Gary-Summer: December 31, 2019

Tuesday, December 31, 2019

December 31, 2019 - Badger Pass

Title: December 31, 2019 - Badger Pass
Hike Info : Description : Extra Photo's

Trail head: Badger Pass Parking Lot

Hike Info:

Type: Snowshoeing

Trail: Glacier Point Road, Old Glacier Point Road, and a crossover trail

Destination: Unknown destination when we started

Distance: 4.01 miles

Start Time: 11:07

End Time: 1:59

Travel Time: 2:51 (1.41 mph)

Moving Time: 2:04 (1.94 mph)

Elevation Rise: 728 ' ¹

Descent: 735‘

Maximum Elevation: 7,493'

GPS Tracks

¹The GPS did not properly record the elevation. The elevations shown is from Google Earth.

Description:

I got up a bit before 7. By the time 8am came around, we were ready to go up to the mountains to snowshoe. The we is Steven, Sherri and Gary. We stop in Oakhurst at Judy’s donuts for coffee (Sherri) and donuts (Sherri and Steven-I got a few nibbles of Sherri’s donut). Then onward to Yosemite.

Steven on snowshoes

Our plan was to go up to Mariposa Grove. But when we got into the park, the area leading into Mariposa Grove looked pretty barren of snow. Also we were not sure if we could just drive up to the Grove, if the shuttles were running or if we would need to walk it. So we went on up 41. It was not until we got close to Chinquapin was there a decent covering of snow.

Summit Meadow

We stopped at Chinquapin for a bathroom break. There was a vendor doing a pretty brisk business in snow chains. We already had chains-but their would have been cheaper here. They charge $40 to install with cash and $50 on charge. With All-Wheel/4-wheel drive, we are not needing chains right now. So this is more informational.

Steven conquering a fallen tree

The road up to Badger Pass is not bad and we are able to park close to the take off point to the Glacier Road trail. Glacier Point Road is not plowed beyond Badger Pass in the Winter and the concessionaire grooms the snow on the road making for relatively easy travel on ski’s or snowshoes.

We start in a little after eleven, going up the Glacier Point Road. What we will do today remains to be seen. The first ⅔ of a mile s a gentle uphill then down to Summit Meadow. There, we stop and have lunch. Now to figure out how much to do today. I suggest cutting over to the Old Glacier Point Road and maybe going up to Tempo Dome. We agree on this.

Crossing the meadow is easy--a well beaten track. Then we climb a ridge. Steven charges right up it and even doges a skier coming down (the skier was well under control and there was no danger.) I on the other hand was stopping to enjoy a fresh breath of air. This went on for the climb-while it looks like only about 150-200’ and a third of a mile, on snowshoes it felt more than that. Still there is something about being in the snow with few other people around us.

Horse Ridge

After the climb, we come to a junction-not the Old Glacier Point Road, but another trail which is not on the map. Looks like it runs beside the Old Glacier Point Road. We have a little while and still some energy, so we head east on it. This does away with Tempo Dome, but I did not think we would be doing that after this climb. It is a pleasant walk, except for having to circumnavigating a fallen tree. We stop when we see a view of Horse Ridge. And that is about the limit of our time. I am trying to be back at the car by 2:00pm.

So we trudge back. Steven still has tons of energy as he zooms ahead. Of course, we have to go around that same downed tree, but now we know how to do it. Then it is going past the junction we came up on. By the time we get to the Old Glacier Point Road, Steven is long gone. But at the junction we stop and talk with a couple for about ten minutes. Not sure if we needed the rest or what, but it felt good to stop for a few minutes.

Gary, Steven, Sherri

Then it is down the Old Glacier Point Road. This is also a groomed trail leading us right down into the Badger Pass ski area. Once we get to the parking lot, it is about a third of a mile back to the car, where Steven is patiently waiting for us.

We still had time to eat, so we stopped in Oakhurst for some Mexican food-Plazuelas Mexican Restaurant. I had a wet burrito-maybe my taste buds are aging, but the spiciness seemed a bit hot for my taste buds. Steven and Sherri enjoyed their plates. Mine tasted good. Then it was back to Fresno and the showers. It was good that we did this walk as it shows improvement in my conditioning.