January 22, 2026 - Snowshoe Rabbit Meadow

 

Title: January 22, 2026 - Snowshoe Rabbit Meadow
Hike Info : Description : Extra Photo's 

Hike Info:

Type: Snowshoeing 

Trail head: Big Meadow Winter Parking Lot

Trail:  Big Meadow Road (14S11), Rabbit Meadow Trail (13S11B, 14S11E)

Destination:  Loop

Distance:  2.37 miles 

Start Time: 11:52

End Time:     2:40

Travel Time:  2:47 (0.85 mph)

Moving Time: 1:40   (1.30 mph)

Elevation Rise:  323'

Descent: 335‘

Maximum Elevation: 7,788'

Minimum Elevation: 7,636'

GPS Tracks

Description:

Thin Snow and Bare Spot

The only thing which I am pretty sure about when I got up this morning is that we are planning on going up to the snow. Where and when is an open question as we have not determined that. We have talked about going to Badger Pass. But more than likely we will not be going there as it needs a full day's worth of time. We need to get up and leave pretty close to 8-maybe later on as the days get longer it will be easier to do.

Korra, the snow dog

 

 

 

 

 

 

Also a contributing factor is the fog. It seems like almost each day in January the fog has been pretty thick until about 10. And it turns out that 10 is the magic time as everybody is ready then. We left the house at 10. Even then there is some fog. Visibility is OK until we get out of Fresno when there are some places it becomes a little dense. But not bad. We made it to Big Stump without knowing where we wanted to go. Steven and Sherri left it to me on where to go. I thought going up to Rabbit Meadow along the Big Meadow Road would be good.

 

Sherri

 One bit of concern is that there is hardly any snow at Big Stump. It is not until we get to the Kings Canyon Overlook does the ground look promising. Even here there is not a complete covering of ground with snow, but it gets better. When we get to the Big Meadow Snow Parking Lot, at least there is mostly snow cover except for around the trees. We get there at 11:35 and get our equipment together.

By 11:55 we start on our way.Sherri and I with snowshoes on; Steven on his skis while Korra can only use her paws-she seems to thrive with them in the snow. The road is the same as what we did two weeks ago. But there is noticeably less snow than then, but more snow than the Pan Pt Road last week.Still there are several bare spots under trees.

When we hit the junction with the Rabbit Meadow Trail, we leave the road. Steven has gone ahead of us. At least we are seeing his ski tracks and Kotta’s paw prints leading the way. This route to Rabbit Meadow is not a stranger to us. There is flagging leading the way as well as the tracks. It is enjoyable being away from the snowmobile tracks. Being courteous snowshoers, we try to keep off of the ski tracks, at least as much as possible. There are places where we come across fallen trees and need to go around the fallen logs. There are also places where the route goes between rocks and we walk on the tracks.

Gary&Sherri crossing the creek

Generally it is a pretty mild route and we are enjoying ourselves. We are close to the far end of the loop when we see Koraa bounding through the woods. Either Korra is playing Lassie and we need to rescue Timmie or Steven is close by. Looking at Korra’s route, we think Steven is just on the other side. So we cut across the mostly snow covered meadow. There is a little bit of runoff cutting down the center of the meadow. I find a place which is snow covered and cross there. I hear a bit of a woof--the snow collapsing under me. Fortunately I sink only a few inches so nothing bad. Still I have Sherri go around that area.

It is closing in on 1 and we have not had lunch. About ten minutes later we spot some logs which look dry. At 1:05 we stop and have our lunch. It would be nice just to spend a few more minutes there, but with the sky being overcast and the temperature in the mid-40’s, I need a bit of movement to keep warm. So we take off after about 15 minutes.

 

Big Meadows Road with Sherri, Gary and Korra

One thing about being in the snow is that little creeks which you would step across hiking becomes a bit more of an adventure crossing when the ground is level and you only have boots on your feet. But when that little creek cuts through snow banks, there may be a steep V of 2-3’ to descend and climb up without splashing. Steven does it on ski’s. I try to finesse this, but not very gracefully. I do not end up in the drink. Sherri does it better than I did and climbs right up the bank.

Steven continues to follow the route of the Rabbit Meadow loop. But there is some nice unbroken snow which I decide to walk over. That is always fun for me.Sometimes it leads me into trouble. But not today. Just pure, easy pleasure. I notice that Steven has come to another little creek. He crosses and goes over a mound. I noticed that 100’ sooner, there is a nice flat place to cross that creek and I navigate around the logs which make up the mound Steven went over.

On the other side of the logs we meet up the trail, heading back over to the Big Meadows Road. Then it is time to head back. We get to the car at 2:40. We take a few minutes to put everything away. By the time we leave, it is 3pm. Now the question, where and what do we want to eat? We decided to head all the way home and pick up dinner at the Doghouse Grill.Sounds like a good way to end the day.

