The Gleason's: April 2011

We headed to Yosemite on Friday afternoon....and it got off to a great start. We had hail at home before we left and it snowed on us just outside of Paso if you can believe it! That set the tone for the whole trip....we knew there would be a storm coming through so we packed our chains and headed out to the mountains. We put the chains on just outside the Yosemite entrance and got to drive down to the valley floor with little snow flakes drifting down. Needless to say it took us 6 hours to get there...and normally 4 hour trip. But we got into our heated tent cabin and Brian went out to chew off some salami and cheese for a late dinner. Why bring up Brian's late meal, you ask? Once again we attracted a bear....I was getting Bix to sleep in the tent when I hear "GO AWAY BEAR!" Fortunately the bear did go away...although Brian did have to put the salami away.

Bix trying out all the boots...these are mommies of course

Hail...lots of it

Brian putting on the chains

The snowy road

Bix in his "smoking jacket" to keep warm in the tent

We woke up Saturday morning to the valley floor covered in snow thanks to the storms the night before. Bix did some roaming around outside the tent cabin while we got ready for the day...and ended up face down in an icy puddle...but he didn't mind. And he had his borrowed snow bib on so he stayed mostly dry. We headed to the coffee shop to toast our bagels and have a tea/coffee and went for a walk through the meadow. Bix had a great time figuring out what that snow stuff was all about. And although it sounds like "no" he definitely added "snow" to his vocabulary.

Curry Village covered in snow

Breakfast at the coffee corner

Playing in the snow

Look at all the snow on the peaks, Bix!

Hitting snow off the branches

Such a cutie

Look at all the snow!

Of course nap was difficult as there was so much new exciting stuff to look at so we said forget it and headed out to see the sights on the shuttle. Bix fell asleep almost immediately and so we got off at the Ahwahnee and had unch while Bix napped...still napping when we were done, we headed to the great room to relax and read. The sky darkened and by the time Bix woke up the sun was gone. But no bother, we got back on the shuttle and headed to Yosemite falls. Since we usually go in September, we had not seen the falls in full force. In fact, we usually swim at the swimming hole at the base of the falls...so definitely no water pounding down when we have been the last few years. Bix loved watching the people, the waterfall, and trying to catch a snowflake on his tongue.

Lunch at the Ahwahnee...a burger if you must know with extra fries that Bix gobbled up once he woke

Catching snow on his tongue

Bix and dad

Bix and mom

Bix and dad reading before bed time...."baby Yosemite" of course!

Sunday morning most of the snow on the valley floor had melted...so we were lucky to have come in with the storm and had a spectacular snow covered day on Saturday. After breakfast we packed up and head out of the park, making a few stops along the way to let Bix play in the snow and take a few pictures of the snow covered peaks.