Yosemite Valley is unusually beautiful in winter, when the fresh
snowfalls transform it into a white fairyland and sunset paints the
cliffs and domes with rosy alpine glow.
John Muir, in describing the ice cone of the Yosemite Fall, writes:
The frozen spray (of the fall) gives rise to one of the most
interesting winter features of the Valley—a cone of ice at the foot of
the fall 400 or 500 feet high. * * * When the cone is in the process
of formation, growing higher and wider in frosty weather, it looks
like a beautiful, smooth, pure white hill.
[Illustration: Winter sports enthusiasts enjoy unexcelled mountain
scenery in the high country.]
The All-Year Highway is open and in good condition every day during the
winter months and the Government maintains the roads in safe condition
so that chains are not ordinarily needed. It is, however, advisable to
carry chains in case they are needed during heavy storms. Information on
snow sports and winter road conditions may be obtained at automobile
associations. It is advisable to make reservations for rooms on Saturday
nights and holidays from December 25 to February 25.
The Wawona Road to the Big Trees is open most of the winter except
during periods of unusually heavy snowfall. There are unlimited snow
fields for skiing and other snow sports along the Wawona Road,
accessible through the tunnel.
The Valley, inclosed by granite walls which shut out the winds, has a
mild and balmy winter climate. In fact, these walls really provide two
distinct winter climates on opposite sides of the Valley, the north side
being many degrees warmer than the south. On the northern side one may
motor, ride horseback, and hike in comfort, while on the southern side,
screened from the sun by the towering cliffs, all the popular winter
sports prevail. Under the auspices of the Yosemite Winter Club, ice
hockey matches, curling, fancy costume skating carnivals, snow figure
contests, ski-joring races, skating gymkhanas, figure skating
exhibitions, Eskimo dog races, and other winter sports events are held
throughout the winter season, which usually lasts from December until
March.
Competent instructors on the Yosemite Winter Club staff provide group
and individual instruction in skiing and plain and fancy skating. Winter
sports equipment and clothing may be rented reasonably in the Valley.
The National Park Service maintains a popular free snowslide for the
enjoyment of the public. It is called “Ash Can Alley”, because the trip
down the slide is made in heavy tin pans that resemble ash-can covers.
Skiing enthusiasts may enjoy excursions of several days’ duration in the
high mountain country above Yosemite Valley accompanied by a ski
instructor and guide and stopping overnight at ski lodges strategically
located at an elevation where the snow is deep throughout the winter and
in a region where the ski fields are second to none. Skiing is also
enjoyed on ski fields along Wawona Road and adjacent to Glacier Point on
the rim of the Valley, reached on foot over a 4-mile trail. The Glacier
Point Mountain House is kept open during the winter season.