Martyb trip report - Yosemite

“Headed up to Yosemite for some XC skiing over the weekend. Photos here.

Friday, we skied at Crane Flat. Saw a few people at the parking area, but NOBODY when we were out skiing. Warm weather (50's), so snow was alternately icy and mushy. First time for my new boots - they were awesome! Pamela wore my new Marmot Precip as a windbreaker on the way back down the hill.

Saturday was an attempt to reach Dewey Point, about a 4-mile one-way trip from the Badger Pass parking lot. The snow was the craps, so it was slow going. We eventually stopped about a mile short, right where a sign indicates that there's a mile to go, and that it's black diamond skiing. No problem, we had a great picnic in a meadow with views of the not-so-distant snow covered peaks and ridges to the east.

We booked on the way back, as the snow had softened up a bit - less treacherous. Took another break at Summit Meadow before heading up toward Old Badger Pass, then the swoop down to the lodge to finish.

One of the purposes of the route was to check out potential winter camping spots for March or so. There were lots of great places we (Cameron and I) could envision camping.

All in all, a great trip, although they will really really need NEJE more snow soon if the temps stay that warm.”

“Marty, nice pix. I want to go to Yosemite so bad. Maybe I will try and incorporate it into our family Arizona trip later in the year. I do intend to get into Cali this time. I have never been there. One thing though, what was it about lunch that traumatized Cameron in picture # 17? lol”

“Looks like Gooood Times, Martyb !!”

“Yep, I'd have to say, fun was had by all.”

“treebeard, actually, that's a hunk of candy he has sticking out of his mouth! I think he's about to cry from the joy of eating all that chocolate....

Let me know if you want some tips on Yosemite - when might you make it out?”

“I will talk to you about it, Marty. You can bet on that. Right now, Maple and I are trying to work out the time of year we can make this trip. So much to consider. Kid's school schedule. Our work schedule. Avoiding the hottest time of year in Phoenix, etc. I will definitely be picking your brain soon, because I want to make California part of this trip. Who knows, maybe we can even meet up. That would be primo!”

“Marty beautiful pictures! The sky was so blue, cool pic of half dome! How old is Cameron? Glad there was a pic of you in there.

I will be doing a hike starting at Tuolomne Meadows thru Donohue Pass the week before Sierrapaloosa. Those pics just made it harder to wait. THANKS ALOT!”

“Sounds like a fun trip, seems Cameron is a pretty hardy skier (as well as you and Pamela of course)

Been quite awhile since I've been to the valley, you photos and the ones from your camping trip make me want to return.

Great photos from Desolation too.”

“Cool shots! I may have to skiing one of these days.

Was the snow pretty packed on the Glacier Point road out of Badger Pass? Me, Tekapo & Wind Walker are heading up there this Friday to snowshoe to Glacier Point and then to Taft Point. 8)”

“treebeard - sounds good, just let me know when you start planning....

tango - thanks, it was tough to NOT get good pictures over the weekend. Cameron is 7½....

mtnsteve - yeah, Cameron has been skiing since age 3, so he does pretty well. He has a good sense of how fast he can go without losing control. We'd probably all be better skiers if we could get up to do it more than 3-4 times a year....

H. Mike - thought about you as we passed through Atwater on the way home! Yes, the snow was very packed on the road, and even elsewhere. I would say that you probably wouldn't even need snowshoes on the road - regular boots would do. Lots of bare spots where the sun was coming through, away from the road. The temp was only about 35 degrees when we got to Badger Pass at 9 AM, so it's melting fast. The operators of the area now have the bright idea that everybody should park as close to the lodge as possible, even if you are headed to the Glacier Point Road trailhead at the far end of the parking lots (a good quarter mile away). The parking dude wouldn't listen to reason. However, they were letting people with overnight permits pass through and park closer to the trailhead, so you shouldn't have a problem.”

“Nice pics Marty! Looks like a klister day. I like the one of Cameron speeding downhill! I haven't been XC skiing yet this year- disgusting! I got a little downhill in but you've got me motivated to get out there. Everything's turning into slush at the moment, tho. Lots of snow, but 44 degrees. Good to hear the boots didn't turn your feet into hamburger the first time out.”

“Yeah, that pic of Cameron shows his stiff-legged, butt-sticking-out form that we were trying to get him away from (lots of falls onto that same butt). He did better as each day went on. My new boots were really great. The only problem I had was from the duct tape I put on my heels to prevent blisters - it sort of pinched the skin on the inside part of my heel and caused a small blister.

I'm going on an overnighter near Mt. Rose (NV) in a few weeks, then back to Yosemite after that at least once (all 3 of us) before I take Cameron on his first winter camping expedition.”

“Are you saying an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of blisters?”