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

October 18, 2023 - Taft Pt and Sentinel Dome

 

Title: October 18, 2023 - Taft Pt and Sentinel Dome
Hike Info : Description : Extra Photo's 

Hike Info:

Type: Hiking

Trail head: Sentinel Dome Parking Area-West

Trail: Taft Point, Pohono, Sentinel Dome

Destination: Taft Pt

Actual Destination: Taft Pt and Sentinel Dome 

Distance:  5.65 miles

Start Time: 9:41

End Time:   4:21

Travel Time: 6:39  (0.85 mph)

Moving Time: 4:07   (1.37 mph)

Elevation Rise:  1,592'

Descent: 1,437‘

Maximum Elevation: 8,153'

GPS Tracks

Description:

Rose and Sherri at start

A couple of weeks ago Sherri and I walked up Four Mile Trail for a short way. Enough of the way up that we decided to try walking it the full way to Glacier Point. Both Rose and Betty are interested in doing this-Betty has other obligations, but Rose is available. Unfortunately the day before Yosemite Fire decided to ignite a prescribed burn in the Valley. We are thinking that the fires will bring smoke. So do we really want to be struggling up this trail, breathing in smoke? The answer is no!

We still want to go for a hike in Yosemite, maybe on the Glacier Point Road. David-my brother, Sherri and I pile into the car a little after 7, drive up to Madera and pick up Rose. We drove on through Oakhurst and got to the Sentinel Dome Parking Area. One thing which we did not realize which would come into play later on is that there are now two parking areas for this trail-east and west.

 

 

By 9:40, we are off and walking towards Taft Point. If we feel up to it, we will continue on a triangle to Sentinel Dome. The trail does not seem familiar, but after a while, I recognize some landmarks and feel better. It is only a bit more than a mile to Taft Point. The trail dips down before ascending to the point. We pass by the Fissures. I know this is in my mind, but I remember the fissures a bit more dynamic looking. Could they have changed? Or is it just my memory being warped?

Ferns being passed by

AFissure

 

The view from the point is always amazing-at least my memory and reality jive on this. When you are looking down 4,000' into one of the most beautiful places on earth, there is no surprise that it elicits awe. Looking west where the burns were to take place, there is only a haze right now. We get our pictures taken and just wander around the area taking it in.

Approaching Taft Pt

Then we start back up the Pohono Trail

Taft Point

. It is about half a mile to the junction. I am up ahead, but David catches up with me. A little later Rose and Sherri come along, sounding like they are having a good conversation. At the junction, we have a decision to be made. Do we continue the Pohono Trail or go back to the car and then go up Sentinel Dome? It is actually shorter and easier to go back to the car. But our group decided to make it a triangle hike, even with an 800' drop to Sentinel Creek and a climb back up and further to get to the top of the dome. We decided to do the triangle.

Sentinel Dome from Pohono Trail

We decide when we get to Sentinel Creek to have lunch. We start our descent. We meet various people coming up the trail and stop and talk with a few. Sentinel Dome starts to loom in front of us. It is not as intimidating as some of the other domes we have seen. At the Creek, there is a side trail going out to a point which we have eaten at before. It did not disappoint. We eat and rest here for about 20-30 minutes.

During this time, I get to play tour guide to two different sets of people wondering how to get to Sentinel Dome. We start walking again. We quickly get passed by both groups. One is wondering if this is as steep as it gets-nope, it gets steeper. Apparently one of their group probably will not be able to make it. So I give them instructions about how to go and where the friend can stop.

David and I keep a slow steady pace and get to another overlook where we stop and gawk at the view of the Valley.While we wait, David lays down and rests. I suspect that I lack energy more than David. Once we are all together, we take off again. There have been changes since the last time I have been up here. There is a node on the Park’s communications has moved. Plus the trail seems to have changed a bit. Such as the trail seems to loop around where it did not go before.

David resting

On the way up Sentinel Dome, we meet both groups which we talked to before. They both are grateful for the advice I gave. All of us decide that we have enough energy to go up the Dome. One step at a time brings us all to the top. The view from the top is 360 and there are very few sights which compare with this view of Yosemite. Half Dome, the Sierra Crest, and the Clark Range to the east; Ostrander Rocks to the south; El Capitan and the Valley to the west; and Yosemite Falls to the north. When looking down the Valley, we are seeing the prescribed burns we were concerned about. They do not look too bad, at least a lot of smoke.

Now it is time to go back down the dome. I have been down the Dome several times before. Today for some reason I am apprehensive about coming down it. Maybe it is because last time I slipped and fell and broke my pinkie finger. I think Sherri is more concerned about coming down it than I am right now. For some strange reason, I feel more confident coming down now with Sherri matching my footsteps. The bottom line-maybe the wrong choice in words-we make it down without incident.

 

Prescribed burn close to El Capitan

It is a mile back to the car. David and I walk at an easy pace, but still faster than Sherri and Rose. We get to the east parking area. This is the trail I remember. The light clicks on and I realize what a sign is trying to tell me. The west parking area, where we are parked, is a new lot. David and I discuss things. He will stay at the east area and direct Sherri and Rose there. I will walk the 100 yards to the west one and collect the car. 

