I always wanted to see Yosemite Valley in the early Spring. It exceeded my wildest dreams but it was a challenge getting there. We originally booked two weeks prior, but that weekend brought 80 mph winds and 5 feet of snow. Hwy 41 (through Fresno) is the shortest way from Los Angeles but that last 40 miles was by escort only through deep drifts of snow. Knowing that "bad weather is a photographer's best friend", I was still hoping to go until there was a landslide that closed hwy 140 (the route in from Merced). Tioga Pass to the East of course would be closed until the end of June.
Two weeks after the blizzard, with fresh reservations, the government was arguing over the deficit and threatened to shut down the national parks. Aaahh! At the last moment, a deal was struck and we drove up to Merced after work to get an early start on our trip into Yosemite. We had never entered the park by way of Merced before. We now look at this as our preferred route for two reasons. First is, we stayed at a fabulous bed and breakfast called Serenity Gardens http://serenitygardensbandb.com/. The place, the food and most of all our hosts couldn't have been nicer. Then the trip up the Merced river valley gave some of the best images of the trip because the redbud was in bloom.
Yosemite itself was amazing. I particularly liked the frozen mist on the rocks by the waterfalls and the vernal pools in the meadows. The waterfalls were full, the air cool but the sun warm. I ran from place to place in the valley taking photos from first light to last. I hope you enjoy them.