January 29, 2026 - Snowshoe Badger Pass

 

Title: January 29, 2026 - Snowshoe Badger Pass

Hike Info : Description : Extra Photo's 

Hike Info:

Type:  Snowshoeing

Trail head: Badger Pass Parking Lot

Trail: Glacier Point Road, Summit Meadow Trail, Old Glacier Point Road, 

Destination:  Loop and possibly Tempo Dome

Actual Destination:  Ridge where Tempo Dome is

Distance:  3.94 miles 

Start Time: 10:52

End Time:     3:07

Travel Time:  4:15  (0.93 mph)

Moving Time: 3:01   (1.31 mph)

Elevation Rise:  692'

Descent: 719‘

Maximum Elevation: 7,653'

Minimum Elevation: 7,250'

GPS Tracks

Description:

Sherri cannot come today-she has an appointment. But Steven and Rachel can. We decided that it looks like we can go to Badger Pass today. It does not look like we will have fog in Fresno, even though in the morning, it looked like the temperature is 20 degrees up at Badger Pass. But by 10 it will be at least 40, at least that is the forecast.

We planned to leave at 8 so we could get a full day up at Badger Pass. Rachel got hung up, so I started driving about 8:40, but with all three of us. When we got to the Yosemite entry station, Rachel had her first opportunity to use her digital Park pass. It worked! The road is dry and there is no concern with there being ice on the road. We did stop at Chinquipin before going up the Glacier Point Road. We get to the parking area, parking close to where we will start off.

Our snowshoes touch the snow about 11. But we do not get too far before we get in conversation with a couple of young ladies who are on cross-country skis for the first time. At least they are upright. Their friend gets up and then falls, repeating that a couple of more times. It turns out they are part of a group.When the group comes along, we leave.

One of the things which I want to do is to see if I can identify why I get shortness of breath when going uphill. I have brought along an Pulse-Ox meter to measure both the oxygen saturation levels and my heart beats. We are at 7,200’, so that is also a factor. About the time we are at Summit Meadow, I am at 90%, a bit low, but reasonable. By the time we hit lunch time, it is up to 94%. That is a bit unusual since between Summit Meadow and the trail back to the parking area is the steepest part.

Rachel with Mt Clark

To go back to the start, once we leave those who are going to learn to cross-country ski, we start up the snow-covered Glacier Point Road. The slope up is gentle and in places we can look north across the Merced-but not into Yosemite Valley. Once we reach the top, it is a short descent to Summit Meadow. There had been a couple options which we rejected. There are a couple routes to Dewey Point-the site of my debacle last Spring. We would not have made it there, but Sherri and I have gone a ways on them and found routes back. Then there is continuing on down the Road, but that means a long uphill return. We decided to go south out of Summit Meadow up to a return route to the parking lot.

When we get to the trail, we found a log to sit on and have lunch. One of the good things about being outdoors and doing things with people whom you like, is that you get to talk with them. And by talking I mean more than just “how are you doing” type conversation. Rachel was talking about some training she is doing with yoga. Part of it is recognizing and responding to trauma. This brought up a conversation about trauma, the type and causes of trauma and how you could respond to it. It is good to be able to talk with both Steven and Rachel as adults.

After lunch we take the trail starting towards the parking lot. In about a quarter mile, we come to a junction with what looks like a service trail to the top of Tempo Dome. I think this is also part of the Old Glacier Point Road. Also at this junction is the true Badger Pass.

Cloud's Rest and Half Dome

We debated for a minute about what we should do. All of us felt like we wanted to do more. So we followed the road which goes up the ridge. But first, it goes on a small, gentle descent. Along the way, we noticed places where the snow had settled, leaving large cracks where snow sank. We take a little detour around these.

The road curves to the south before heading up the ridge. That climb is pretty steep-later looking at the stats, the slope was at a maximum of 13%. I definitely am huffing and puffing and stopping on the way up. Rachel is trying to pace us by keeping her heart beat within an aerobic area. Somehow that pace just does not suit me-even though it would have been better for me. My O₂ saturation is still OK at 91%, but the heart rate is in the upper 140’s.

When we reach the top, we turn around and see across the Clark Range. There we play the game of trying to identify peaks. The one just to the east, I say is Mt Starr King, but Steven and Rachel think it is Clark Peak. I suspect they are right and may King be behind some trees. Just looking over all of this would be breathtaking except the climb up already took my breath.

We spent about 15-20 minutes at the top of the ridge-there was still more up if we wanted to. After all Tempo Dome is another 200’ above us and about a quarter mile to the south. But, we have enjoyed this outing and rather than getting too tired out, we decide to head back down the ridge. Nobody is wild about taking off directly to Badge Pass, so we fall the same track as what we came up on. From Badge Pass down to the parking area, it is about a mile and almost all downhill. I am glad as the last 10 minutes or so, my legs were starting to feel the day. That indicates this has been a good one. We reach the car at 3:00pm and Rachel drives us out at 3:15. Just for the record, my O₂ level is now 94 and the heart rate is 110-getting better. We decided to do Mexican food in Oakhurst. Rather than El Cid, we go to Los 2 Carnales. The helpings there is satisfying and we arrive back in Fresno tired, but content.

