This set of pictures is another example of the how light, the direction of the light, and, in this case, season, affects our visual experience. These pictures were taken between 1:13 p.m. and 4:25 p.m. and are displayed in time sequence.

The pictures start with the view of the mountain from the main staircase at the Jackson visitor center, then to Myrtle Falls, and then a self created path toward Alta Vista and Deadhorse Creek. The last picture was taken back at the visitor center at or after sunset.  It was ire walking on land that is usually off limits and not on a "real" and labeled path. We just followed the footprints of those who preceded us and went in the direction of Deadhorse Creek and Alta Vista , places we have hiked many times during the summer!

I included two pictures of Myrtle Falls that I took this past August for comparison of winter and summer of the same location, albeit I was on a 15ft.+snow hill instead of being at ground level.  The summer picture follows the winter picture. 

Notice how quickly the clouds change, move in, and then disappear.  And notice that as the day progressed the latter pictures go from a blue sky (I was facing the mountain) to a sunset sky (I turned around and faced westward). Similar time but totally different look to the sky based on which direction I faced.

There is 5-6 feet of snow on the ground for the most part. Some places definitely had much more.  The Forest Ranger said that by late January or February there will be up to 15-20 feet of snow.  When does the snow melt?  Well, we have been to Paradise on July 4th to find 15+ feet of snow and other years there is very little snow.