The lack of snow is becoming alarming while at the same time it is paving the way for some historic moments. Last year was epic in the amount of snow we had over the holidays, and this year is epic in the availability of ice. We are focused on the ice and making the most of it while doing our best NOT to focus on the lack of snow.
Christmas Day we headed to Yosemite. Tioga Pass is open, we've heard that the skating at some of the lakes up there was not to be missed and so we set our sights on Tenaya Lake. We packed a lunch and got on the road as early as we could (which wasn't really that early - cause after all it was Christmas!) and set off.
What a perfect day. No wind, brilliant blue skies, and ice like glass. As we drove into the park we saw people taking advantage of the availability of Tuolumne in all sorts of ways - climbers on the domes, photographers setting up to capture the icy beauty of the river, hikers braving the persistent patches of snow, and ice skaters on ponds, the river, and Tenaya Lake.
We skated the entire lake. There is some open water in the middle that we steered clear of, but the rest of the lake was 4-6 inches of solid ice that was so crystal clear in places that you could see the bottom of the lake you were skating over. That was a little disconcerting - I felt like the puppy on the glass.
This was a Christmas to remember. We didn't do many gifts this year and the ones we gave each other were practical, but this was a gift for the two of us that we will look back on and treasure for years. Everywhere we skated people we greeting each other and wishing one another Merry Christmas. Over and over we heard people noting what an amazing day this was and what a unique experience to be a part of. No one was taking it for granted.
We asked a park ranger when the last time the pass had been open this late into the year and he told us 1999. I'm not sure if there was ice skating then - I was finishing school in Reno that year. The flip side of all this magic is the growing worry about drought - which we keep pushing off thinking about until tomorrow.
JC had our skates sharpened and my Christmas gift was a pair of boot gloves - neoprene covers that help keep your feet warm in standard-issue figure skates. I love 'em. They really worked and they make me feel so professional.
The ice is so beautiful in itself - the cracks, the bubbles, the difference in clarity. I have way too many photos of ice. Maybe I can use them as backgrounds in Photoshop or something... but I can't seem to stop taking shots of the ice.
We packed some hot soup and some cold beer for this expedition and Rogue Chocolate Stout was definitely the right beer for the day. My chair is now permanently wearing the last little bit of my chocolate stout as I overturned my glass when I returned to my seat after our last lap. I was more upset over spilling the last of the beer than the stained chair - but it'll spark a memory each time I use the chair.
The dogs went with us although they had to spend most of the time on their leashes in the bed of the truck... the ranger had us move them off the beach. They were happy with their beds and Christmas bones.
Glorious day. Wonderful Christmas.
If the weather and the ice holds we'll be back next weekend to bring in the New Year in similar fashion.
Can't waste a moment of this sweet life.
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