 

 

 

 

 

Sherri and Gary and Sentinel Dome

After picking everybody up, we head on down the road. The next question is, do we want to eat before we get home? The answer is a resounding yes! Now where. We decide that if El Cid looks reasonable to get into, we will go there. Else we will try a new place in Oakhurst: Los dos Carnales. El Cid looked like we would get in quickly, so we stopped. After reading the reviews on the other restaurant, we will try there as well. After eating it is back down to the Valley. We let off Rose at her place and then stagger into our house, tired, but feeling good.

 

 Extra Photo's

Panorama view from the top of Sentinel Dome

View looking west from Sentinel Point

Looking east from Sentinel Dome

Across the Valley from Sentinel Point

Yosemite Falls from Taft Point

West end of the Valley from Taft Point

Gary at Taft Point

David at Taft Point

Tree on Taft Point

Smoke from prescribed burns

Prescribed burns

Half Dome from Sentinel Dome

Half Dome from Sentinel Dome

A tree on edge of Sentinel Dome: left from Pohono Trail; right on the Dome

October 21, 2021 - Yosemite with the Rose’s

 

Title: October 21, 2021 - Yosemite with the Rose’s
Hike Info : Description : Background :  Extra Photo's :

Trail head: Fresno 

Hike Info:

Type: Car

Trail head: Glacier Point Road

Hike Info:

Type: Hiking

Trail: Old parking road

Destination: Sentinel Dome

Distance:  1.2 miles ¹

Elevation Rise: 388’

Maximum Elevation: 8,122'

 ¹No GPS on hike. Information from plotted course on Google Earth 

Enjoying the view from Washburn Point

 Description:

Last week Bonnie asked about going to Yosemite her grand kids and daughter. Bonnie was the photographer at our wedding a few years back (read: 45 years). Her husband was my best man, so we have had a long family connection. Anyway, Sherri and I finagled an invite to go to Yosemite with them. So today I play tour guide.

I got up around 6:45 and made breakfast-something simple: bacon and french toast. By the time, Bonnie, her daughter Moriah, her three grandchildren, Noah, Leah and Delilah, along with Sherri and I get feed and packed up, it was 9:45 when we left. My guess is that it will be a long day and we will run into darkness before leaving Yosemite.

Sherri climbing Sentinel Dome

We stopped in Oakhurst to pick up sandwiches at Subway, then went on. Not much of a line into the park. Our next stop was the bathrooms at Chinquapin. Like in the meaning of Wawona, “It is a good place to stop.”

The original plan was to go to the Valley and explore. I had asked if they were interested in going to Glacier Point-which will take up at least half of the afternoon-turned out it would take up more. After some hemming and hawing, everybody was in favor of seeing the Valley from on top first, then going down to the Valley.

The drive along Glacier Point Road is familiar to us, but even Sherri and I always get impressed with how the Clark Range pops up as we descend to Bridalveil Creek. We pass by the full parking lot for Sentinel Dome. I take mental note of this. Then it is the descent down to Glacier Point. But before we get there, I stop at Washburn Point. To me this view gives the feeling of the backcountry going on forever-a favorite of mine, if you cannot tell. For a first view, our friends are shocked with the beauty of what they are seeing. We stayed there for a while.

Jeffery Pine and El Capitan from Sentinel Dome

Now on to Glacier Point and lunch. We walk out to the point, look around. It is a different view, a view which allows us to look down into the Valley. Camp Curry plainly stands out with its white tents. I point out the Ahwahnee. Sherri has her pattern, which looks like a Christmas decoration in Ahwahnee Meadow-we still cannot figure out what is going on there. After getting our fill of scenic wonder, time to have lunch. On the handicap walkway is a nice rock border which we procure for our eating pleasure.

After lunch, we head back to the car. I had talked about Sentinel Dome as a possible hike. Everybody wants to do it. But the parking area was filled up when we came in. We will see if an alternative entrance is available. It is. Fifty years ago, there was a road to a parking area at the base of Sentinel Dome. Now it is a gated service road. But we can still walk it. Lots of parking here, plus, it is a shorter walk than the regular parking area..

Bridalveil Falls from Tunnel View

We cross over the Glacier Point Road and start walking the service road. I start with the lead, but Leah is like out Korra-Steven’s dog-and wants to be in front. Then Moriah also walks ahead of the slowing old man.There is a place where the trail meets with our road. There we are asked which way back to their car, After understanding where they are parked, we direct them on the proper way. We came to a big puddle in the road. Your intrepid explorer spots a way around it. And then the skies wets us. But only for about ten minutes and not badly.

Before the assault of Sentinel Dome, I go over what we are going to do if lightning appears. More of a precaution than an expectation. Then up we go. The climb is not strenuous because it is not long and the Dome is well traveled. The reaction I got was it was well worth the climb and the time. Seeing 360 degrees and Yosemite from the top ;looking down is something most tourists do not do. Even for someone like me, it is always a thrill to be there. The kids are fascinated with all they can see. We even take pictures with the old Jeffery Pine.

