Dewey Point
When: 2017-03-24 to 2017-03-26
To Lodgepole Campground
For Saturday morning, leaving the campground, we noticed that Highway 198 remained closed. After talking with some of the people at the John Muir Lodge, we were informed that the road would not be open until the night--at the earliest. An alternative plan was made: to Dewey Point.
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Road Closed. |
After deciding on where to go next, we made our way to Fresno along 180 and up to Glacier Point Road via Highway 41. Around three hours, in all.
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Detour. |
Dewey Point
Maybe a quarter mile in, we diverge away from the wilderness highway and transfer to the Meadow Trail--the easier route to Dewey Point.
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Francisco near the Meadow Trail marker. |
Along the Meadow Trail, the beginning portion is relatively flat. If there is incline, they are small rolling hills.
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Francisco breaking trail alongside the Meadow Trail. |
The trail we take, the Meadow Trail, is designated by signs throughout with the numerical label of 18. There is another, 14, which designates the Ridge Trail--which is what we take on the way out.
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Meadow Trail marker. |
As we head closer to the top, we notice an unexpected amount of fog rolling in.
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Jay, in the last stretch toward Dewey Point. |
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Jay, with Dewey Point in sight. |
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Ribbon Fall, near El Capitan. |
Once we arrived at the point, the fog only intensified. There were pockets of clarity, but those did not last too long.
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Francisco on Dewey Point. |
In order to camp overnight near the area, we traversed uphill and away from the trail. Afterwards, we setup camp near a large group or class.
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Our neighbors. |
Continuing our tried and true practice, Francisco started with digging his snow coffin to sleep in for the night. This usually involves cutting and digging out bricks of snow and a rekindled interest in Legos.
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Francisco starting his snow coffin. |
After setting up the shelters, we noticed a break in the clouds that were rolling through the Valley Floor.
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Jay and El Capitan. |
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El Capitan. |
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Jay, after taking photos. |
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Francisco looking yonder. |
Eventually, we needed to start digging a snow kitchen. There were only two shovels between the three of us, and Jay needed to finish digging out his vestibule area. I was left to document the scene while Francisco worked on the kichen and Jay on his patio.
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Francisco digging a snow kitchen. |
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Jay tending to his front yard. |
Food was just around the corner once Francisco finished up the kitchen--which wwas just another display of his prowess with Legos. My pot went to melting snow and refilling water. Jay started boiling water for his Alpine Aire meal while Francisco started frying the pork. Throughout the cooking process, we ended up using more and more Cholula. The strange part is that we could not taste a noticeable difference in terms of heat; it's as if the taste buds went numb.
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Dinner. |
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The remaining Cholula, which started from a full bottle. |
Before the sun fell, we were able to finish eating. Packing away our food and adding a few warm layers from our packs, we could see the large group was starting their own meals and nighttime activities. Surprisingly, the Valley Floor remained shrouded.
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Class meal. |
When we finally headed off on our separate ways for the night, I noticed that my bivy had some frost on the top. Francisco, having believed in clear skies, was forced to hide himself in his own bivy to avoid the light snowfall; his plan of sleeping in the open was cut short. Unexpectedly, Jay's tent seemed to work well while providing a large, dry working area.
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Bivy in the open. |
Heading Out
Another group of campers near us created a large snowman to overlook the Valley Floor. Sadly, its siblings were rolled down the hill the previous day. May they rest in peace.
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Snowman above the Valley. |
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Jay, along the Meadow Trail. |
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Francisco at the Ridge Trail and Meadow Trail fork. |
Upon gaining the ridge, we took a short break to eat some snacks and evaluate the remaining water. Thinking that the majority of the ascent was complete, we decided to continue on without melting snow.
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Francisco atop the ridge. |
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Jay descending the Ridge Trail and joining the wilderness highway. |