Badger Pass
My first time in Yosemite, a summer, changed my life. Yosemite in the winter changed it all over again. Entering the park through Tunnel View we saw Half Dome aside Sentinel Dome and the entire valley below, it was enough inspiration for a lifetime. As we rose in elevation what we saw changed drastically. By the time we had reached our trailhead at Badger Pass we were well past 6,000 feet above sea level, that was the low point of the trek. After securing backcountry permits at the Nordic Center and renting the appropriate gear (all conveniently located near the trailhead) we set off, snowshoeing in Yosemite to Dewey Point. The hike was only 5 miles away from the parking lot, in snowshoes it felt like 15.
Snowshoeing in Yosemite to Dewey Point
Arriving at Dewey Point felt like standing on a cloud, sweeping views of the famous valley bellow, everything covered in the combined in fog and snow. It was partially cloudy when we got there but the visibility gods were on our side. We backtracked about one mile to find a flat campsite and tucked in for a cold night.
Waking up in the morning we came to a group decision, we would be descending a day early instead of another 24 miles in the snow. Upon arriving in the valley again we chose a short trip up to Old Inspiration Point. The view from our final campsite was not inspiring but we found the inspiration within, looking back on our snow filled adventure, and not having to sleep on snow again.
Interested in making a trip to Dewey Point? I recommend this excellent trip review by the Outbound Collective.
Check out this blog post to read about another epic snow adventure, one I had along my Pacific Crest Trail Journey.