Oldside the Ahwahnee

And then it is time to go down. The kids show no fear and go down to the base of the dome in a safe, but quick manner. I am not as nimble. But I do pick my way down the dome with Bonnie and Sherri following. At one point, I hear someone slipping and turn to check on our group-not us. But then I slip, but catch myself with my left hand, while my rear gently makes contact with the granite. A few minutes later we reach the base, and start back on the road to our car. My left little finger starts to ache and I wonder about it.

 

We head back down Glacier Point Road, stopping briefly at the outhouse at the Sentinel Dome parking are. Then off to the Valley. We play the “hold your breath in the tunnel” game. Of course Wawona Tunnel is a 1 mile line, going at 35mph-well, you can figure out if this is possible-in my younger days it was. We stop at Tunnel View for the signature view of the Valley. It gets the appropriate Oh Wow’s!

 

Glow off of Sentinel Rock

There is still time to take a lap around the Valley floor in the fading light. The broadleaf trees form a yellow and green canopy over the road, giving the feeling of being within a kaleidoscope. I keep one eye on the road and one on the display around us. Also I do my tour guide imitation. I am so glad I live so close to this splendor. There was to be a prescribed burn starting today along Southside Drive, but I do not see evidence that it started. 

 

We continue on our drive, a slow drive as I am taking my time. Someone talks about Curry Village, so we go by there just to take a look, not stopping. Just enough to say we have been there. We now pass Ahwahnee Meadow and see two things. First the diggings we observed from Glacier Point. The second is the flashing lights of law enforcement as well as a helicopter. There must have been a SAR action today.

View of the Valley from Valley View

 

 

I decided that with the light ending in the Valley, the Ahwahnee would be a good place to visit. What’s more, they have nice bathrooms. So we wandered through the Grand Lounge (some places call this the Great Room) with fireplaces as tall as me. Noah counts chandeliers. All are in awe-it really is a Grand Lounge. We read the various historical plaques.. After going around the public areas on the first floor, we go out and circle around the outside of the dinning area. Sherri and I ate here 40 years ago on our fifth anniversary. For a simple person like myself, this is an impressive area-I always approach it with awe. Sometime during this day, I was asked if there were Indian grinding holes in Yosemite. There are some in the back of the hotel.

It is time to head home. There is one more stop I want to make on the west end of the Valley. But as I am going along Northside Drive, talking about the natural firefall, I glance up at El Capitan. There is a bright red patch. Right then, we are passing El Capitan’s picnic area, so I pull in and start gawking. This is one of those experiences which Yosemite gives you unbidden. Hopefully it is not a once in a lifetime. Not only is El Capitan lit up, but looking towards Sentinel Rock-not Dome-that whole ridge has turned orange. Just a total Wow!

But there is one more stopping place: Valley View. This is a turnout right before the road loops back around to go back up highway 41. This is one of the many great views looking up the Valley. I am not expecting much since the sun has already set and the Valley is growing darker by the moment. Once again, I am surprised. The kids like being around the Merced River and the adults are just so fascinated by the darkening views.

View the Valley from Valley View

Finally, we leave the Valley in the dark. We stopped in Wawona to order a pizza. The first place will close before we get there, but Round Table is open, so we order a pizza from them. I do not know if it was because we were hungry or the pizza was good, but all of us were well satisfied. Then off we went back to Fresno. Along the way, there was one more teaching moment. I taught an ancient chant which shows each person the enlightenment of who they are, “Owa! Tagoo! Siam!”. If you do not understand, just repeat it until you do. We get home by 9:30, a bit tired, ready for bed and still rolling in laughter with enlightenment.

Background

Ahwahnee Meadow. It turns out that the Park Service is doing a restoration project to the meadow. They are removing the hard surfaces such as unneeded pavement and tennis courts and returning the area to vegetation. The natural drainage is being restored. While I cannot find a specific project for what we are seeing, it is in the right area.

Little Finger. Turns out my little finger had a minor fracture. Just enough to turn it black and blue the next morning. The following Monday, Kaiser puts a splint on it. I guess if I am going to break any bone in my body, this would be the one.

Prescribed Burn. Yosemite has been doing prescribed burns for years on the Valley floor. Way before that, the Native-Americans who spent their Summers there would regularly burn the area as well. But evidently they were not ready to burn on the 21st. A followup email indicated they started the burn the next day. The idea behind prescribed burns is that it cleans up the ground from a layer of natural debris. This returns the nutrients to the ground and makes an area less vulnerable to intense fire.

Extra Photo's

Yosemite Valley from Valley View

Evening glow on Sentinel Rock from El Capitan Picnic Area

Glow on a spot of El Capitan from the Picnic area. The dark spot is the chip which fell a couple of years ago

Gary and Sherri at Tunnel View

El Capitan from Tunnel View

Yosemite Valley from Tunnel View

Yosemite Falls-before the storm-from Sentinel Dome

Enjoying the view from Sentinel Dome