Extra Photo's

Foggy Valley

Redwood Mountain two weeks apart

Sherri's selfie

Gary

Rabbit Meadow

Gary, Sherri and Steven

Steven and Korra

Gary, Korra and Steven

Valley Fog

January 9, 2026 - Big Meadows Snowshoeing

 

Title: January 9, 2026 - Big Meadows Snowshoeing
Hike Info : Description : Extra Photo's 

Hike Info:

Type: Snowshowing 

Trail head: Big Meadows Snow Parking Lot

Trail: Big Meadow Road-14S11

Destination:  Big Meadow

Actual Destination:  Overlook area 

Distance:  2.41 miles

Start Time: 1:09

End Time:   3:20

Travel Time:  2:11 (1.10 mph)

Moving Time:  1.34  (1.54 mph)

Elevation Rise:  321'

Descent: 300‘

Maximum Elevation: 7,808'

Minimum Elevation: 7,628’

GPS Tracks

Description:

Snowshoe repair

Clint Eastman said it best, “We have a failure to communicate.” Sherri and I have invited both Steven and Rachel to go up to the snow. In our discussion, it was decided to leave someplace between 9:30 and 10. Rachel texted Sherri and I about 8:40 and said that she was not going to be able to go up. It was a little after 10 when I noticed Rachel’s text. About 20 minutes later I find Sherri and ask her if she is ready. She thinks we are leaving between 10:30 and 11. Steven has not seen the text. So the bottom line is that it is 11 before we leave Fresno.

 

 

Trees and snow

We had an uneventful ride up to Big Meadows, maybe except for a discussion on communicating better. We arrived at 12:40. Upon arrival, we had lunch, then took off about 1:00. There were a couple snowmobilers just starting out. Steven takes off on his skis with Korra tagging along with him. Sherri has some issues with her snowshoes and spends a few minutes initiating repairs. Just as we are about to start moving, a couple who originated from Germany comes up with their dog. They were walking and admired that we had the foresight to be on snowshoes. They also did not like sharing the road with snowmobilers. I for the most part have made my peace that as long as they leave us alone, do not chop up our path, then they can have their fun. I still try to go to places they are not at.

 

 

 

 

We start up the road. Not much to comment on as this is just one of many times we have been up this road. But I do spot one nice view looking towards Redwood Mountain. I am stopping often to regain oxygen into the system; Sherri zooms on ahead. When we get to the junction with the Rabbit Meadow loop, we discuss if Steven has taken the loop or gone on to Big Meadow. To me the ski tracks look old. We will go on towards Big Meadow.

Icicles

Sherri and I have a continued discussion about the conversation on the way up. We get things a bit more straightened out. And then it is onward up the road.

I have set a 2:30 turn around time. We get to an overlook where we can look south about 2:15. The view is awesome. With Shell Mountain to the east, Mt Silliman behind it and then some of the snow covered mountains way to the south. I stay out at the point for a while, soaking it all in.

Sherri on the road 

Now it is time to go back to the car. The return trip is much faster than us going out. We kept looking back to see when Korra and Steven would be passing us. Instead we talked to one skier who was going in to get his evening exercise. We warned him that there were a couple snowmobilers coming. Sure enough, a couple minutes later, they came roaring by.

By 3:30, we were at the car. Steven and Korra were waiting there patiently. How did they get ahead of us? You remember those tracks leading around Rabbit Meadow? They were Steven’s. I guess I need to do better in my track reading.

By 3:45, we were ready to leave. Steven and Sherri had already decided on going to Bear Mountain Pizza for dinner. We ordered pizza when we got to Big Stump. It was ready for us when we arrived at 4:25. Then we head down the hill, stopping at the Clovis Costco for gas. Sherri and Steven went in to pick up some stuff for a potluck Monday night. Then we are home at 6:30, in time to watch Jeopardy.

Extra Photo's

Snow doughnut

Looking toward Big Baldy

Sherri on the road again

March 12, 2024 - Big Meadows Snowshoe

 

Title: March 12, 2024 - Big Meadows Snowshoe

Hike Info : Description : Extra Photo's 

Hike Info:

Type: Snowshoeing

Trail head: Big Meadows Winter Trailhead

Trail: Big Meadows Road

Destination: Big Meadows

Distance:  4.90 miles ¹

Start Time: 12:33

End Time:    4:12

Travel Time: 3:38  (1.35 mph)

Moving Time:  2:39  (1.85 mph)

Elevation Rise:  586'

Descent: 545‘

Maximum Elevation: 7,827'

GPS Tracks

 ¹There seems to be some discrepancies between this figure and some signposts. A sign says 2¼ miles to Highway 180 from Big Meadows and the trailhead is about a quarter mile from the highway. So we should have gone a total of 4 miles. Also Steven’s Strava is less than five miles and he went all the way to the main Big Meadows Trailhead for Weaver Lake.

