As long as Rebecca’s out there in the snow, I don’t have to be.

We found a nice campsite near but not too close to the rim, and then spent the rest of the day eating and enjoying the scenery. A typical outing. The only downside to Dewey Point is that other people generally have the same idea – it’s a popular destination for snowcamping outings, especially for first-timers. We had our general area to ourselves until a large group stomped in just before sunset (we had seen them about six hours earlier two miles back – must have been a long day for them) and set up camp within a couple hundred yards of us. They weren’t terribly annoying, but still – when there is snow on the ground, you can set up camp anywhere. Why choose a location so close to others? I dubbed them the VonLoudendorks 2 (they reminded me of a group I encountered on the JMT this summer).

Click on her pix to see her swell new GoLite Xanadu (those kids at GoLite are so clever — see, it’s a dome tent, and if you remember English class — or lyrics to obscure, pretentious Rush songs — you’ll certainly recall that “pleasure dome” place.)