Stop #1: Don Pedro Reservoir in the foothills. The fog was just lifting at the Vista Point at the east end.

Stop #2: Merced Grove. Can I hike all the way back to big trees?

Nope. I postholed too much in the snow. I only got only a few minutes beyond this picturesque loo before I turned around.

Stop #3 is the Tuolumne Grove trailhead. Maybe I can get to the big trees here.

This trail more compacted and more walkable. The ski treds had lots of hikers (like me) going through.

The first Big Tree.

The Tuolumne Grove Tunnel Tree in the snow.

A little bridge.

Out. This was the inaugural trip for the new Subaru Outback.

Stop #4: The Half Dome overlook on the Big Oak Flat Road.

Stop #5: A little farther down, the Bridalveil Falls Overlook. This view provides a very good sense of the Bridalveil Creek valley behind. Sentinel Dome left.

Stop #6. Down in the Valley now, with about 6" snow and the classic view of Yosemite Falls.

After lunch at the lodge, Stop #7: Cook's Meadow and Yosemite Falls.

Just a bit west: Yosemite Creek and the lower falls.

The base of the lower falls was a pose-for-the-picture spot, with very icy footing.

Simple, but cute.

The old, straight trail back to the falls.

Northside road bridge over Yosemite Creek.

Stop #8: The Sentinel Bridge side of Cook's Meadow. Sentinel Rock above.

Residence 1. At one time, this was the park supervisor's residence. (It may have been vacated earlier, but building saw major damage in the 1997 flood.)

Merced River from Sentinel Bridge

The last stops were on the way out 140. Bridalveil Falls ...

... and a last look at the Merced.