February 2009

  1. Yosemite Heritage Holidays

    Posted February 28, 2009 - 12:47pm by Yosemite Blog
    Mar 1 2009 9:00 am
    Mar 3 2009 9:46 pm

    Yosemite Heritage Holidays
    March 1 – 3, 2009

    Introduced in 2002 to celebrate The Ahwahnee's 75th anniversary, Yosemite Heritage Holidays has become a three-day tradition celebrating the glamour, style, frivolity and culture of the Roaring Twenties and beyond.
    Yosemite Heritage Holidays activities range from Speakeasy entertainment and fashion shows to historic hotel tours and a Grand Ball, complete with 12-piece Royal Society Jazz Orchestra, dancing and performances by the Deco Belles professional dance troupe. See our photos from previous years' events.
    Make your Heritage Holidays reservation Now.

    Join us in celebrating our Heritage Holidays.

    Relive the Art Deco Heyday of The Ahwahnee as we salute our "Rangers in Paradise: Yosemite's Guardians 1890 - 1950" with:
    Don Neely’s ROYAL SOCIETY JAZZ ORCHESTRA with Carla Normand
    JANET KLEIN AND HER PARLOR BOYS
    THE DECOBELLES
    Tom Bopp ~ Frederick Hodges ~ Ann Gibson ~ Sara Klotz de Aguilar
    Grand Ball & Dinner ~ Tea Dance ~ Speakeasy ~ Lectures ~ Fashion Show

  2. Horsetail Falls Firefall 2/27/09

    Posted February 28, 2009 - 11:22am by Yosemite Blog

    Yesterday was once again looking hopeful for the Yosemite Horsetail Falls Firefall as it was clear and the falls was really flowing from all the storms.

    Right as the sun was setting and the falls was starting to get orange some high clouds moved in and shut it down. This may be it for this year as there is a series of storm moving in and there is only a few days left for the sun to hit the falls at the right angle and time.

    Yosemite Horsetail Falls Firefall 2/27/08

    Click on thumbnail: 
    Yosemite Horsetail Falls Firefall 2/27/08

  3. High clouds today with a storm moving in on Sunday

    Posted February 28, 2009 - 10:56am by Yosemite Blog

     We have high clouds in Yosemite today with some storms forecast to move on in starting Sunday afternoon.  

    Looking for something to do? Take a hike up the Yosemite Falls trail to Columbia Point, go skiing or tubing at Badger Pass or take a hike up Hite Cove on Hwy 140 to see the spring flowers that are now out.

  4. Yosemite Half Dome Indian legend

    Posted February 28, 2009 - 10:21am by Yosemite Blog

    Yosemite Half Dome Indian legend
    Location: Yosemite
    http://www.indiancountrytoday.com/yourict/40285557.html

    Tags: Yosemite Valley Ahwahnee news from native california natives american indian indians miwok paiute miwoks miwuk piutes paiutes piute mono monos history hetch hetchy gold rush californian basket injustice crime fund association half dome Yosemite's most distinctive monument, Half Dome, dominates most Valley views. Standing at the eastern end of Yosemite Valley, Half Dome rises to an elevation of 8,842 feet. At 87 million years old, the type of granite making up the dome is the youngest plutonic rock in the Valley. (Plutonic rock is formed beneath the earth's surface by intense heat, pressure and slow cooling.) The remaining portions of granite on Half Dome's face are believed to have sheered off during its cooling phase 100 million years ago, deep under the Pacific seabed. Succeeding glaciers deposited some of the debris in moraines along the Valley floor.

  5. Yosemite Daily Photo 2/27/09

    Posted February 27, 2009 - 9:35am by Yosemite Blog

    Today there are some high clouds in Yosemite with warming temperatures.

    Yesterday was a nice clear day with fair weather clouds and the conditions looked perfect for a Horsetail Falls sunset. Just 15 minutes away from sunset the sun disappeared behind the clouds cutting off the light but it did make for a nice sunset over Yosemite Valley.

