Tuolumne Meadows is a location I had been planning on visiting since we planned this trip. Unfortunately, the time of year we chose to visit was pre-wildflower season, so I was a little underwhelming when we arrived. We got up super early and hit the road knowing it would take a few hours to get here from our B&B. Honestly, given the windy road, it was probably best that we didn't get there pre-dawn because it would have been a tad scary.
When we arrived it was relatively cold due to the high altitude, but it was crisp and had that nice mountain smell. We thought there would be an open lodge or someplace to get food up there, but shockingly the lodge and food places were "closed for the season" which surprised me since it was the middle of June!
I really needed to tinkle but the only outhouse in sight had a mattress frame wedged between the toilet and the wall rendering it inaccessible - like finding water in the desert locked in a glass safe and no combination! LOL No matter, I opted to go mountain style and ended up tinkling behind a giant rock. While the temptation existed, John decided against taking a picture, for which I am sure you all are (or should) be grateful!
Now relived, we followed a path from the parking lot near the stables through the woods to the meadow and just wandered around exploring...
I love the way these dead trees twist around like a giant brown candy stick!
John standing in a pile of snow still hanging on from winter.
John enjoying a little rest by the river.
John and me taking a self-portrait next to this cool cabin.
This was a cute little marmot that was living under one of the buttresses for the bridge. He ran away when we got to the bridge, but after John walked across, I was putting down my gear for a minute and he popped back up to check me out so I was able to slowly maneuver my camera up and got a great picture of him!!
A killdeer that was seconds earlier pretending to be injured as they do to protect its nest, which I was not able to see. I was surprised to see one this high up.
A pair of what I think are Cassin's finch scoping us out from a tree.
Here is that cool cabin - it appears to be frequented by the occasional traveler because it had a stove and beds and stuff in it and was actually not locked!! No one's belongings were in it so perhaps it is one of those use-it-and-leave-it-as-you-found-it kind of deals?!
This is looking in the southern direction.
This is looking in the eastern direction.
This is looking in the western-ish direction.
Approaching the cabin and near a spring were a troop of three deer grazing on the newly sprouting plants - they seemed minimally bothered by us.
This is looking in the north eastern direction. That is Lembert Dome - we opted not to climb it because we thought we couldn't deal but later regretted not climbing it because we made it up another dome later in the week and realized we probably could have done it....next time, right?!
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