One of the good things about the Best Western is the breakfast they provide each morning. When we went to breakfast this morning we found all of the tables occupied so another couple kindly offered to share theirs. As we were talking we found that they too were geocachers but were on their way to Zion National Park to hike not geocache. I mentioned that we would be heading to Yosemite when we finished our geocaching. At that point the wife said the forecast for the mountains was for snow and the pass into the park may be closed. So with that news we headed out after breakfast hoping for the best.

We finished the needed caches reasonably early in the day, and started making our way toward California and Yosemite . The drive into California was easy and uneventful. As we crossed into California we noticed that the tops of the mountains to the west were dusted with fresh snow and shrouded in clouds adding more snow. As our altitude rose, we found patches of snow on the ground and snow hitting our windshield. Still hopeful we drove on. Just outside of the road heading across Tioga Pass into the park the sign announced that this road as well as the two immediately north were closed. After stopping at the visitor center we found out that the three roads across the mountains farther north were open, but required chains on all tires. There was no way across the mountains for us that did not require an extended drive. The passes were going be closed for several days. We had to give up on Yosemite.

Now what to do. The only choice was to go south. We headed south driving through the snow for a number of miles. Once the snow stopped along the road, the clouds still hung over the mountain tops dropping snow on the mountains to the west while the sun shone on the mountains to the east.  

On our way south, we took a side trip to the Ancient Bristlecone Pine Forest. Bristlecone Pines can be thousands of years old. They grow in poor soil and harsh conditions growing slowly. They are resistant to disease and pests and because they grow widely spaced with little ground cover around them they do not fall victim to forest fires. In addition they keep the same needles for up to 40 years and can lose most of their bark and still survive. They are found high up White Mountains, but their range is spreading.

 We ended up at the south end of the mountain range hoping to travel to Sequoia and King's Canyon National Parks tomorrow. Snow is still in the forecast for the mountains tomorrow, so we'll see what happens.