Good Mountain Fun

While many of you were watching "The Game", I was out with my family, taking advantage of a mountainside free of the usual riffraff. We started out for Badger Pass this morning. As we made our way up the mountain, we stopped at the CHP Chain Control, where we were informed that Yosemite had closed the gates, battened down the hatches, and rolled up the sidewalks. I had thought that there was an inordinate number of cars coming down the hill. Fortunately, the CHP officer also let me know that the Highways 140, and 120 were also closed at the gates to Yosemite. With several feet of new snow expected, they were doing their best to protect the public from themselves.

As for the general abilities of the average Californian to move in a snow covered world - well, they don't fare well. In the end it comes down to experience. If you've been in the mountains a while, and seen your way through a few winter snowstorms, then you know what to expect. Spend 5 minutes at a snow chain installation station, and you'll quickly pick out the locals from the townies. Locals usually have their chains on in under a minute, and they're off. Townies can be spotted by the look of confusion on their face as they open their chains for the first time, wondering which end to start at.

Don't get me wrong. I'm all for everyone experiencing the wonder and beauty that is in our National Forests. I just wish that folks would come more prepared. Witness the young couple in the compact sedan that has slid across the road into the snowbank. It sure is hard to put snow chains on the front tires of your car AFTER it has been buried nose first in snow. Best of luck to you. Witness the driver in a 4WD Dodge Durango, going 3mph - THREE MILES PER HOUR - in the middle of the road, holding up about 20 cars behind them. You'll notice that the vehicles coming the other way are managing to go about 20mph. Hmmm.

Well.

In spite of all the vehicular frustration, we had really fun time up at the Goat Meadow Snow Play Area. It's just outside of the South Gate entrance to Yosemite, off of Highway 41. I'm sure that this snow play area is usually crawling with families from all over the San Joaquin. Today, thanks to the Tazón de Fuente Estupendo XLII, most dads were too busy watching Tom Brady lose his winning streak to haul the family up the mountain. We had the snow play area mostly to ourselves. There were only about 8 other families there. We hauled little L. around on the snow disc for a while. Fun, but she looked a little nervous. Instead, I suggested that R. get on the snow disc, and hold L. so that they could ride together. I would break a new trail with my snow shoes, and they could follow behind on the disc.

L. had a giggle fit while I pulled her and Mommy behind me. I think that the snow shoes gave her the impression that I was really throwing my legs around. I ran down the hill, trying to keep from getting run over. I hauled them up the hill. Up. Down. Up. Down. Laughs, laughs, and more laughs. I was exhausted. It was totally worth it.

I forgot to write about our trip to Yosemite last weekend. I was too tired to write about it after last weekend's storm. Anyway, we had some more Mountain Fun( NOT Fun Mountain - formerly of Gatlinburg, TN). We even found an igloo someone made.