Badger Pass Nordic Condition Report Week of March 18

The Badger Pass A-frame is open and staffed 7 days/week by Wilderness staff to answer questions and issue Overnight Wilderness permits. A-frame hours are 8:00am-4:00pm, intermittently. Call (209) 372-0408 for current ski/snow conditions.

Snow conditions: The Glacier Point Road is currently groomed all the way to Glacier Point and into Bridalveil Campground. At least for the coming week, spring has sprung up here at Badger Pass. East, South and West facing slopes are all basking in the glory of spring corn snow, and north facing slopes should not be far behind if the warm weather holds this week. When the corn is cooked, as we like to say, it is difficult to find better ski touring conditions anywhere, and the conditions are nothing less than spectacular right now. As any seasoned corn snow skier can tell you, access to the top of the slopes is as easy as it gets for the scales on the skis can grip with ease, providing a tremendous kick which gives way to a long easy glide. It is also sometimes referred to glory or hero snow as the descents are so friendly, it can make all of us feel like better skiers than we might actually be. All trails are currently 100% covered and are broken with the possible exception of #23 Westfall Meadow and Ghost Forest Loop. The current base depth at the A-Frame is 45". Past weekly temperatures ranged from a low of 16 to a high of 55 degrees.

If you are wondering if ski touring might be for you, or why we are so enamored with the joys of ski touring up here at Badger Pass, read what the NPS had to say about it in 1940:

"It is the basic conception that ski touring is the most appropriate type of winter use for the National Parks, since it makes available the scenic grandeur for which National Parks were created. Touring is a strong factor in building up physically sound, self-reliant individuals who will become strong advocates of the protection and conservation of our wilderness areas. Dangers are involved, or course, but learning to protect oneself against the rigors of nature is a vital part in the building up of virile manhood and womanhood."

The Glacier Point Road Nordic Routes are intended for ski or snowshoe travel only- please do not hike on them. The route may seem supportable for boots in the morning but will soften up with the warm temperatures and post holing will become a problem later in the day. Our Nordics recently followed the tracks of a post-holer who was going knee deep on every step of the way along the ski trail to Dewey Point, damaging the route and putting themselves and others at risk. Please help us spread the word that hiking on Nordic routes is not best practice and is detrimental to the resource and the visitor experience.