It was raining at the trailhead, but since I came this far, I was going to see if I could reach the snowline. It was still raining on the Vernal Footbridge, but the rain changed to wet snow farther up John Muir Trail. It was a wet snow winter wonderland on the Mist Trail above Vernal Fall all the way to the top of Nevada Fall. The snow stopped when I reached the top of Nevada Fall.

I ventured past Nevada Fall on the closed John Muir Trail. The snow showers were gone, but fog soon started rolling in. Later, I followed the same winter route back down - the Mist Trail and switching to John Muir Trail above Vernal Fall. Farther down it started raining again, it was pouring at times as I drove from the trailhead toward El Portal.

The snowline lowered just above the valley floor overnight. I stopped at the Gates of the Valley at sunrise, and could not believe the crowd of photographers that gathered there. Having never sstopped at that location and with not enough time to scout out some place else, I succumbed to the convenience and conformity....

After the colors dissipated, I drove up to Tunnel View, and hiked from there to Inspiration Point. As I went higher, there was almost a foot of fresh snow.