In December 2018 Richard Mirabella organized a multi-day photography and culinary field trip to Yosemite. Details below.
Description
The Winter in Yosemite Valley Trip is now officially announced. The dates are Jan 24 to Jan 28. I don't expect participants to universally participate for all five days, the information below should help you decide which nights to be in Yosemite Valley.
I strongly recommend you make hotel reservations as soon as possible, even if you are undecided. Note that there is no penalty for canceling your reservations if you cancel 7 days or more before your scheduled arrival day. The recommended hotels are The Yosemite Valley Lodge and the Majestic Yosemite Hotel (formerly known as the Awanhee ) Half Dome Village (formerly Curry Village) is open only on Friday and Saturday nights and the cost of Half Dome Village is about the same as the Yosemite Valley Lodge Read below before booking so your booking best fits what you want.
This trip is designed to have two parts.
The first part is "A Taste of Yosemite", a culinary event at the Majestic Yosemite Hotel to enjoy as a culinary event, as well as food and cooking photography inside a masterpiece of architecture - The Majestic Yosemite Hotel (details and links below). This event may make this trip more attractive to spouses or significant others. This part takes starts on Wed, Jan 24 at 2pm and ends with a Gala dinner on Thurs, Jan 25.
The second part is outdoor photography in Yosemite Valley including daytime, sunrise, sunset, moonrise and night landscapes using moonlight. As Sunrise is at about 7am (effectively later because we will be in a valley) and Sunset at 5:30pm ( effectively earlier because we will be in a valley), getting up "early" for sunrise will not be that challenging. This part takes place between Thurs, Jan 25 and Sun, Jan 28.
Highlights of this Trip
- Yosemite Valley with snow, ice and fewer visitors than usual and lower hotel costs.
- Phase of Moon goes from 1/2 to 3/4 full
- Instruction and discussion about landscape photography using just moonlight
- Sunrise, Sunset and Moonrise Photography
- Taste of Yosemite Culinary Event at the Majestic Yosemite Dinning Room There will also be a group dinner at the Mountain Room at the Yosemite Valley Lodge for those in Yosemite on Thursday night who have not choosen the Taste of Yosemite Cullinary Event.
- I am working to get a special event at the Ansel Adams Gallery.
- Optional Sunday Brunch - at the Majestic Yosemite Dinning Room
- Bringing spouses and significant others is encouraged
- Go for 4, 3, 2 or 1 nights
- Carpools will be organized
Schedule Summary
Note that in the schedule below there are multiple references to sunrise, sunset, moonrise and moonlight photography. There are many exceptional landscape locations in Yosemite Valley, however when shooting sunrise, sunset, and moonrises it is only possible to shoot at one location at each event due to time. So the repetition in the schedule is the opportunity to photography multiple locations at peak lighting times. Regular daylight times can be used to scout for the prime locations during golden hours.
Wed, Jan 24
- This is my departure day as the Taste of Yosemite events starts this day, I expect to leave Palo Alto at about 6am to avoid Bay Area traffic.. Once others have indicated on the sign-up sheet that they will depart Palo Alto on this day, we will discuss other things that we may do. This day is mainly for those choosing the Taste of Yosemite program.
- Food and cooking photography in the afternoon 3:00pm to 5pm
- Discuss best photography locations at Ansel Adams Gallery and visitor centers when I first get to Yosemite Valley
- Sunset Photography
- Moonlight Landscape Photography
- Group Dinner
Thurs, Jan 25
For Those who arrived on Wed
- Sunrise and morning photography
- Taste of Yosemite Photography & Dinner from 12:30pm to 8pm
- Moonlight landscape photography near the Majestic Yosemite Hotel
For Those who arrive on Thurs
- Best to depart Palo Alto before 6:30am to avoid Bay Area commute traffic for those arriving this day.
- Meetup at Ansel Adams Gallery to discuss prime locations for photography.
- Photos by moonlight
- Group Dinner at Yosemite Valley
- Photos by moonlight
Fri, Jan 26
- Sunrise photography
- Best to depart Palo Alto before 6:30am to avoid Bay Area commute traffic for those arriving this day.
- Group Breakfast at Yosemite Valley Lodge, discuss locations to scout for sunrise, sunset and photograph in daylight hours.
- Instruction and discussions about shooting by moonlight.
- Group Dinner at Yosemite Valley Lodge Mountain Room.
Saturday, Jan 27
- Sunrise photography
- Group Breakfast at Yosemite Valley Lodge, discuss locations to photograph from
- Ansel Adams Gallery Event (being developed)
- Instruction and discussions about shooting by moonlight.
- Group Dinner at Yosemite Valley Lodge Mountain Room.
Sunday, Jan 28
- Sunrise andmorning photography
- Optional Sunday Brunch at Yosemite Majestic Dinning Room
- 1:00pm or earlier Depart for Bay Area to avoid driving at night on poorly lit roads.