Extra Photo's

Shadow Snoeshoers

Gary, Steven, Rachel

Half Dome and Cloud's Rest

Father and Daughter confering

Steven and Rachel going up the Summit Meadow Trail

January 28, 2026 - Walk around Fresno State

 Title: January 28, 2026 - Walk around Fresno State

Hike Info : Description : Trail Lessons : Background

Hike Info:

Type: Walk

Trail head: Kreman Building at Fresno State

Trail: Wander around campus

Distance:  0.6  miles

Start Time: 10:07

End Time:   11:12   

Travel Time:  1:05 (0.55 mph)

Moving Time:  0.40  (0.89 mph)

Elevation Rise:  59'

Descent: 39‘

Maximum Elevation: 343'

GPS Tracks

Description:

Today’s excursion is an OSHER class walk around Fresno State. Being mostly a visitor to the campus, I am hoping to learn a little bit about the layout, the background and maybe some places which I can walk. The class is led by the grounds manager, Eddie Zenteno.

I left my house in plenty of time to catch the First St bus. But the bus is late, so late that it is the next bus which comes-I am very sure I did not miss the bus which I was aiming for. When I made my transfer to the Shaw bus I found out what happened. The bus I wanted to take was involved with an accident about two miles south of where I would be picked up. I get to the classroom about five minutes late, just in time to see everybody leave.

Submariner's Memorial

The first stop is a little plaque called the Submariner’s Memorial. Not sure why Fresno State felt the need to place it here. I joined mid-discussion. Later I read the flyer which notes that a group of Fresno submariners established it. Also it is the first submariner memorial on a college campus, established in 2002. Not only was there a stone memorial, but tulip trees were planted to memorialize the sailors lost. During the drought, most of the tulip trees were lost. But drought resistant trees are replacing them.

Right across from it are two fiberglass sculptures. These are from the Artes-Americas Museum, being part of their Alebrijes & Nahuales exhibition. They will be cycled out for another exhibit soon. I had not realized this was the case. I assumed these were all from Fresno State art students.

Armenian Genocide Memorial

A short walk up Maple Mall gets us to the Armenian Genocide Memorial. This is in nine sections, each commemorating the historic Armenian provinces. The genocide happened in the early part of the 20th century in what is now known as Turkey. Turkey still does not acknowledge that this happened. The Armenians of the area felt it is important not to let this be forgotten.

Heading west is the Veteran's Memorial This 16-ton memorial used to be at the corner of Shaw and Cedar. Student housing is going up there, so recently it was moved to the location. Zenteno noted that it was a monumental undertaking.

The Veteran’s Memorial is among the Rose Gaden. I think this is Zenteno’s pride and joy as he talks about it. There are 42 different varieties of roses planted here in four different beds. He talked about how to prune them and care for them.

Memorial Court Fountain

The final formal stop on the tour is the Memorial Court Fountain. This fountain was at Fresno State’s previous campus. Originally designed by a Fresno State alumnus, David Musselman. It is at the end of a walkway where the various Fresno State Class Years have established their benches, along with rows of trees framing the fountain. We stopped here for awhile

When it looks like this is it, a lady and I wander over towards the library. By the library is the Peace Garden. There various people like Martin Luther King jr, Ghandi, Jane Adams and Nelson Mandela have statues. As we are finishing up our rounds, we notice the class is moving by us.

Zenteno decided to give a bonus stop, the Hiroshima Peace Garden. There are cherry trees from Japan planted here. Some of the cherry trees have had to be replaced as they got diseased and became a hazard. A comment was made that it will take 50 years before they reach their maturity and create a canopy to cover the walkway. I wondered, how does it feel to plant something which you will never see and which will outlive you? But isn’t that what we hope for with our children?

In one sense I was disappointed by the walk as I did not discover anything which I had not walked by before, in fact I had walked by it while waiting for a class to start. But the items talked about were interesting and well worth the price of the class.

There were a couple of other things which I thought about. First, the observation is that I wondered if any of the students had ever stopped and observed these places, or if they even knew about them? Which gets me wondering, what do I pass by without noticing? Finally, what other places are there at Fresno State which are of interest and what is their background?

Trail Lesson:

Just because I have walked by something since the beginning of time does not mean that I should not stop and reflect upon what I am seeing.

Background

OSHER Event Description: Morning at Fresno State with Eddie Zenteno

Get reacquainted with some of Fresno State’s scenic and meaningful spots on a leisurely stroll on paved walkways through the Academic Campus, designated an arboretum. University Grounds Manager Eddie Zenteno is our guide. On the Maple Mall (originally Maple Avenue), we’ll view tulip trees and small plaques that mark the only university campus U.S. Submarine Veterans Memorial. Next stop is the Armenian Genocide Monument, also the only one on an American college campus. We’ll visit the Veterans Memorial monument; learn rose-pruning at the Rose Garden, and then walk through the bench- and tree-lined Memorial Plaza to the landmark Memorial Fountain. Please dress for the January weather.

