Peak performance: Badger Pass Ski Area still giving folks a lift amid splendor of Yosemite

A WISE GUY once said, “Nostalgia ain’t the same as it used to be.” However, at Badger Pass — California’s very first ski resort — nostalgia appears to have arrived this year in tip-top shape. Under Yosemite National Park’s current administration and the park’s concessionaire, Aramark, this classic old resort has been boosted back to its full, amiable potential. 

For downhill skiers, this means modest but beautifully groomed slopes and highly affordable lift tickets, plus excellent beginner lessons for kids and adults at bargain basement rates. For nordic (cross-country) skiers and snowshoers, it means groomed trails winding through pristine, snow-draped forests. Access to these trails comes at a still more impressive price: completely free!