next time. But for this trip, we were blessed with another pleasant afternoon in our favorite park.