Home » Community » Current Yosemite Conditions for February 3, 2023
Image of Yosemite in winter.
Yoemite in Winter

Current Yosemite Conditions for February 3, 2023

The Badger Pass A-frame is open for the 2023 Season! 

The Badger Pass A-frame is open and staffed seven days a week by Wilderness staff to answer questions and issue backcountry Wilderness permits.

Call 209-372-0408 for current ski and snow conditions.

Snow Conditions
Image of Pohono Bridge.

Pohono Bridge.

With calmer and dryer conditions prevailing for the last two weeks, we have watched the snow consolidate from a base depth of 108″ here at the A-Frame to 87.” Most of our Nordic Trails are now broken and traveling around on skis has become much easier. Sticky snow can still await the unprepared Nordic traveler who ventures out without a ski scraper or rub on wax. Be careful using a ski pole to try to knock that snow off the ski as you can easily find yourself with only one complete ski pole. The Ostrander and Peregoy Snow surveys were completed recently and as one might expect given the early winter storms there is a lot of snow and a lot of water in the snow. We are 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.

Image of a grizzly bear walking in the snow.

Please be advised that only bears are exempt from ski pole restrictions.

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 post hole damage (however shallow) is long lasting and presents real hazards to yourself as well as all other winter recreators. Only bears still walking around in the winter are excused from this expectation.

Tuolumne Meadows Winter Conditions Update for January 31, 2023

New Snow:  One inch

Settled Snow Depth:  101 inches

High temperature:  46°F (January 26)

Low temperature:  -4°F (January 29)

Click here for more information.

January Weather Summary

New Snow:  181 inches (Historical Average: 60.7 inches)

Snow Water Equivalent:  13.71 inches (Historical Average: 5.05 inches)

High Temperature:  32.48°F (Historical Average: 40.2°F)

Low Temperature:  10.25°F (Historical Average: 10.0°F)

Average Temperature:  21.36°F (Historical Average: 25.4°F)

Tuolumne Meadows Living Conditions

Image of Yosemite waterfalls in winter.We are halfway through this month’s round of snow surveys and just got back from one of the more rustic outposts, where we melt snow for water and cook over a wood burning stove. This month we found the stove pipe under ten feet of snow! After digging the cabin out and sampling the Tenaya Lake and Snow Flat courses we left first light to mitigate the hazard beneath the shooting gallery of Spring Hill east of Tenaya Lake where large cornices and ice falls loom overhead. We always breathe a sigh of relief after another successful passage.

Now back in Tuolumne Meadows, we are ready to take our ski boots off, sit back, and relax in a house that is plenty spacious by our standards (less cleaning the smaller it is). Admittedly, the kitchen is small, so we take turns cooking. Many have asked recently what we do to unwind and relax. Like most people, we value all types of entertainment both in the mountains and in the city whether it be dancing, playing music, reading a book, watching a movie, or playing word games.

Image of someone skiing in Tuolumne Meadows.

Skiing in Tuolumne Meadows.

Yes, for the most part, the winter rangers are just like you, although to some, we may seem like astronauts living on a snowier planet. I think we all pine for “the simple days” where we aren’t attached to our devices and where we aren’t stuck in traffic. So long as we use these machines for positive forms of communications and spend some time in nature (even if it’s your backyard) you too can experience the joys of being a “wilderness” ranger.  We hope that this section has answered the many individual requests and inquiries as of late. As always, we are happy to share our experiences in this magical place with everyone.

Ski Conditions and Weather

The snow surveys this week gave us the opportunity to escape our Tuolumne Meadows “bubble” and have a good look around at the rest of our patrol area. The ski conditions were good for putting in the miles, though the heat of the days did see some gloppy snow looking for a free ride by attaching itself to the bottom of our skis. A scraper and fresh coat of glide wax put an end to that freeloader! The snow surface is wind affected across all elevations and aspects. Shady and sheltered locations are holding the best snow for skiing. This is a type of snow known by many names. We’ll go with “recycled powder” for this writing.

Image of Tioga Pass in the wintertime.

Tioga Pass.

A dusting of new snow freshened things up a bit over the weekend although pine needles, branches, and even trees, still litter the surface. There are presently good touring conditions along the Tioga Road and in the meadows and drainages. Aside from wind scoured slopes in the alpine, snow coverage is excellent for this time of year even on many south facing slopes. The average snow depth of our snow surveys completed so far is 122 inches and the central Sierra Nevada is presently above the April 1st average for snow water content.

Avalanche and Snowpack Conditions

Please refer to the Eastern Sierra Avalanche Center (ESAC) and the Bridgeport Avalanche Center for the avalanche advisories for this part of the Sierra Nevada. The avalanche hazard has lowered considerably since the heavy snows of January subsided two weeks ago. The primary hazards, though low and ever changing with the weather of the day, are from wind slabs and wet loose avalanches. We did not observe any recent avalanches or signs of instability this week. There are, however, some impressive glide cracks opening up on some of the steep granite slopes of the many domes in the Tuolumne Meadows area.

Wildlife

Image of deer eating acorns.As some of you may recall, earlier this season we took advantage of a bear that broke trail for us through Dana Meadows. Well, lo and behold, the karmic favor was returned this week as a smaller pawed bear followed our ski tracks for several miles along the Tioga Road from Medlicott to Cottage Domes. We were quite relieved to see the prints deviate from the road at that point as we were wondering if they would lead us all the way back home to our porridge and bed!

According to one of the wildlife biologists in Yosemite National Park, “Generally people assume once it snows the bears are hibernating, but they aren’t all hibernating this winter! Bears won’t always hibernate if they have enough food to make it through the winter. This year was a big acorn year for certain species of oak trees, so bears are still eating enough to sustain them.”

If only the bears heeded the advice of Ranger Carter who staffs the Badger Pass Ranger Station (A-frame): “Please never walk or hike on the ski trails as post hole damage (however shallow) is long lasting and presents real hazards to yourself as well as all other winter recreators.”

Questions?
Image of the Tuolumne Meadows Ski Hut.

Tuolumne Meadows Ski Hut.

The Tuolumne Meadows Ski Hut is open. There is firewood and 8 bunks that are available on a first-come, first-served basis. For those visiting the Tuolumne Ski Hut from the east (only) permits are self-issued at the Ski Hut. For those entering from other areas within Yosemite, click here to learn more about how to obtain your wilderness permit. You may also contact the wilderness office at 209-372-0740.

As of this writing, there is electricity but no phone service in Tuolumne Meadows. Come prepared, and please make good decisions while traveling in the wilderness!

Read through the following two pages before embarking on any day or overnight snow travel within this park:
Check out this short video on how to make a winter driving emergency kit!

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