Trip Report
A Pictureful Wintery Weekend in Yosemite (Nov 2012)

by NutAgain!
Friday April 25, 2014 8:07pm
To honor the present snowfall in Yosemite, and because I just got myself sorted out for uploading pics again, here's a November 2012 weekend in winter conditions. I love the valley when the snow falls and you can spread out and enjoy any spot you want and feel like you have it all to yourself.

First must start with hearty victuals:

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And to make it portable and more caloric, add a stick of butter and throw it in a blender:

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It's like carbonara-flavored Power Bars but makes you fart stinky. Maybe that's just me. It was whole-wheat spaghetti noodles, and I hadn't yet figured out that wheat disagrees with me. With the eggs, bacon, pine nuts, and butter stick, I think I'll call them Gout Bars.

Woo Hoo! On the road, psych is building:

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This is how le_bruce rolls:

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Now that's what I'm talking about! Perfect Camp 4 conditions:

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Dude, where did our tarp go?

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It's a beautiful morning:

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Plenty of spots available:

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Woah, how come I never noticed that cool pinnacle before? That must be a proof that I never lived in Camp4

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It's even pretty out in front of the cafeteria:

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It's hard to find an unpretty spot to look:

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We like to chill and soak it all in:

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And dream of future climbs:

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Some dudes chillin' on the big stone:

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le_bruce is so excited to remember Steck Salathe that he unleashes his inner Barry Gibbs. Or John Travolta. Or something. There are plenty of photos of me around inspired to strike this pose, but I don't think I've perfected the form like he has. His wife is a good dancer, maybe that gives him an advantage.

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So 4-Mile Trail it is. I've never been up to Glacier Point before this:

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Le_bruce showing me how big his balls are. As if I didn't already know.

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Goodness

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I just like this picture:

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Uh oh, starting to get a little artsy:

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It's hard to resist scrambling up on stuff along the way:

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I think this is something I scrambled up while le_bruce kept trucking along:

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So many great spots in the valley:

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Who has scrambled out onto these pinnacles?

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Or this?

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The moody weather is a perfect accompaniment to the day:

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If I had ever spent a time in my life living in the valley, I would probably have scrambled up all kinds of stuff like this:

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But so little time, must prioritize.... did I mention that I love winter in Yosemite, even when it's technically still autumn?

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Rollin' rollin' rollin', keep them doggies rollin':

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The valley is down there somewhere:

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Peek-a-boo! there it is:

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Cleared up just in time!

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Mostly:

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And there's the money shot

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We even get a free edumacation!

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Just gorgeous:

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I lost all my videos from this day, but le_bruce probably has some funny ones of our silly antics running down the trail, before and after this:

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My camera battery died prematurely, but these were some of the prettiest moments I've had in the valley:

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And the thumbnail pic:
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Credit: NutAgain!
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  Trip Report Views: 2,503
NutAgain! 		About the Author
NutAgain! is a trad climber from South Pasadena, CA.

Comments
Rollover

climber
Gross Vegas
  Apr 25, 2014 - 09:31pm PT
Great trip report!!

Always love Yosemite in winter!
SC seagoat

Trad climber
Santa Cruz, Moab, Bozeman, the ocean, or ?
  Apr 25, 2014 - 09:33pm PT
Speechless here. And that's rare.

Susan
kaholatingtong

Trad climber
The fake McCoy from nevernever land.
  Apr 25, 2014 - 09:58pm PT
yosemite covered in snow is soo beautiful. you have some great pics here, thanks for sharing.
Kalimon

Social climber
Ridgway, CO
  Apr 25, 2014 - 10:11pm PT
Incredible photos!
Rhodo-Router

Gym climber
sawatch choss
  Apr 26, 2014 - 12:58am PT
Astounding!
Bascuela

Trad climber
Fresno, CA
  Apr 26, 2014 - 02:08am PT
Money shot indeed
hooblie

climber
from out where the anecdotes roam
  Apr 26, 2014 - 02:10am PT
weder makes it beder ... that was the best!
John M

climber
  Apr 26, 2014 - 02:16am PT
I love the valley after it snows. The light gets so good when it starts to clear. Good stuff. Thanks for posting!
caughtinside

Social climber
Oakland, CA
  Apr 26, 2014 - 02:19am PT
Thanks. Photos were great!
westhegimp

Social climber
granada hills
  Apr 26, 2014 - 02:20am PT
Wow. One excellent pic after another. So jealous I'm not there. Thanks for this TR.