     

    Click on thumbnail: 

  6. Daily Report - Yosemite National Park

    Posted February 27, 2009 - 7:02am by Yosemite Blog

    Daily Report - Yosemite National Park
    Friday, February 27, 2009
    Weather
    Yosemite: TODAY...MOSTLY SUNNY. HIGHS 55 TO 61 IN YOSEMITE VALLEY...34 TO
    44 IN THE HIGH COUNTRY.
    .TONIGHT...PARTLY CLOUDY. LOWS 25 TO 35 IN YOSEMITE VALLEY...19 TO 29 IN
    THE HIGH COUNTRY.
    .SATURDAY...MOSTLY CLOUDY. NOT AS COOL. HIGHS 54 TO 64 IN YOSEMITE
    VALLEY...42 TO 52 IN THE HIGH COUNTRY.
    .SATURDAY NIGHT...MOSTLY CLOUDY WITH A 20 PERCENT CHANCE OF SHOWERS.
    BREEZY. SNOW LEVEL ABOVE 8000 FEET. LOWS 28 TO 38 IN YOSEMITE
    VALLEY...22 TO 32 IN THE HIGH COUNTRY.
    .SUNDAY...RAIN AND SNOW SHOWERS. WINDY. SNOW ACCUMULATION UP TO 5 INCHES.
    SNOW LEVEL 7500 FEET. HIGHS 48 TO 58 IN YOSEMITE
    VALLEY...38 TO 48 IN THE HIGH COUNTRY.
    .SUNDAY NIGHT THROUGH MONDAY NIGHT...MOSTLY CLOUDY. WINDY. RAIN AND SNOW
    SHOWERS. LOWS 26 TO 36 IN YOSEMITE VALLEY...15 TO 25 IN
    THE HIGH COUNTRY. HIGHS 48 TO 58 IN YOSEMITE VALLEY...34 TO 44 IN THE HIGH
    COUNTRY.

    El Portal: Today: Mostly sunny, with a high near 61. East wind between 7
    and 10 mph becoming calm.
    Tonight: Partly cloudy, with a low around 35. Light wind becoming east
    between 13 and 16 mph.
    Saturday: Partly sunny, with a high near 66. East wind 7 to 15 mph becoming
    south.
    Saturday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low
    around 41. East southeast wind between 8 and 14 mph.

  7. Daily Report - Yosemite National Park

    Posted February 26, 2009 - 8:24am by Yosemite Blog

    Daily Report - Yosemite National Park
    Thursday, February 26, 2009
    Weather
    Yosemite: TODAY...MOSTLY CLOUDY. CHANCE OF SNOW SHOWERS IN THE
    MORNING...THEN CHANCE OF SNOW SHOWERS IN THE AFTERNOON. VERY WINDY. CHANCE
    OF PRECIPITATION 50 PERCENT. SNOW LEVEL 6000 FEET. HIGHS 46 TO 56 IN
    YOSEMITE VALLEY...33 TO 43 IN THE HIGH COUNTRY.
    .TONIGHT...MOSTLY CLOUDY WITH A 20 PERCENT CHANCE OF SNOW SHOWERS. WINDY.
    LOWS 24 TO 34 IN YOSEMITE VALLEY...13 TO 23 IN THE HIGH
    COUNTRY.
    .FRIDAY...MOSTLY SUNNY. NOT AS COOL. HIGHS 50 TO 60 IN YOSEMITE
    VALLEY...40 TO 50 IN THE HIGH COUNTRY.
    .FRIDAY NIGHT...PARTLY CLOUDY. LOWS 26 TO 36 IN YOSEMITE VALLEY... 18 TO
    28 IN THE HIGH COUNTRY.
    .SATURDAY...MOSTLY CLOUDY. HIGHS 53 TO 63 IN YOSEMITE VALLEY...41 TO 50 IN
    THE HIGH COUNTRY.

    El Portal: Today: A 50 percent chance of showers. Cloudy, with a high near
    58. Calm wind becoming west between 6 and 9 mph.
    Tonight: A 20 percent chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around
    33. Calm wind becoming east between 7 and 10 mph.
    Friday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 60. East wind 5 to 8 mph becoming
    south.
    Friday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 34. South southwest wind 5
    to 11 mph becoming east.
    Saturday: Mostly cloudy, with a high near 66. East southeast wind between 7
    and 13 mph.

    New Today
    March YARTS Vouchers are available - The YARTS vouchers for March are ready

  8. Yosemite Daily Photo 2/26/09

    Posted February 26, 2009 - 8:38am by Yosemite Blog

    Last night was another cloudy sunset shutting down all hopes of getting a nice Horsetail Falls Firefall. There are not very many days left and it is past the best time for photos. Plenty of water is coming over the falls from all the storms, just no good light at sunset.

