tshaq wrote:
Haven't spent much time in Yosemite but was looking for some good spots so will check it out. And was looking for some fallback options and alternates regardless...
And that makes sense on the avie problems. I'm less familiar with the western sierras ...
[Table Meadows)] Looks like a pretty magical place from the TR etc. so hoping conditions line up but will plan on a backup or fallback option.
Hi tshaq, I'll weigh in, having just skied out today after 4 days/3nights on Badger Ridge. I camped the first night above Dewey Point, as the ranger who gave me my WP (obtained from the ranger A-frame hut right at the Badger Ski Resort) told me that camping is not allowed right in the immediate area of Dewey Point, but just above and to the west, is a nice flat spot for camping. I've also seen folks camping a bit below and southeast of Dewey. We've camped at Dewey Pt. with the boys and friends at least 4x, and love the place.
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Dewey Point.
Ski touring along the frozen Glacier Point Rd is easy going, and dead safe from avie risk, but use caution around the cliff edges at the various overlooks. Having skied out from both the Wolverton and Badger trailheads, I'd say that the key difference is the feeling of being on the edge of the mountains at Badger Ridge, and being right among the mountains when skiing in from Wolveton. On my recent ski tour on Badger Ridge, I felt a strong urge to head down off the ridge, and up under the peaks of the Clark Range, or into the great canyon to Merced Lake.
The views from the overlooks of Badger Ridge are phenomenal, and well worth it. I actually had them all to myself, including my second night, camped at Washburn Point, which is a rare occurence. Last night, I slept on top of Sentinel Dome.
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View from Washburn Point. [What you don't see here are the plowed roadway, signs, and trash cans which are right behind me.]
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One of many views from atop Sentinel Dome.
It sounds like you are coming from the south tshaq, so you might not want to drive as far as some of other easy, safe, and beautiful westside ski tour locations-- Lake Aloha. et al., in Desolation Wilderness, the Carson Pass area, and @Paul knows of many more, if he's around to tell us.
We wish you the best of luck on your trip, wherever you decide to go.