Yosemite Badger Pass Nordic Report – February 10, 2023
The Badger Pass A-frame is open and staffed 7 days/week by Wilderness staff to answer questions and issue backcountry Wilderness permits. Call 372-0408 for current ski/snow conditions.
Snow conditions: With a nice cold storm last weekend, we received a total of 13.5″ of new snow giving the Nordic trails a fresh look and feel. Our base depth at the A-frame is now 91″.
Most of our Nordic Trails are now broken and traveling around on skis has become easier. Sticky snow can still await the unprepared Nordic traveler who ventures out without a ski scraper or rub on wax. The Ostrander and Peregoy Snow surveys were completed recently, and the data tells us that the Merced River drainage currently has 207% of the April 1 average for water content. We are still busy patrolling our Nordic Routes equipped with hammer and nails to move our trail markers up, which is only an option when there is enough snow to reach them. In the last week, the often-confusing junction of the #13 and #23 trails in Westfall Meadow has been given a makeover.
Remember to bring cross-country skis or snowshoes (or rent them from the Nordic Center) if you plan to come up to explore the Wilderness around Badger Pass. Nordic ski routes are intended for ski or snowshoe travel only. Please never walk or hike on the ski trails as posthole damage (however shallow) is long-lasting and presents real hazards to yourself as well as all other winter recreators. On a recent patrol, we found that one bear in our area is well versed on proper trail etiquette as the bear postholed right next to the ski trail rather than in it. So polite.