    It was a very nice sunset further out west from Yosemite Valley and this shot was taken from El Capitan Meadow looking west with Lower Cathedral Rock.

    yosemite photos

  9. Yosemite daily photos from 2/25/08

    Posted February 25, 2009 - 11:23am by Yosemite Blog

    Some shots of El Capitan and the Royal Arch Cascade, a cascading waterfall behind the Ahwahnee Hotel in Yosemite Valley. It is still raining in Yosemite with a high snow level and lots of waterfalls everywhere.

    Click on thumbnail: 
    El Capitan, Yosemite
    Click on thumbnail: 
    Royal Arch Cascade, a cascading waterfall behind the Ahwahnee Hotel in Yosmeite Valley

  10. Sunset on Half Dome last night, 1/24/09

    Posted February 25, 2009 - 11:15am by Yosemite Blog

    half dome in yosemite 2/24/09

  11. Yosemite National Park Daily Report

    Posted February 25, 2009 - 11:10am by Yosemite Blog

    Daily Report - Yosemite National Park
    Wednesday, February 25, 2009
    Weather
    Special Weather Statement
    SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
    NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY - HANFORD CA
    625 AM PST WED FEB 25 2009
    ...THE NEXT WINTER STORM TO REACH THE SOUTHERN SIERRA NEVADA TODAY...

    THE NEXT IN A SERIES OF WINTER STORMS WILL MOVE THROUGH NORTHERN CALIFORNIA
    TODAY THROUGH THURSDAY. ALTHOUGH THE STORM TRACK WILL
    BE MAINLY NORTH OF THE CENTRAL CALIFORNIA INTERIOR...THERE WILL BE A CHANCE
    OF RAIN AND MOUNTAIN SNOW NORTH OF FRESNO AND KINGS CANYON.

    THE HEAVIEST SNOWFALL WILL BE NEAR YOSEMITE NATIONAL PARK TONIGHT AND
    THURSDAY. SNOW LEVELS WILL BE BETWEEN 5500 AND 6000 FEET...AND
    TOTAL SNOW ACCUMULATIONS ABOVE 6000 FEET WILL BE 3 TO 5 INCHES.

    PEOPLE PLANNING TRAVEL INTO THE SOUTHERN SIERRA NEVADA SHOULD BE PREPARED
    FOR WINTER WEATHER CONDITIONS. LISTEN TO NOAA WEATHER
    RADIO...OR YOUR FAVORITE NEWS SOURCE...FOR UPDATES ON THIS SITUATION.

    Yosemite: TODAY...MOSTLY CLOUDY WITH A 40 PERCENT CHANCE OF SNOW SHOWERS.
    HIGHS 47 TO 57 IN YOSEMITE VALLEY...34 TO 44 IN THE HIGH COUNTRY.
    .TONIGHT...MOSTLY CLOUDY WITH A 50 PERCENT CHANCE OF SNOW AND RAIN. WINDY.
    SNOW LEVEL 6500 FEET. LOWS 28 TO 38 IN YOSEMITE VALLEY...
    18 TO 28 IN THE HIGH COUNTRY.
    .THURSDAY...SNOW SHOWERS LIKELY AND CHANCE OF SHOWERS. VERY WINDY. CHANCE

  12. More rain in Yosemite

    Posted February 25, 2009 - 8:39am by Yosemite Blog

    Another bout of rain moved in last night and at 8:38am it is raining hard with the snow level above 6,500'. All roads in Yosemite are open and clear except the Badger Pass road which is R1.

  13. Injured climber rescued from Yosemite's Half Dome

    Posted February 24, 2009 - 3:00pm by Yosemite Blog

    Injured climber rescued from Yosemite's Half Dome
    By TRACIE CONE – 2 hours ago
    YOSEMITE NATIONAL PARK, Calif. (AP) — An experienced South Korean mountain climber was caught in an avalanche on Yosemite National Park's iconic Half Dome and was stranded on the granite monolith for about 16 hours before he was rescued Tuesday.
    Jun Ho Wang, 38, was swept more than 100 yards down a rock face and into an icy low-lying gully Monday afternoon. On Tuesday morning he was plucked from the northwest face of Half Dome by a helicopter crew and flown to safety.
    Yosemite Medical Clinic staff said he had a few broken bones but was alert and responsive.
    "It could have been a lot worse, but he was well prepared," clinic manager Sean Pence said. "He had great equipment and his equipment probably saved his life."
    Wang was flown to Doctor's Medical Clinic in Modesto to be treated for a fracture in his left wrist and multiple breaks in his left leg, Pence said.
    Wang became stranded after falling snow and ice separated him from his seven-person climbing party, Yosemite spokeswoman Adrienne Freeman said. One of the other climbers radioed for help after getting off the mountain.
    Freeman says the experienced climber was well equipped and able to hunker down in his sleeping bag as temperatures dipped below freezing Tuesday morning.

