Return to the Tufas {Mono Lake}

From the northeast side of Yosemite, you're just a short ride down the mountains to the unique limestone tufas of Mono Lake. Plus good food can be found at the Whoa Nelly Deli gas station/cafe between the two. However the price of fuel there was INSANE! This was the highest we'd heard of at the time (end of May 2022). 

Brewer's Blackbirds were all over the parking lot.

Our kids were only four years old on our last visit. They don't really remember it, so I'm glad we returned.

I counted at least 65 Eared Grebes out on the water! We also spotted California gulls and a Lazuli Bunting! Journey has wanted to see one for awhile, and fortunately I had the scope out and was able to focus for her to see this wonderful life bird! Asher actually digiscoped this photo with my cell! Not bad!

Heading back towards Yosemite, we found a few places to stop, admire and fish, oh and play in the snow. (See the previous post to see the snow and fishing photos.)

A brief stop at Tioga Lake to take in the sights. Our friends, CP & DB, told us about this place years ago. So nice to finally see it!

Summer Sledding {Tuolumne Meadows}

 When we began this trip, the kids asked if we would see snow. We replied, "Sorry kids, not this time." Well, we were wrong! The north side of Yellowstone National Park still had quite a bit of snow at the end of May! (We've now seen snow in four states so far this trip. Yah, I'm behind on blogging.) They were ecstatic and could not wait to go play in it. We found an area with a good bit of snow and our friend broke out the sleds, a rope and pulled them around!

Later we found another great patch of snow, right alongside Lake Ellery, I believe.

I caught Asher sliding down the hill backwards here, haha!

Olmstead Point provided a beautiful, though distant view of Half Dome. 

From here I spotted a Clark's Nutcracker (lifer)!

Another day we hiked along Tuolumne Meadows where we saw Yellow-bellied Marmots and lots of deer.

Asher photographing the marmot.

At nearly 10,000ft, Tioga Pass is impassable for most of the year. It's closed from November thru the end of May, and just opened during our stay. This allowed us to drive all the way thru the park and out the east exit to show our friends Mono Lake (see next post), stopping to admire the views and let Asher fish beautiful lakes in between.

Asher was excited to catch his VERY FIRST ever trout, a Rainbow Trout!

Next Post - Mono Lake