Outdoor Club winter campers at brunch

Photo below courtesy of the park concessioner Delaware North.

Each year after we pack up the campsite at least half of the group gets showers or otherwise cleans up, changes into decent clothes and meets at the Ahwahnee hotel at mid day. Some have changed all the way into dress uniform, as in airman (2005: Sergeant) Anello:

Photo below, taken in the waiting area outside the Ahwahnee dining room, by Michael Gregg. The sign elicited comments.

and a sign by the fireplace:

Brunch usually includes bagels, cream cheese and smoked salmon, green salad, fresh fruit, prawns, prime rib, ham, made-to-order (at least a dozen choices of ingredients) omelettes, scrambled eggs, bacon, trout, poached salmon, eggs Benedict, oysters, chocolate covered strawberries, pancakes/waffles, orange juice, grilled and/or marinated vegies, various sliced fruit, cheese plate, pasta, chicken, potatoes or hash browns, madeleines, creme brulee, tarts, cheesecake, crepes, blintzes ... all the desserts are freshly made in-house.

It's a wonderful place to soak in the sunshine coming in the big windows, finally let your toes thaw, and go back for seconds, thirds, fourths (...?). It will set you back a little over $57 with tax/tip. (If you seat in a group of six or more people they add a required 18% tip and we always seat in groups that size or bigger). But people decide it's worth it after eating instant mashed potato cups and the like out in the cold all weekend.)

Group February 2006 photo by the campground host, Kathy Spalding, who came to brunch with us.

2005 pictures below by Deepak Chandani.

do not feed the bear and endless backrub pictures from 2009:

2007 pictures of people's food choices by Alice Chen:

2011: some people get quite dressed up:

2012:

2014:

2004 pictures of chocolate covered strawberries and dancing to the music played on the grand piano (taken by who?)

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Here are a few hints about the logistics of getting from the campground to brunch in interesting weather.

After packing up the campsite we go to Curry Village and get showers and change into good clothes, at least 'Friday casual'.

Put your good shoes in the vehicle and wear your snow boots. Put the snow pants back on over the good slacks.

When you get to the Ahwahnee you can drive past the parking lot, follow the perimeter road that bears left as you pull up under the porte-cochere (covered entrance) and drop off passengers out of the weather. People can leave their winter boots, pants, jackets in the vehicle. The driver can then park the car or if it is precipitating and you have a couple of spare dollars for a tip, have a bellman do it. The bellman will keep your keys and get your vehicle for you after brunch.

If you ride the Yosemite Valley free shuttle bus to the Ahwahnee you will need to walk a bit out in the weather.

Below, the view from the free shuttle bus stop toward the Ahwahnee porte-cochere.

For details about this camping trip including links to ski/snowboard/ice skate/photo walk info, lists of gear to bring, first-timer's instructions, carpool info/chains/driving directions go to:

Snow Camp

A few people from an August 2006 trip:

Clearing snow after a winter storm: