Maraposa is fine with me, they have toilets there and a gift shop you can sleep under HA! HA!, If it looks bad weather on Fri we could hike into Maraposa, then if it looks like the weather is going to clear for the weekend, we could then head over to Dewey, killing 2 birds with 1 snowball, I mean stone. The weather doesn't bother me, I just don't have chains, I'll buy some if I have to. Looks like I won't be able to car pool with anybody, since most are coming from the north, if someone is going my direction, I'm game, just let me know. If My friend Kevin goes we can use his jeep, 4x4 and all ya know!

Who's in for sure Fri.? please post it here, and we will plan on going into Maraposa Fri. night, sound good. Jack

How will we know on Sat. as to where to go Jack....We won't be up in the area until aroud noon. Did you have cell coverage at Mariposa Grove last time???

If the weather is good we can all hike back to the trail head, if not, you guys can meet us at Maraposa Grove. If the rest of the grew gets there around 12:00 on Sat. that gives us plenty of time to pack up and hike back, if the weather is going to be nice. Will have to watch the weather and play it by ear, Ken, or anyone else, can you think of something that might work better, I'm open to all suggestions. The hike into Maraposa Grove is only about 2 miles, with a very slight incline so it's an easy hike.

I just received an email with an offer to work ( 2 paid hikes) this coming weekend. I can't pass this up. Sorry to miss this trip. Have fun, take pictures ! I still hope to make it on a snow trip, before it's gone.

Guys we're out too. The weather just not look like fun for us. I want my wife to have fun and being tent bound is not fun. Sorry

So far it looks like me, Mark, Adam and Rick, are we still a go guys? I have chains for my truck so I'm good, if we want to call this one off, and wait till next month when Ken H. has his planned, it doesn't matter to me either way.





Edited, because I made myself look like an a$$, sorry.

Edited by jumpbackjack on 03/14/2011 22:04:22 MDT.

I'm in.

Marc we can meet at Maraposa trail head on Fri. if you want, just give me a time.

Im still good to go. Just getting together some last minute things.

I'm planning on driving up on Friday. Have you guys checked into permits, like where to pick one up, etc...? Also, I plan on skiing in. What are you guys using?

I haven't been out to Badger Pass in years however I have been there many times during snow storms. I never had problems driving the road during snow storms. Unless the road has changed it shouldn't be a problem but I'm hearing differently from some of the earlier posts.

My preference is to get up on higher ground like near Badger Pass instead of Mariposa Grove. If it is stormy I rather camp and travel in snow than rain. I can stay dry in the snow but rain camping is wet. Wet means cold. Snow means fun and the reason I want to do this trip is to ski and snow camp.

Rick

Adam, you want to meet up at Maraposa trail head also? I think for the 1st night this will be the best plan, then Sat. we can re-evaluate the weather for Sat., Sun.
Looks like high 30's-low 40's daytime, night looks like mid to high 20's, I'll keep an eye on the weather. I will bring 2 tarps 1 8x10 and 1 5x7 to set up so we can cook, eat, and visit under if it's snowing. If you can, bring hiking poles to help set the tarps up. If we're up there the whole weekend, maybe we can build an Igloo, Marc started one on a hike we did last year, I helped a little until our group continued hiking, it was pretty cool! If you have a snow shovel bring it, I have 2, or more like 1 1/2 one is a real hiking snow shovel, The other is one a freind gave me that looks like someone made, light and small, just not a lot of surface area, I'll bring both. Can't wait, this should be an exciting trip.

Yeah, I will meet you at Mariposa grove on Friday, I aim to get there by 9 am. I will PM you my cell phone number if you have one. I think I can rent a snow shovel along with the snow shoes. Really looking forward to it!

Cheers

Rick, I've never been to badger pass, so I don't know about the camp sites, if any, I'm game for either, I just know that at Maraposa Grove there is a gift shop we can stay under the huge porch if the weather is really bad. I'm with you though, I'd rather have snow than rain. I think the permits are self issue at Badger Pass, but I'm not 100% sure, last time me and David went to Maraposa Grove, we drove a few miles to get a permit, and there were none in the box, so we left a note in the windshield of the car. Just for everybodys info, I'm coming up from Bakersfield via 99 north to hwy 41 to the south entrance of the park, if anyone knows the park, and where would be a good place to meet up I'm game, I've only been to Maraposa Grove, so that's why I suggested it.

For the people that are going here is my cell # 661-304-1997 my pm's dont work and I'm usally up until 11:00 p.m.

Edited by jumpbackjack on 03/14/2011 23:10:19 MDT.

Sorry for all the people that couldn't make it, we're going to miss you guy's and gal We'll catch you on the next trip that Ken has planned.

Somethings up with my computer, it wont let me post a hyper link, so will have to do this old school

http://forecast.weather.gov/MapClick.php?lat=37.70568929943698&lon=-119.64969635009765&site=hnx&smap=1&unit=0&lg=en&FcstType=text

Edited by jumpbackjack on 03/14/2011 23:34:20 MDT.

If you are driving north on Hwy 41, and if others are driving in from 140 or 120, then the only logical place to meet is at the Chinquapin intersection, which is the intersection of 41 and the Glacier Point Road (gateway to Badger Pass). That intersection has a restroom building, a lot of highway signs, and a snow chain control checkpoint (assuming that chains are required).

There are no camp sites anywhere around Badger Pass.

--B.G.--

Thanks Bob, I hoped you were still watching this thread, any other suggestions that might work for us?

If you guys decide your going to do the Mariposa Grove on Friday night, you could meet in Wawona since you are going to need to pick up a permit at the ranger station.

Don't forget to bring extra shovels Jack and I am not talking about that trowel you brought last time. Snow is in the forecast and I hear that sometimes they don't plow the parking lot for the Mariposa Grove (haha).

You have one primary destination, and you have one fall-back destination (Mariposa Grove, but you've already been there recently). You might want to cook up another fall-back destination in the event of a big snow, which might close the Glacier Point Road altogether.

The first place that comes to mind would be around the Crane Flat Intersection, which is the highway intersection of 120, 120 Tioga Road, and the New Big Oak Flat Road to the valley. There is a road up to the Crane Fire Lookout, which would be good for a clear sky day. There is a road down into the Tuolumne Grove, which would be good for a bad weather day. You want to check with the ranger station to find out where it is legal.

For that matter, we used to park there and ski east on the Tioga Road. After a couple of miles uphill, you get to the gate, and from there on east, you will have the place to yourselves.

There's all kinds of places to go in the park. Unfortunately, you can't start from Yosemite Valley without doing a 3000' climb out. Starting from the East Side is great, but it is logistically impractical.

--B.G.--