Railroad Flat and Bridallveil Falls Rainbow 3/12/22

My mom wanted to celebrate her 72nd b-day by going for an adventure to look for wildlfowers while Laura was stuck at home attending a science curriculum PD via Zoom (total bummer!). We knew in advance that the lack of rain since January 1st would have a major impact on the bloom's vibrance. We figured the usual haunts like Railroad Flat along the Merced River and the Merced River Canyon near Briceburg would be our best bet. As expected there were only several hillsides lightly carpeted by poppies and many of the hills were barely hanging on to any greenery. It's been a rough wet-season to be sure. We checked out the newts at Railroad Flat and then headed to Yosemite Valley where a sunny and slightly breezy 68F greeted us. After throwing rocks in the river under the backdrop of Yosemite Falls, we headed home. Upon our exit we were stopped in our tracks at Valley View by an amazing rainbow adorning the plunging spray of Bridalveil Falls. Hope you enjoy the pics!
This was the maximum extent of the wildflower bloom.
Grandma, grandpa and Z head over to the newts in Halls Gulch. Note the sparse poppies in the background.
A type of desert parsley, I think.
Grandpa and Z navigate the polished slate to peek into the worlds of the newts!
It got better.
Z is always happy to explore.
Upper pool in Halls Gulch.
The algae mats had grown thick since early February, but made for pretty patterns.
succulents growing in the vertical foliation of the slates.
It's been a hard day of exploring.
Off to Yosemite. Ribbon Fall (the tallest free fall in Yosemite at 1612'.
Ribbon Fall with El Capitan for scale.
Bridalveil Fall. We'll be back to see it later...
Z is getting much braver at climbing.
Z joked he could totally climb El Capitan.
Moon and Half Dome from a brief traffic jam.
Really lovely day. Odd to be warm w/o any foliage or green.
Rock skipper.
Stopping to admire the view. And to find a better skipping rock.
Breezy.

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