I took a trip into the high sierras this past weekend, and could not believe how agreeable the weather was. On my approach up Matterhorn Peak I had to stop not because of the uphill battle I waged upon the sub-par climbing conditions, but to cool off. As I stood there in the transition of the seasons, I could not help wishing I had done more backpacking/climbing this past spring and summer, and I longed to be checking Tioga Road conditions for openings, not closures. Also, I did not know how long the current warm conditions would last, but my gut told winter was coming round the corner. Suddenly, I felt a urgency to summit and descend, as to hasten my Season-Finale-Sierra-Traverse over Tioga Pass with enough daylight to assimilate the entire drive to the Valley Floor; and I thought of all the notions which have driven me to climb faster over the years, this was one of the best. It proved to be a mighty motivator, as I made it back with enough time time to shower off, loiter in El Cap Meadow for a bit, and experience the classic Half Dome sunset with a rare juxtaposed near-full moonrise, ascending quarter dome.
It was difficult driving home on Sunday, knowing all I wanted to do was spend every day until the next real storm system rolled through exploring the park. That night as I was uploading my photographs from the the weekend, I stumbled across a shot I took skiing last winter out to Glacier Point. It was the perfect cure for the end of season blues, humbly reminding me that every season in Yosemite should be appreciated to its greatest extent, and never dreaded.
Below is the link to the picture referenced above. I unfortunately know nearly nothing of photography besides pointing and shooting, and would love any constructive criticism.