  14. The California poppies are out!

    Posted February 24, 2009 - 3:17pm by Yosemite Blog

    The California poppies are out in the Lower Merced River Canyon. There was a large fire last fall that burned into the Lower Merced River Canyon on Hwy 140 between Yosemite and Mariposa. The Poppies really flourish after fires and they are very thick down in the burn area.

  15. Yosemite Daily Photos 2/24/09

    Posted February 24, 2009 - 2:55pm by Yosemite Blog

     Photos from Yosemite today.

    Click on thumbnail: 
    Yosemite Valley 2/24/08
    Click on thumbnail: 
    Yosemite Valley 2/24/08

  16. Horsetail Falls, Yosemite, noon 2/24/09

    Posted February 24, 2009 - 2:59pm by Yosemite Blog

     Here are some shots of Horsetail Falls on El Capitan in Yosemite today. There is plenty of water from the last storms so lets hope we finally have a clear sunset for it to light up into Yosemite's Firefall.

    Click on thumbnail: 
    Horsetail Falls on El Capitan in Yosemite
    Click on thumbnail: 
    Horsetail Falls on El Capitan in Yosemite

  17. Yosemite National Park

    Posted February 24, 2009 - 2:52pm by Yosemite Blog

    Daily Report - Yosemite National Park
    Tuesday, February 24, 2009
    Weather
    Yosemite: TODAY...MOSTLY CLOUDY. A 20 PERCENT CHANCE OF SNOW SHOWERS IN THE
    MORNING. NOT AS COOL. HIGHS 51 TO 61 IN YOSEMITE VALLEY...42 TO
    51 IN THE HIGH COUNTRY.
    .TONIGHT...MOSTLY CLOUDY WITH A 20 PERCENT CHANCE OF SNOW SHOWERS. LOWS 24
    TO 34 IN YOSEMITE VALLEY...14 TO 24 IN THE HIGH COUNTRY.
    .WEDNESDAY...MOSTLY CLOUDY WITH A 40 PERCENT CHANCE OF RAIN AND SNOW
    SHOWERS. BREEZY. SNOW LEVEL 7000 FEET. HIGHS 48 TO 58 IN YOSEMITE
    VALLEY... 35 TO 45 IN THE HIGH COUNTRY.
    .WEDNESDAY NIGHT...MOSTLY CLOUDY WITH A 40 PERCENT CHANCE OF SNOW SHOWERS.
    SNOW LEVEL 7000 FEET. LOWS 24 TO 34 IN YOSEMITE VALLEY...
    13 TO 23 IN THE HIGH COUNTRY.
    .THURSDAY...MOSTLY CLOUDY. WINDY. HIGHS 47 TO 57 IN YOSEMITE VALLEY...33
    TO 43 IN THE HIGH COUNTRY.

    El Portal: Today: Mostly sunny, with a high near 62. East northeast wind at
    9 mph becoming southwest.
    Tonight: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 33. Southwest wind around 5 mph
    becoming calm.
    Wednesday: A 20 percent chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a high near
    59. Southwest wind between 5 and 9 mph.
    Wednesday Night: A 30 percent chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low
    around 33. Calm wind becoming east northeast between 6 and 9 mph.
    Thursday: Mostly cloudy, with a high near 58. South southeast wind between
    7 and 9 mph.

    New Today

  18. Clear beautiful dawn in Yosemite, 2/24/09

    Posted February 24, 2009 - 8:22am by Yosemite Blog

    This morning in Yosemite the clouds have parted leaving awesome clear skies. There is several inches on new snow up higher above 6,000' and the Badger Pass road is R1, snow tires or chains, with all other roads clear.

    Looks like today might be the day for taking photos of Horsetail Fall Firefall as we have plenty of water from 2 days of storms and today is supposed to be clear all day. So get your spot early as it has been so crowded at the turnouts that there is no parking left by 5pm.

  19. Yosemite National Park

    Posted February 23, 2009 - 9:22am by Yosemite Blog

    Daily Report - Yosemite National Park
    Monday, February 23, 2009
    Weather
    Winter Storm Warning
    URGENT - WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE
    NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY - HANFORD CA
    455 AM PST MON FEB 23 2009
    ...WINTER STORM WARNING FOR HEAVY SNOW AND STRONG GUSTY WINDS REMAINS IN
    EFFECT UNTIL NOON PST TODAY FOR THE SIERRA NEVADA FROM YOSEMITE TO KINGS
    CANYON...

