http://www.nileguide.com/blog/2009/12/24/yosemite-national-park-in-the-winter/ Travel tips, tales and updates from the NileGuide team Sat, 11 Feb 2012 10:15:40 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 http://www.nileguide.com/blog/2009/12/24/yosemite-national-park-in-the-winter/comment-page-1/#comment-16830 pam Wed, 13 Jan 2010 00:47:13 +0000 http://www.nileguide.com/destination/blog/?p=7858#comment-16830 Reader corrections aside, I did several winter trips to Yosemite with pals when I was in college and we always had an AMAZING time. It's so beautiful and quiet and the snowshoeing at Badger Pass is swell. What you said, pretty much. A great idea. Reader corrections aside, I did several winter trips to Yosemite with pals when I was in college and we always had an AMAZING time. It’s so beautiful and quiet and the snowshoeing at Badger Pass is swell. What you said, pretty much. A great idea.

]]> http://www.nileguide.com/blog/2009/12/24/yosemite-national-park-in-the-winter/comment-page-1/#comment-15235 Pete Devine Thu, 31 Dec 2009 00:33:47 +0000 http://www.nileguide.com/destination/blog/?p=7858#comment-15235 Excellent points, Loyd. You are correct that no Sierra bears exhibit true biological hibernation, but most of the bears that summer in Yosemite Valley do go dormant between December-March. Any winter action varies from year to year. Biologists are keeping tabs on a handful of Valley bears that are snoring away in their dens right now; there's been no bear activity for over a month. Last winter in the Valley there was some bear activity right through the season, though one's chances of encountering a bear in the Valley in the winter are a fraction of summertime likelihood. For a state with such a warm, sunny reputation, it surprises some people that there are any outdoor rinks like those in Minnesota, Quebec or Maine. Again, you're right that there are maybe 15-20 'outdoor rinks' in California; just a few are open to the sky in a natural setting. The late February wildflowers in the lower Merced Canyon are also a surprise and a delight to many people from out of state. The contrast of deep snow half an hour's drive from colorful blooms is impressive. They do start in the winter but you're right that spring has more abundant flowers. I have always enjoyed reading your blog and genuinely appreciate your points on these items - thank-you! Excellent points, Loyd. You are correct that no Sierra bears exhibit true biological hibernation, but most of the bears that summer in Yosemite Valley do go dormant between December-March. Any winter action varies from year to year. Biologists are keeping tabs on a handful of Valley bears that are snoring away in their dens right now; there’s been no bear activity for over a month. Last winter in the Valley there was some bear activity right through the season, though one’s chances of encountering a bear in the Valley in the winter are a fraction of summertime likelihood.
For a state with such a warm, sunny reputation, it surprises some people that there are any outdoor rinks like those in Minnesota, Quebec or Maine. Again, you’re right that there are maybe 15-20 ‘outdoor rinks’ in California; just a few are open to the sky in a natural setting.
The late February wildflowers in the lower Merced Canyon are also a surprise and a delight to many people from out of state. The contrast of deep snow half an hour’s drive from colorful blooms is impressive. They do start in the winter but you’re right that spring has more abundant flowers.
I have always enjoyed reading your blog and genuinely appreciate your points on these items – thank-you!

]]> http://www.nileguide.com/blog/2009/12/24/yosemite-national-park-in-the-winter/comment-page-1/#comment-15140 Loyd Wed, 30 Dec 2009 18:01:30 +0000 http://www.nileguide.com/destination/blog/?p=7858#comment-15140 There are a couple of corrections. Bears in Yosemite Valley, the destination for 95% of the people entering the park, do not hibernate. Wild flowers do not start to emerge in Yosemite until May. Most February's there is still snow on the ground. March-April are prime times for wild flowers at lower elevations like the Merced River canyon, outside Yosemite. There are many outdoor ice rinks in California including San Francisco at Embarcadero Plaza and Long Barn along Highway 108. Might want to do a little fact checking. There are a couple of corrections. Bears in Yosemite Valley, the destination for 95% of the people entering the park, do not hibernate. Wild flowers do not start to emerge in Yosemite until May. Most February’s there is still snow on the ground. March-April are prime times for wild flowers at lower elevations like the Merced River canyon, outside Yosemite. There are many outdoor ice rinks in California including San Francisco at Embarcadero Plaza and Long Barn along Highway 108. Might want to do a little fact checking.

]]>