Wintry Owens Valley

In the middle of my visit to Death Valley last week, I made a side trip through California’s Owens Valley.  The snow level was much lower than in previous years as California has been hit with numerous storms this winter. Unfortunately, low clouds obscured the highest peaks of the Sierra Nevada Mountains.

 

The snow-covered Sierra Nevada Mountains are the predominate feature at Owens Valley, California

 

The snow-covered Sierra Nevada Mountains are the predominate feature at Owens Valley, California

 

The snow-covered Sierra Nevada Mountains are the predominate feature at Owens Valley, California

 

The snow-covered Sierra Nevada Mountains are the predominate feature at Owens Valley, California

 

The snow-covered Sierra Nevada Mountains are the predominate feature at Owens Valley, California

A Few More Zion Winter Pics

The light from the setting sun shines on Zion Canyon during winter at Zion National Park, Utah

 

The light from the setting sun shines on Zion Canyon during winter at Zion National Park, Utah

 

The light from the setting sun shines on Zion Canyon during winter at Zion National Park, Utah
The light from the setting sun shines on Zion Canyon during winter at Zion National Park, Utah

Southern Utah Winter Scenes

The heavy snow last week turned rural Southern Utah into a winter wonderland.

 

Fresh snow blankets Bryce Canyon National Park, Utah

 

Fresh snow blankets the Southern Utah landscape

 

Fresh snow blankets Bryce Canyon National Park, Utah

 

Fresh snow blankets the Southern Utah landscape

 

A leaveless cottonwood tree during winter in Southern Utah

 

Fresh snow blankets the Southern Utah landscape

Bryce Is Twyce As Nyce In The Winter

With a foot or two of fresh snow, Bryce Canyon National Park was a required venture.  The hoodoos never looked better. The weather forecast called for a high of 20 degrees(F) with a windchill of minus 22, so I quickly took care of business.

 

Fresh snow blankets Bryce Canyon National Park, Utah

 

bryce-winter_8396

 

Fresh snow blankets Bryce Canyon National Park, Utah

 

Fresh snow blankets Bryce Canyon National Park, Utah

 

Fresh snow blankets Bryce Canyon National Park, Utah

 

Bryce Canyon Winter

 

 

Fresh snow blankets Bryce Canyon National Park, Utah

 

Fresh snow blankets Bryce Canyon National Park, Utah

 

bryce-winter_8485Someone wrote in the snow, a love note that I believe is in Japanese. There were a lot of Japanese tourists around.

Bryce Canyon Winter

 

Fresh snow blankets Bryce Canyon National Park, Utah

 

 

Tonight’s Sunset At Zion

zion-sunset-driftwood_8381

 

The light from the setting sun shines on Zion Canyon during winter at Zion National Park, Utah
The light from the setting sun shines on Zion Canyon during winter at Zion National Park, Utah

 

The light from the setting sun shines on Zion Canyon during winter at Zion National Park, Utah

The Hills Are Alive With The Color Of Green

That drought that caused brush fires in California that I highlighted earlier this week, is now a recent memory.  California gets rain in the winter and the hills get green, but this winter , they are green green. These hills are east of Paso Robles, on the way to the San Joaquin Valley.

 

Recent rains have greened up the hills and pastureland in rural California.

 

Recent rains have greened up the hills and pastureland in rural California.

 

Recent rains have greened up the hills and pastureland in rural California.

 

Recent rains have greened up the hills and pastureland in rural California.

 

Recent rains have greened up the hills and pastureland in rural California.

 

Recent rains have greened up the hills and pastureland in rural California.

 

Recent rains have greened up the hills and pastureland in rural California.

 

Recent rains have greened up the hills and pastureland in rural California.

 

Recent rains have produced new growth in the hills and pastureland in rural California.

 

A rainbow appears just after a rainstorm in rural California
Where there are clouds, rain and sunlight, look out for the ephemeral rainbow.

High Elevation Zion

The upper elevations receive more snow than the main canyon at Zion, so naturally, I had to check it out. Looked more like the Sierras in California.

 

Fresh snow blankets Zion National Park as seen fron Kolob Terrace

 

Fresh snow blankets Zion National Park as seen fron Kolob Terrace

 

Fresh snow blankets Zion National Park as seen fron Kolob Terrace

 

Fresh snow blankets Zion National Park as seen fron Kolob Terrace

 

Fresh snow blankets Zion National Park as seen fron Kolob Terrace

 

Fresh snow blankets Zion National Park as seen fron Kolob Terrace

 

Fresh snow blankets Zion National Park as seen fron Kolob Terrace

 

Fresh snow blankets Zion National Park as seen fron Kolob Terrace

More Snowy Zion Scenes

Fresh snow blankets Zion National Park on Christmas morning.
Fresh snow blankets Zion National Park on Christmas morning.

 

Fresh snow blankets Zion National Park on Christmas morning.

 

Fresh snow blankets Zion National Park on Christmas morning.

 

Fresh snow blankets Zion National Park on Christmas morning.

 

Fresh snow blankets Zion National Park on Christmas morning.

 

Fresh snow blankets Zion National Park on Christmas morning.

 

Fresh snow blankets Zion National Park on Christmas morning.

 

 

Fresh snow blankets a bicycle shop just outside Zion National Park on Christmas morning.

 

Fresh snow blankets Zion National Park on Christmas morning.

 

zion-snow-xmas_7941

 

Fresh snow blankets Zion National Park on Christmas morning.

 

A Zion Christmas Morning

Fresh photos of this morning’s snow at Zion National Park, Utah.

Fresh snow blankets Zion National Park on Christmas morning.
Fresh snow blankets Zion National Park on Christmas morning.

 

Fresh snow blankets ion National Park on Christmas morning.

Fresh snow blankets Zion National Park on Christmas morning.

Fresh snow blankets Zion National Park on Christmas morning.

Fresh snow blankets Zion National Park on Christmas morning.

Fresh snow blankets Zion National Park on Christmas morning.

Fresh snow blankets Zion National Park on Christmas morning.

Fresh snow blankets Zion National Park on Christmas morning.

Fresh snow blankets Zion National Park on Christmas morning.

 

Fresh snow blankets Zion National Park on Christmas morning.

 

Fresh snow blankets Zion National Park on Christmas morning.

 

Fresh snow blankets Zion National Park on Christmas morning.

Merry Christmas Everyone

A red fox appears from behind the trees to search for its next meal.
Red Fox during winter at Yellowstone National Park.