    A WINTER STORM WARNING FOR HEAVY SNOW AND STRONG GUSTY WINDS REMAINS IN
    EFFECT UNTIL NOON PST TODAY.

    SNOW ACROSS THE SOUTHERN SIERRA NEVADA WILL REMAIN HEAVY AT TIMES AS A
    STRONG UPPER DISTURBANCE SLOWLY MOVES CLOSER TO THE NORTHERN CALIFORNIA
    COAST. THE SLOW MOVEMENT OF THE DISTURBANCE WILL ALLOW HEAVY SNOW TO
    CONTINUE THROUGH THE MORNING AS ADDITIONAL MOISTURE SURGES INTO THE REGION.
    SNOW LEVELS WILL FLUCTUATE BETWEEN 7000 AND 8000 FEET THROUGH MIDDAY TODAY.
    TOTAL SNOWFALL THROUGH MIDDAY TODAY WILL BE ONE TO TWO FEET...WITH LOCALLY
    HIGHER TOTALS POSSIBLE IN THE YOSEMITE NATIONAL PARK AREA.

    IN ADDITION...WIND GUSTS OF UP TO 75 MPH WILL OCCUR ALONG WEST FACING
    SLOPES AND NEAR THE CREST...CAUSING CONSIDERABLE BLOWING
    AND DRIFTING OF SNOW AND NEAR WHITE OUT CONDITIONS AT TIMES.

    A WINTER STORM WARNING MEANS SIGNIFICANT AMOUNTS OF SNOW ARE EXPECTED OR
    OCCURRING. STRONG WINDS ARE ALSO POSSIBLE. THIS WILL
    MAKE TRAVEL VERY HAZARDOUS OR IMPOSSIBLE. STAY TUNED TO NOAA WEATHER

  20. Silver Ski Race at Badger Pass

    Posted February 23, 2009 - 9:42am by Yosemite Blog
    Mar 14 2009 8:00 am
    Mar 15 2009 4:00 pm

    Silver Ski Volunteers Needed

    Join the Yosemite Winter Club, Yosemite Ski Team, and over 100 young ski
    racers from around the central Sierra as they compete in the historic
    Silver Ski Race at Badger Pass!

    The event takes place Saturday and Sunday,
    March 14-15, 2009. Volunteers are needed in the lodge and on the hill for
    timing, gate keeping, course maintenance, logistics, etc. Volunteer one day
    or both, and you need not be a skier to participate! Volunteers get a lift
    ticket and lunch for each day they work, and a Badger Pass lift ticket
    voucher good for any day in the 2009 or 2010 ski season. Call or email Tom
    Medema if you want to help - yosemiteskiteam@yahoo.com or (209) 379-9252.

  21. Badger Pass - Daily Snow Conditions: Date: February 23, 2009

    Posted February 23, 2009 - 9:37am by Yosemite Blog 
    When we got here this morning it was snowing and hasn't stopped yet. We have received 2"-3" throughout the day and more forecasted for tonight. We have an 80% chance of snow for Monday 2-23-09!! Thank you, and I will see you on the slopes!! (S. Costello - 2/22/09)
Badger Pass - Daily Snow Conditions: Date: February 23, 2009
Downhill Operations
Base Depth: 48” to 84”
New Snow:   Forecast 3"-7"
Snow Conditions:  Packed powder, powder
Forecast: 80% chance of snow
Temperature:      High 41 Low 26

  22. Very wet with a high snow level in Yosemite.

    Posted February 23, 2009 - 9:32am by Yosemite Blog

    Yosemite  2/23/09  9:30 am

    Last night saw the continuation of rain with the snow level up around 7,000'. With rain up high the chain controls are all down and all roads in Yosemite right now are R0 which means no chain controls. The weather says more rain and snow with the snow level dropping so always carry chains.

    Badger Pass Ski Area got some very wet snow yesterday and overnight saw more very wet snow.

  23. Rain and snow hit Yosemite

    Posted February 22, 2009 - 11:42am by Yosemite Blog

    Today brings rain and snow into Yosemite with the snowlevel around 6,000'. The Badger Pass road is R2.

