Yosemite

This is the third year that Theresa and I spent a long weekend at Yosemite snowshoeing. Originally I thought that we would not be able to snowshoe due to the severe weather. I was checking the weather all week and was worried to see that severe thunderstorm and rain were being forecasted.

We left late morning on Saturday. Originally we planned to have lunch at downtown Merced. However, I missed the exit off highway 99. No problem, we first took a short rest stop at the Red Rock Winery ( http://www.redrockwinery.com/ ). Unfortunately they no longer served deli sandwiches. They did tell us to have a BBQ beef or pork sandwich at Mel's Old West BBQ (8721 E US Hwy 140 209-382-0571) at Planada, which is just outside of Merced. Theresa was intrigued by the Old West interior. I was more interested in the BBQ beef sandwich--which was the juiciest and most tender BBQ sandwich I ever had in my life!

After checking into Ahwahnee ( web ) Hotel, we took a walk to Yosemite Fall and then dined at the famed Ahwahnee dining room. In fact both nights we had the Chef's Tasting Menu. For my birthday Theresa and I enjoyed

Central Coast Crab and Avocado Martini with Gazpacho Dressing

Karly Sauvignon Blanc, 2002 Amador

Smoked Duck Consommé with Black Mushrooms and Mango Dumplings

Boyer Chardonnay, 2000 Monterey

Cendrillon Salad atop Watercress and Endive, Truffle Vinaigrette

Lamb Rack Persillade with Eggplant-Goat Cheese Torta, Sautéed Swiss Chard, Baby Yellow Squash in a Rosemary-Pinot Noir Reduction

Carmenet Cabernet Sauvignon, 2000 North Coast

Baked Alaska

Bonny Doon Framboise

It was a good thing that on Sunday we took a free shuttle bus ride up to Badger Pass and then snowshoed for about 3 hours and trekked on a well groomed trail for about 6 miles to burn off all the calories we ingested! Though we did not make it all the way to Glacial Point (it would have been a 21-miles round-trip) we enjoyed our hike immensely. Unlike Bear Valley there were no snowmobiles. There were just a few hikers and cross-country skiers. The trail was very quiet, except the noise from the crunching snow from snowshoeing.

On Monday morning after our continental breakfast we took another quick walk to Yosemite Falls. We were blessed with sunny and blue sky. The granite peaks, including Half Dome, were all blanketed with a light dusting of white, sparkling snow flakes from the storm the night before. How beautiful. What a winter wonderland. No wonder Ansel Adams kept coming back to this magical place.

Yes, I've already booked our stay at Ahwahnee Hotel next year!