Reflection of Half Dome

This reflection of Half Dome in a puddle on a boulder next to the Merced River in Yosemite Valley was a tricky image to catch. The exposure time was 5 seconds, which had to coincide with a very brief break in the breeze coming down the river valley. Each time the breeze blew, it would cause the puddle to ripple, destroying the reflection. I only had one shot to capture this before the sun set.

Print No. A97-4-3

Half Dome and Avalanche

Taken from Mirror Lake, this is the view up at the sheer face of Half Dome. About every 10 minutes or so, a thunder-like rumbling can be heard sweeping across the valley as the daily freezing and thawing action causes minor rock slides. These slides mix with snow accumulations and cascade down the steep face of Half Dome. One such avalanche can be seen as the white vertical streaks in the upper right portion of the image.

Print No. A01-6-10

More Images of Yosemite in Winter

Half Dome through Delicate Arch

Delicate Arch is a granitic arch on top of Indian Ridge, north of the Yosemite Valley. It probably formed as a result of a concentric-shell crack (referred to as exfoliation) due to the release of overburden pressure. In this case, the shell above the exfoliation joint remained structurally stable while the underlying rock mass collapsed. This is the only granitic arch known in Yosemite National Park. Half Dome is viewed through the arch to the southeast.

Print No. A02-36-6

Half Dome Summit View

This was taken from near the "Diving Board", a famous overhang at the summit, looking eastward into Tenaya Canyon. In the vertical wall, you can see the curved exfoliation joints, which roughly mimic the dome surface.

Print No. A02-15-6

See more images on the trip to Half Dome

Half Dome and Lenticular Clouds

This view is from Glacier Point, a popular vista above the south side of the valley. Half Dome lies to the east of Glacier Point, with Nevada Falls to the right and the Sierra Crest in the background. The saucer-shaped clouds, called lenticular clouds, are typically the result of high winds passing over peaks. Moisture-laden air is lifted over the peaks and condensed into clouds at higher altitudes on the lee side of the peaks.

Print No. A01-37-11

Here is a close-up of the details in these complex clouds.