Tenaya Lake from Tenaya Peak, 12/24/11 (photo by Beth Pratt)

Tenaya Lake taken from Tenaya Peak, summer (photo by Beth Pratt)

Last week I walked and glided in sneakers across the frozen Tenaya Lake, delighted to be up on Tioga Road after the National Park Service reopened it--a rare experience in winter. The weather has remained fair, and indeed we seem likely to break the all-time record for the latest closing of Tioga Pass in the road's history--January 1.

Today, I watched the skaters having fun on the lake--but from 2,000 feet above them! I decided that since I walked across Tenaya Lake last week, I would walk above it for my Christmas Eve hike. What an amazing day! Although the lack of snow and almost balmy temperatures made for perfect fall hiking (in December) I was a little alarmed at the lack of snow as I hiked mostly on bare granite. Despite fears of an impending drought, I had a marvelous day in Yosemite and the perfect early Christmas present-the chance to explore the winter world of the high country near Tuolumne.

Here's a video I took from the top of Tenaya Peak. You can see people skating far below and I included a 360 view.