The stunning clarity you get at night from very high altitude is an astronomers dream. Here you can clearly see the constellation Orion rising over Lake Tioga at an altitude of 6,636 feet above sea level. At this altitude, the air is thin and crisp and makes for some stunning night photography. We were assisted by a nearly full moon that elegantly illuminated the peaks and forest of the High Sierra. A walk down to the lake can be breathtaking, literally as the air is much thinner. Lake Tioga lies just outside the Eastern entrance of Yosemite National Park. It's distance from the valley makes it somewhat less traveled and even more of a thrill for tourist who make the extra effort. It's truly one of the gems of the Sierra Nevada Mountain range.