Outdoor Club winter campers at brunchSince 1998 at the end of the annual De Anza Outdoor Club winter Yosemite camping trip (and occasionally after the summer Tuolumne trip), many, if not most people have gone to Sunday brunch at the Ahwahnee hotel in a grand dining room with a 34' high trestle beam ceiling, floor-to-ceiling windows and
twinkling chandeliers.
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.
Brunch usually includes bagels, cream cheese and smoked salmon, green salad, fresh fruit, prawns, prime rib, ham and /or lamb, made-to-order (at least a dozen choices of ingredients) omelettes, trout, eggs Benedict, oysters, chocolate covered strawberries, orange juice, grilled vegies, marinated vegies, various sliced fruit, cheese plate, chicken, garlic mashed potatoes, creamed spinach, hash browns, blintzes, creme brulee, cakes...
 
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 about $40 with tax and tip, but it's worth it after eating instant mashed potato cups and the like out in the cold and snow all weekend.)
We have usually made arrangements for two or three tables for eight or ten.
Group February 2006 photo by the campground host, Kathy Spalding, who came to brunch with us.
2005 pictures below by Deepak Chandani.
  
2007 pictures of people's food choices by Alice Chen:
   
2004 pictures of chocolate covered strawberries and dancing by (who?)
Some people have been known to dance to the music played on the grand piano:
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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.
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:
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