Ins & Outs: Yosemite National Park
Yosemite National Park is open year round, but the peak season is May to October. Yosemite Valley, which covers less than 5 percent of the park's territory, sees more than 95 percent of its visitors, so those in the know suggest visiting Tuolumne Meadows instead–a beautiful expanse in the High Sierra that is surrounded by camps staffed with showers and cooks (less for backpackers to carry!). It is about an hour and a half's drive from the valley.
Camera walks are offered all year–Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday, and Sunday from 9 to 11 a.m. in the summer months, and Tuesdays and Saturdays during the months of January to March. Classes are limited to 15, so it is recommended to sign up in advance. The Ansel Adams Gallery sells basic equipment, including a few cameras, digital cards, batteries, and tripods, along with how-to photo books. The gallery also hands out maps retracing Ansel Adams's footsteps. For more experienced photographers, the gallery offers 3-to-5-day photo workshops–a program started by Ansel Adams in the 1940s. More information can be found on the gallery's website www.anseladams.com or by calling (209) 372-4413. -Ilana Ozernoy