Checking Off Snow Shoeing From My Life Goal List | Yosemite Ski & Snowboard Area

Here everybody is posting pictures of beautiful Spring flowers and sundresses and I’m bringing back the snow. This trip was only a couple of weeks ago, but it already feels like months with all the beautiful sunny and warmer days we have been experiencing here in New England (although we’ve still had some really cold days too). I wanted to get it out into the blogosphere before Spring arrives for good. On our recent trip to Yosemite, Matthew helped me check off my life goal list of snow shoeing! (Cross country skiing and snow skiing are also on that list, but baby steps! Especially because Matthew had an injured ankle so we needed a low impact winter sport.)

In Yosemite Valley, signs of Spring were on their way. Driving up to the Yosemite Ski & Snowboard Area felt like driving into a completely different state. The snow was as high as tour buses in some places! (I have some photo evidence for that claim.) We went from cool Spring clothes to warm winter gear.

Snow shoe rentals are $22 per person for a half day and $26 for a full day. If we had more time at the park we would have joined a tour group.

We got the hang of the shoe shoes pretty quickly. In some places it felt as if they weren’t helping, but if you were to take them off you would sink really far into the snow.

This time of the year you don’t have much to worry about bears because they are hibernating and the mountain lions prefer higher places, but you should still keep a look out. For the most part, we stayed on the trail where other people were also walking, only veering off the path for a few mini expeditions. I didn’t feel it would be wise to wander off alone. (Can you image me trying to outrun a bear in snowshoes?!) It can be easy to forget how wild and unpredictable the wilderness can be. Although it is indeed beautiful, it is also very harsh. Before our visit a man went missing on the mountain and rescuers were still out searching, so always go with a buddy or a group and tell people where you will be and when you should be returning just to be safe.

When snowshoeing on a path, keep to the sides because the treads on snowshoes can create divers in the snow that can make it difficult for people ho are cross country skiing. They stick to the middle of the pathway.

My proof that the snow was insanely high! In some places the snow wall was higher than the bus.

When you come back form your adventures you can get some grub inside the ski hut. They had a wonderful vegetarian black bean burger option for those who are looking for something with high protein but with more health benefits.