Taste of Yosemite Culinary Event at the Majestic Yosemite Dining Room
This section is long not because this is the dominant part of the trip, but to give a useful description of this option.
From the Majestic Yosemite Hotel website: Each winter, America's most renowned chefs come together at The Majestic Yosemite Hotel to share their cuisine at an exceptional event -- Taste of Yosemite. Capturing the flavors of traditional American favorites infused with each chef's unique twist -- from modern cosmopolitan flair, to bold Asian flavors to delightful French influences -- each dish complements the next.
During the event, you'll enjoy cooking demonstrations, a reception where you'll mix and mingle with the chefs and a fabulous 5-course dinner prepared by a visiting chef.
This can provide excellent photography opportinuties as well - but keep the photography light so as not to interfere with the event, and no tripods.
The Chefs with links to info about the chefs are here:
Taste of Yosemite Schedule
Moderator ~ Janice Wald Henderson – Food Writer
Wednesday, January 24
3pm Culinary Demonstration - Peter Chastain ~ Prima, Walnut Creek, CA
Thursday, January 25
12:30pm Culinary Demonstration - Elizabeth Falkner ~ Falk Yeah! Productions, Brooklyn, NY
3:00pm Culinary Demonstration - Jason Paluska ~ Lark, Santa Barbara, CA
6:30 pm Gala Dinner ~ The Majestic Dining Room
Note: There is a dinner only option as well
Cost Estimates of the Trip
There is a vary wide cost range for the trip. Here is some preliminary scenarios to help you decide.
The following data does not include the cost of driving to Yosemite Valley. All estimates are done as per person and double occupancy in the hotel. I don't know if the hotel rates include sales tax or other taxes, so none have been added.
A likely popular option for this trip may be the 2 night Low Cost option at the Valley Lodge no Culinary Event, no Sunday Brunch
Assumes Arrive on Friday, depart on Sunday - 3 days and 2 nights. $50/day food and incidental allowance: Stay at Yosemite Valley Lodge sharing a room.
|
Valley Lodge
|
$420
|
|
1/2 of above
|
$210
|
|
Food & misc
|
$150
|
|
|
|
Net per person with Double Occupancy
|
$360
|
|
|
A likely popular option for this trip may be the Low Cost option at the Valley Lodge no Culinary Event, no Sunday Brunch
Assumes Arrive on Thursday, depart on Sunday - 4 days and 3 nights. No Culinary Event. No Sunday brunch. $50/day food and incidental allowance: Stay at Yosemite Valley Lodge sharing a room.
|
Valley Lodge
|
$630
|
|
1/2 of above
|
$315
|
|
Food & misc
|
$200
|
|
|
|
Net per person with Double Occupancy
|
$514
|
|
|
Mid Cost option at the Majestic Yosemite no Culinary Event, no Sunday Brunch
Assumes Arrive on Thursday, depart on Sunday - 4 days and 3 nights. No Culinary Event. No Sunday brunch. Standard Room, $50/day food and incidental allowance: Stay at Yosemite Valley Lodge sharing a room.
|
Majestic Yosemite Hotel
|
$1108
|
|
1/2 of above
|
$554
|
|
Food & misc
|
$200
|
|
|
|
Net per person with Double Occupancy
|
$754
|
|
|
Mid-Cost option at the Valley Lodge with Taste of Yosemite Culinary event and Sunday Brunch
Assumes Arrive on Wed, depart on Sunday - 5 days and 4 nights.. Includes Culinary event, Sunday brunch. $50/day food and incidentals. Stay at the Yosemite Valley Lodge, sharing the room.
|
Yosemite Valley Lodge with Taste Package 2 nights
|
$713
|
|
Yosemite Valley Lodge 2 nights with Sunday Brunch Package
|
$457
|
|
1/2 of above
|
$585
|
|
Food and Misc
|
$250
|
|
Net per person
|
$835
|
|
|
High Cost Option at the Majestic Yosemite
Assumes Arrive on Wed, depart on Sunday - 5 days and 4 nights.. Does Cullinary event, Sunday brunch. $50/day food and incidentals. Stay at the Majestic Yosemite, sharing the room.
|
Majestic Hotel Taste Package 2 nights
|
$978
|
|
Majestic Hotel2 nights
|
$652
|
|
1/2 of above
|
$815
|
|
Food & misc
|
$250
|
|
|
|
Net per person
|
$1065
|
|
|
Booking Your Reservations
Booking hotel and Taste of Yosemite packages saves about $50/person, but you can only book Jan 24 to 26. You can then make a second booking for Jan 26 to 28 if you are staying for 4 nights, or Jan26 to 27 if you want 3 nights. Make a note in your second reservation to the first.
If you want to book Sunday brunch in a package, you can see some rooms come with this addition.
Link to book Hotel and Taste of Yosemite go here be sure to use the links to Session IV Jan 24 to Jan 26
Link to book Yosemite Valley Lodge or Majestic Yosemite Hotel