Yosemite Valley in Powder Blue by Darvin

As you walk up to this view El Capitan glowing brightly in the sun and soaring well over three thousand feet above demands your attention. You can’t help but be drawn to the beautiful soft reflections below as the Merced River gently winds back across Yosemite Valley taking your eyes with it into the near perfect reflecting pool before you. In the distance, just above the trees, a beautiful waterfall of lace and ice, aptly named Bridalveil, plummets from remnants of a small river valley left hanging nearly above the valley floor. Small trees and brush alongside the distant bank pull back across towards El Capitan and you have to continue to look and watch. The height of the canyon walls tinted with beautiful gold and brown hues then decorated with a dusting of ice and softly moving clouds. They call this Valley View but it’s unlike any valley I have seen. This is the mighty Yosemite and words cannot do it justice.

© Darvin Atkeson
YosemiteLandscapes.com

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Thanksgiving’s Sunset in Yosemite by Darvin

The sun slipped under the afternoon clouds and just exploded in vibrant red across the top ridge of El Capitan. The trees were still decked out in a winter lace. The entire scene was breath taking and the cold air was invigorating. Good friends had invited me to meet them in the park on Thanksgiving day and I am glad we took them up on it. The trip perfectly coincided with an early winter storm that brought just a bit of relief to the long California drought. Things to be thankful for on this Thanksgiving of 2015.

© Darvin Atkeson
YosemiteLandscapes.com

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Cool Blue – Yosemite National Park by Darvin

Looking as if it were lightly dusted in powdered sugar Yosemite Fall colors turn to sweet Winter hues. The walk down to the river was nippy cold as sunlight hit Washington Column and lit up the scenery below. The snow crunched beneath or boots but our breath was taken away by Mother Nature’s early Christmas present. We stayed as long as we could with long pauses to just enjoy being there in the moment.

© Darvin Atkeson
YosemiteLandscapes.com

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