Description:

The Mist of being in a cloud

Depending on the weather, today may be the last day we will be able to go up and play in the snow. The reason? First, Sherri and I are going to visit Andrea for a two week trip. Next, the promised snow in the mountains has been less than exciting. As a clue, today the snow was maybe 2-3’ deep at 7,000’. With daily temps being in to 40-55 degrees, that snow will not last long.

I slept in a bit until 7:30, of course last weekend I lost an hour, so this is really 6:30. Sherri has a doctor’s appointment, so we will leave after she gets back. She gets back home around 10, we load the car and leave around 10:45. Even though the drive is uneventful, I am eyeballing the continuous layer of gray clouds stretching in front of us. We travel through a layer of clouds and end up at the entrance station by Grant Grove.

Burnt Trees from the Rabbit Fire

Sherri on the Big Meadow Road

  We, or should I say I, talk with the entrance station lady, Jessica. I think she must not have been very busy today as we gabbed for five minutes. But that is not why we traveled up here. We moved on and get to Big Meadows around noon. Our first order of action when we get there is to eat lunch. Then get our gear together and are off.

Steven got a five minute head start-even though being on skis he did not need any advantage. Sherri and I take off at 12:45. The road is freshly groomed with only Steven’s ski tracks, Korra’s paw prints and a snowmobile print. The sky is cloudy with only an occasional peeping out of blue and even less of the sun. At times a mist floats by-wwe must be in a cloud. Even though when we left the car said we were in the 42-44 degree range, it was a cold temperature. I have my warmer gloves on.

Sherri and I make our way along the road, doing pretty decently. About every third of a mile we take a break to breathe, we are at 7,500’ after all. Really not much to see except for the gray of the clouds and the trees lining the road.

At the junction with the Rabbit Meadow road, we decide to just go on to Big Meadow, following Steven’s tracks. We start to see signs of the Rabbit Fire from last year. This was a lightning cause fire which the Forest Services decided to manage to burn some of the excess duff, so they needed the fire into areas which they wanted burnt. But there are stands of burnt trees which must have been in the path of the fire before it was brought under control. In the distance I have been hearing a bird chirp, but I could not see it. It is a reminder that even in a dead forest, there is still life.

 

 

Shortly afterwards, we see the warming hut at Big Meadows. It is the end of the line for Sherri and I. Steven’s tracks go further on. But not for long as we see a snow cat coming down. When they stop at the hut and start unloading, I know who one of the people is, Dutch. He is a recipient of my lightning report and I see many of his pictures though Wendy. I introduce myself and we talk for a few minutes and then rejoin Sherri.

Redwood Canyon in the clouds

We got to the hut right at our turn around time of 2:15. Steven comes back, with Korra. We compare our mileages. I have 2.6 miles, Steven has less even though he has traveled at least a mile and more like a mile and a half further. There is a sign saying the highway is 2¼ miles away. A continuation of the discussion from last Friday.

Big Meadows Road

And we all start our return journey. Steven and Korraa quickly are out of sight, followed by Dutch and his friend on a snowmobile. While the clouds are not getting less, there are breaks in them which allows us to see windows into the surrounding mountains. This is an awesome view. Clouds have that way with me. Not sure if it is because they hide and reveal, similar to how God is hidden, but gets revealed.

About halfway back I can start to feel that I have not gone this far on snowshoes this season. Another way to say that I am starting to tire. But maybe it is the uphill which I am going up-not a long one. Once we get back to the Rabbit Meadow junction, I start to feel a bit rejuvenated. Maybe because it is downhill from here? Or maybe it is like a nag who can smell the oats in the barn ahead.

We make it back to the car at 4:10 with Steven and Korra waiting for us. When I sit down to take off my boots, I can feel how tired I am. Steven is driving back-I am grateful for this. We stopped at the overlook at Redwood Canyon. I am tired enough that I left Sherri and Steven to snap their pictures while I sti in the car. We decided that Bear Mountain Pizza is a good place to get refreshed. We make it home by 6:15. I promptly lay down for half an hour-feels sooo good.

 

 

Extra Photo's

Gary going down the Big Meadow Road

Big Meadows under snow

Shell Mountain

Gary starting off

Gary

Clouds hiding a mountain

Sherri on the way back

Burnt trees on Big Baldy from the KNP Complex

Redwood Canyon

Redwood Mountain

Steven