Wes
mike m

Trad climber
black hills
  Apr 26, 2014 - 09:40am PT
Those are some really great shots. Hopefully you guys can get some climbing in, but if not you got some really great memories.
Ezra Ellis

Trad climber
North wet, and Da souf
  Apr 27, 2014 - 06:04pm PT
Stellar!!!!
Thanks!!!!
Leggs

Sport climber
Made in California, living in The Old Pueblo
  Apr 27, 2014 - 06:12pm PT
This beautiful TR just made my day. OUTSTANDING photos of the beauty that surrounded you! TFPU!
Josh Nash

Social climber
riverbank ca
  Apr 27, 2014 - 09:31pm PT
That's just about perfect.
mucci

Trad climber
The pitch of Bagalaar above you
  Apr 27, 2014 - 09:36pm PT
Magnificent shots of mother Yosemite!

Thanks for the time putting this together nut.

Absolutely magnificent.
BASE104

Social climber
An Oil Field
  Apr 27, 2014 - 10:59pm PT
Some of those photos were GREAT.

I wonder if those two portaledges on El Cap were Caldwell and Jorgensen on the Dawn Wall. It looks to be about right, and you can see the fixed ropes above.
MH2

Boulder climber
Andy Cairns
  Apr 27, 2014 - 11:10pm PT
Beautiful, even appetizing, but the reaction shot to Half Dome may need another take.
Jan

Mountain climber
Colorado & Nepal
  Apr 27, 2014 - 11:13pm PT
Loved your photos!
I used to camp in the Valley in winter.
Thanks for the memories.
Rick A

climber
Boulder, Colorado
  Apr 30, 2014 - 09:29am PT
Wow. What great photos! I really enjoyed the unusual views of valley landmarks.

I got lost one winter trying to skinny ski down in the vicinity of the four mile trail. Had to reverse course and go back to the rim after being blocked by a cliff band.

whitemeat

Trad climber
San Luis Obispo, CA
  Apr 30, 2014 - 10:14am PT
wow! those were some amazing photos!! winter time is awsoeme there!!


Some dudes chillin' on the big stone:


those were not just some dudes... those were THE dudes... KJ and TC!!!

TFPU
ablegabel

Trad climber
Livermore, CA
  Apr 30, 2014 - 11:39am PT
Nice pictures. Captures the real feel of Yosemite quite well. Some of my favorite days in the Valley have been stormy, non climbing days.

About 15 pictures down, your one titled "and dream of future climbs" is a route I put up with Tim Tuomey back in 1999. It takes the main corner system to the top of the pinnacle. It's called Free & Easy 5.10b, 5 pitches and is on Lower Brother. It's a good route. The last 200' corner is the money pitch.
Just to the right of that route is one called Avenger of Evil 5.11+, 6 pitches, put up with Warren Dignes in 1998. You can just see the end of the last pitch at the right edge of your picture. It ends out on the lip, on the right edge of those huge roofs.

Thanks for the pictures - Eric Gabel
skcreidc

Social climber
SD, CA
  Apr 30, 2014 - 11:44am PT
Beautiful photos!!
NutAgain!

Trad climber
https://nutagain.org
Author's Reply  Apr 30, 2014 - 12:07pm PT
Thanks everyone, and thanks Eric, I think you jogged my memory a bit. Our plan that Saturday was to climb your Free and Easy, himmed and hawwed on the approach and with our late start, we ended up bailing before starting and doing the 4 Mile Trail? Or maybe that was a different day... so many nice memories blend together for me into a meta-memory, a peaceful easy feeling, whenever I think about Yosemite.
NutAgain!

Trad climber
https://nutagain.org
Author's Reply  Sep 9, 2016 - 12:52pm PT
Bump for some winter valley scenery and that peaceful easy feeling.
le_bruce

climber
Oakland, CA
  Sep 10, 2016 - 04:47pm PT
Hand't seen this thread, Scott - one of favorite days in the Valley without a doubt. Still remember that cold and quiet feel, and the quality of that light. Fat snow flakes coming and going throughout the day, at one point backlit by low rays coming over the shoulder of the Sentinel. Ahhhhh bliss

We were up on the summit of Fifi yesterday, hot day, good day. Had a blast but couldn't keep from sniffing the air for any hint of coming fall. Getting pretty excited for the beautiful & quiet months.

Hope LA is good!
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