From Hwy 160 to the Big Meadows Reservoir and back made a nice hike in a waning winter. The shaded snow in this valley of the South Fork Creek has longer frozen life than the nearly bare South-facing slopes.
March should bring more snow, but this year's weather behavior raises doubts. Next week may drive us to hike on dry ground (wear your boots), but don't put away your snowshoes yet. This is "flexibility season." We'll leave the South Fork Visitor Center at 10 a.m. next Monday for a destination dictated by weather and ground cover.
In two or three weeks, Wayne and Linda Moulds will lead a hike from the Base Camp at the ski area to the top of Alberta Peak–a 6-mile round trip. Only 1/2 of it is up-hill. Recommended: either snowshoes (if snowfall is recent) or studded slip-under-the-boot traction devices (if it's icy and firm snow). Usually the snow on this route is pretty firmly packed by skiers. (We will stay on the edges of the ski runs to prevent conflicts with skiers.)
--Doug Knudson 873-5239
Happy group, moving out.
Thawing and freezing produces icicles on the rocks.
Cornice on Big Meadows Dam
Pat recuperated on a deep cushion of snow in the sun.
Our snow-girt South Fork gets narrowed into a tube under a road.
Wayne leaving his rock lunch table
Welcome back to Sharon
Bonnie on the snow--still not tired after 3.5 miles
Cliffs and fresh snow decorate the walls of this little valley
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