Snowcamping, Yosemite, and friends. What better way to start the new year?
We drove out to Wawona on New Year’s Eve to meet a bunch of friends at the group campground. After celebrating the new year with a warm campfire, cheap champagne, and lots of laughs, we got a good night of sleep before heading up to Badger Pass and donning our packs for an overnight snowshoe to Dewey Point.
Dewey Point is about a 3.5 mile trek from the Badger Pass parking area. The first mile is on groomed road (Glacier Point Road, closed in winter), then the track diverts to a nice marked cross-country route for the last 2.5 miles. We found a great campsite about 1/4 mile before the Point, about midway between Dewey and Crocker. It was close enough to the rim of Yosemite Valley that we were able to walk out for photos of the clearing afternoon snow storm and sunset. Beautiful, and one of my all-time favorite places to camp in the snow.
The following morning we took the short, mile round trip trek to Crocker Point for the views into the Valley, then back to camp to pack up and head out with about half of the group. The other half took a hike over towards the Taft Fissures and were going to stay for a second night.
If You Go
Permits are required and are available at the A-frame at Badger Pass. Parking is available at the Badger Pass ski area lot as well – overnight vehicles park in the permit lot. Food and restrooms are available at the Badger Pass ski resort.
Not ready to camp out in the snow? Dewey Point makes an excellent day trip on snow shoes or skis. There are even several shuttle options to get to Badger Pass if you feel uncomfortable driving up there (the road is often icy and under chain controls). The route is well marked, well traveled, and offers some of the greatest views in Yosemite. Go for it!
Snowcamping is not to be taken lightly – while it can be as enjoyable and easy as a simple overnight summer backpack, the consequences of forgotten gear, unexpected weather, or lack of skills can be far worse. Be careful out there!
thanks for sharing. i have never done dewy point in winter. sounds like a fantastic way to start the year. loved the info and the photos! again – many thanks.
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fancy kitchen!
what was for dinner?
thanks, as always, for helping us citybound folks feel like we ad-ventured out — just a little bit — vicariously!
-m
Wow! Beautiful scenery as during any season in Yosemite.
Thanks for the narration and details of your adventure. Also for the timely caveats.
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