  24. Disabled Cross Country skiers on the Glacier Point Road

    Posted February 22, 2009 - 11:47am by Yosemite Blog

    We ran into 2 disabled women Cross Country skiers on the Glacier Point Road in Yosemite on Friday. They were heading out to the Glacier Point hut for a overnight stay.

    Click on thumbnail: 
    Disabled Cross Country skiers on the Glacier Point Road
    Click on thumbnail: 
    Disabled Cross Country skiers on the Glacier Point Road

  25. Badger Pass Snow Report, 2/21/09

    Posted February 21, 2009 - 2:53pm by Yosemite Blog

    Badger Pass Snow Report from Chris Falkenstein on Vimeo.

    The Badger Pass Snow Report with information on season passes good for this spring and on upcoming events such as the Silver Ski Race and the Winter Carnival.

  26. Bridalveil Falls with ice buildup, Yosemite

    Posted February 20, 2009 - 4:37pm by Yosemite Blog

     Here is how Bridalveil Falls in Yosemite looks today with all the ice and snow build up from the recent storms.

    Click on thumbnail: 
    Bridalveil Falls in Yosemite

  27. Yosemite starts Indian history at 1870?

    Posted February 20, 2009 - 4:35pm by Yosemite Blog

    Yosemite starts Indian history at 1870?
    by Yosemite Paiutes

    Posted on: Feb 20, 2009 at 3:36 PM EST

    Location: Yosemite

    A couple of years ago after several new interpretive signs were put up in Yosemite National Park some Paiutes who had direct ancestry to the Yosemite area questioned Yosemite National Park why the story of Chief Tenaya and the original Yosemite Indians was not displayed. The interpretive signs were created with the assistance of Yosemite Association and the Yosemite Fund.
    Yosemite National Park’s Indian Liaison, who is white, explained the Park starts their Indian historical program around the turn of the 1900s and not at first discovery. That was quite a surprise to Paiutes because the history of Yosemite starts before white people entered the Valley. The history of the California Native American Indian people starts thousands of years before whites entered the state. Why would the Park Service start around the beginning of the 19th century instead of at first encounter?

  28. Another beautiful day skiing in Yosemite

    Posted February 20, 2009 - 3:57pm by Yosemite Blog

    Today was another perfect day for cross country skiing, snow shoeing down hill skiing or whatever you would like to do in Yosemite. Warm temperatures and a abundance of snow make it a perfect winter playground.

    I have seen huge groups of photographers about no doubt here for the Horsetail Fall Firefall event happening right now. To bad there have been very few clear days to see the waterfall.

    Skiing on the Glacier Point road.

     

    Click on thumbnail: 
    Sking on the Glacier Point road.

  29. Badger Pass - Daily Snow Conditions:

    Posted February 20, 2009 - 3:52pm by Yosemite Blog

     Another beautiful sunny day at Badger Pass!! This weekend is The 37th

    Nordic Holiday Race. On Saturday is the 16 KM " Classic" ski race and the
    Telemark Race. On Sunday is the Glacier Point & back 35 KM "Freestyle race.
    Don't miss this Badger Pass tradition. I will see you on the slopes!! (S.
    Costello - 2/20/09)
    Badger Pass - Daily Snow Conditions:
    Date: February 20, 2009
    Downhill Operations
    Base Depth: 48” to 84”
    New Snow: None
    Snow Conditions: Powder, packed powder
    Forecast: Mostly sunny
    Temperature: High 44 Low 12

  30. Yosemite Dewey Point

    Posted February 20, 2009 - 3:48pm by Yosemite Blog

    Yosemite's Dewey Point well worth the walk

    Tom Stienstra, Chronicle Staff Writer
    Friday, February 20, 2009

    California's best snowshoe trek is within reach of anyone who can walk 7 miles.

    If you can't do that now, the payoff at Yosemite National Park's Dewey Point should be enough to inspire you to get in shape so that you can.

    Dewey Point is perched at 7,385 feet on the south rim of Yosemite Valley. The exhilaration of the view hits all at once, as you seem to tower over El Capitan, directly across the valley. To your right is Cathedral Spire and beyond that is Taft Point. Below is Yosemite Valley leading to Half Dome. You can also take in the distant Clark and Cathedral ranges, wilderness now covered with a blanket of snow, crowned on the horizon by Echo Peak, Matterhorn Peak and other frozen mountaintops.

    This is California's greatest showpiece. In summer, visitors come from all over the world to take in this panorama. Yet in winter, you can often have Dewey Point all to yourself.

    How hard is the trip? Well, it can go either way: It can be easy - or it can be very difficult.