Class Handout: OSHER: Morning at Fresno State

More as a point of reference, there is also a 1998 booklet of the various statues at Fresno State.

There are more gardens and collections than mentioned in the walk. They can be found on Fresno State’s web page.

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 13, 2026 - Pan Pt Road

 

Title: January 13, 2026 - Pan Pt Road

Hike Info : Description : Animals

Hike Info:

Type: Snowshoeing 

Trail head: Grant Grove Parking Area

Trail:  Panoramic Point Road

Destination: As far as we could by 2:00pm

Actual Destination:  Ridge before going into meadow before big climb

Distance: 2.44 miles

Start Time: 11:56

End Time:    3:16

Travel Time:  3:19 (0.74 mph)

Moving Time:  1:53  (1.30 mph)

Elevation Rise:  655'

Descent: 558‘

Maximum Elevation: 7,067'

GPS Tracks

Description:

Snowshoes on

Today is full of things which we were going to do, but circumstances had us change our minds. Badger Pass is not open yet, except for Nordic activities such as cross-country skiing and Snowshoeing. But this will be a long day as there is a lot of travel. So we needed to get a start by at least 8:00am. But the forecast for that morning is heavy fog. Not good for an early start.

Thin Snow

That means Sherri can sleep in and I get up at my normal time. But where to go? That morning, I suggested going up to find the Muir Snag-our third attempt. Sherri and I are the only ones going. We leave at ten after 10 and make it up to Grant Grove at 11:15. When we get to the road where I think the Muir Snag is, Forest Service road 13S55, we see a long stretch of dirt. Not very promising. We discussed the situation for 30 seconds and decided to move on.

But where to? Several options were discussed. But then we decided to push ourselves and see how far we can go up the Panoramic Point Road

out of Grant Grove. As we went through Grant Grove, we saw a sign for the Manzanita Trail. This also looks promising, but maybe when we have this a bit more thought out. We have not been up it either on snowshoes or with our hiking boots on. So we keep with the plan.

We park at 11:50. It is a pleasant temperature, in the high 50’s. We start our short walk to the road at 12:05. The first thing I noticed was that the tips of my poles were tapping against the pavement. I guess that the snow is only a couple inches deep. This means that we will see patches of bare ground. This is particularly true when we started off as there is a lot of tree covered in the first eighth of a mile. When we moved out of the tree cover, the snow was not much deeper, but at least when it snowed, it could hit the ground.

Gary on the move

We traveled uphill for about 45 minutes. I start off doing good going uphill-might be that I am getting some of my lung capacity back. Not that we are traveling that fast. But at least there is a steady pace. When 12:45 hits, we also come to the top of one of the ridges and spot a good rock to sit on for lunch. That is what we do. Now we are surrounded by snow. But somehow a moth and bee came to visit us. 

 

 

Sherri climbing

We spent about half an hour sitting on the rock before we decided to move on. The road actually gets a bit steeper. And I take several steps and look like I am waiting for Sherri -in reality, I take my time getting my breathing right before going on. This gets to be the rhythm of my ascent.

 I have set a 2pm turn around time and it is five minutes before that when we get to the top of yet another ridge-definitely not the top of Park ridge as that is another 500’ above us. That will be for another day it looks like. Maybe when I can climb further without being breathless.

As much as we are climbing, you would think there would be some scenic vistas. But that is not so. Plenty of greenery as in the pine trees. Just being out here is reward enough.

 

 

 

We do go up a few feet onto a dry log where we have an energy bar. We relax for a while before heading down. Going down is a lot easier. While the incline was steep coming up, it is not bad going down. One thing which we noticed is that there is less snow than when we went up. While there are the same number of bare spots, the bare spots from this morning are larger. Also the snow is not as deep. 

 

 

About 200’ before we came to the gate for the road, we needed to navigate around a bare spot. I do that very successfully, as does Sherri. But as I was about to regain the road, either my snowshoe caught a stick or I stepped on my left snowshoe. Either way, I went down. Nothing hurt, except my pride. We made it down without incident and back at the car by 3:20.

Now the question is do we want to eat on the way down. Do we want to eat at the DNC? Bear Mountain Pizza again? Eat in Fresno? Or eat at home? Sherri has been wanting this shop off of McCall which she heard about on Channel 30 a year ago. She has been calling it her Cuban place. We go there. It is a sandwich shop called Jon Smith Subs. Turns out it is a chain-all the others are in Texas or beyond. We also got fries with our order-a large amount in a medium request. The Cuban aspect of the place? They have a Cuban sandwich. We get home at 5:20

 

 

Animals