Adventure and Misadventures in Calaveras County

After two gorgeous days in Yosemite National Park and the city of Angels Camp, our good weather luck seemed to run out. In fact, it seems that many of our spring break trips in the last several years has had some kind of weather-related issue, and it is not uncommon for us to end up with snow on our spring break excursions.

Such was our last full day in Calaveras County during our early April vacation. After driving the hour-and-a-half to Yosemite the past two days, we opted for a more local adventure that would still allow for us to enjoy the outdoors and visit some lovely scenery. Our goal was to head to Calaveras Big Trees State Park in Arnold, California, about a 25-minute drive up California Route 4 from where we were staying in Angels Camp.

We knew that the weather would be cooler than the prior three days, and that there was a chance of rain. After checking the Apple weather app, which indicated that the coming storm would only bring about 0.35 inches of rain over the course of about five hours, we figured that while it would be a bit damp, we could still have a fun time among the giant sequoias. So after a stop at the Save Mart in Angels Camp for some decadent cookie sandwiches, Michael and I, along with the girls and Mees, loaded back up in the minivan and headed north toward Arnold.

Perhaps there is a curse on Haases visiting giant sequoias. Or maybe our vacations are destined to have mishaps that will help us to learn as a family; I don’t know. Either way, Apple weather was wrong, and the Ebbetts Pass Scenic Byway, which starts at the town of Arnold and traverses north, would not turn out to be a smooth drive.

Instead of rain, there was snow. At first, the drive was charming. With the snow falling over the fields and the trees along Highway 4, it was easy to forget that it was April and we were on spring break. The scene looked like a Christmas card. But that charm soon faded about a mile out from the state park. While Michael and I both have some experience driving in snow, most of mine was either on mountain roads that have been recently plowed or in the Midwest where it is flat. And at this point in the story- about a half-mile away from the park entrance- where the road was neither flat or plowed as it was early on in the storm and CalTrans had not yet been up the byway with snowplows- is where we stop. Literally. The car would not continue up the mountain. There was too much snow and too little traction, and by then I was wishing that we had brought the Subie with its symmetrical all-wheel drive and new tires with deep tread rather than the minivan that was due for new tires. Michael, who was behind the wheel, pulled over and joined the growing line of stranded cars along CA-4.

Sami was beginning to panic as we tried to problem solve. Taking advantage of the glistening snowfall and the forest scene on the side of the road, Emily invited Sam to take photos with her, which was a good diversion. Meanwhile, a motorist caught unawares by the springtime winter storm itself, but prepared with snow chains, offered to lay the chains down to give the car enough traction to turn around.

The plan worked. After loading back up, and thanking our automotive guardian angel, Michael drove back south, with the intention of heading back to Angels Camp. But as we reached Arnold, Emily pointed out a sign advertising tire chains. So we turned into the Napa auto shop and spent more than few dollars on cable-style chains and a snow brush. A family effort, we installed the chains and brushed the snow off the car. We then hit the road and headed back up to hopefully see the big trees.

The second time was a charm- sort of. With the tire chains we made it up to Calaveras Big Trees State Park more easily this time. However, when we got there, the entrance station was closed on account of the storm, and driving down the road, we realized that it was difficult to tell how high the snow actually was. Additionally, the storm showed no sign of slowing down at that point, and having little cell signal, we decided that it would be better not to risk getting stranded in the snow. So we turned around and parked not far from the entrance station to take some photos and frolic in the snow. After all, we made it that far- there were going to be photos.

The scenery, even not too far off CA-4, was enchanting. The tall conifers towered above us and stood in contrast to the virgin snow. Unfortunately, we did not get to see the giant sequoias on this trek, but they’ll be there when we return. It was enough to chase each other and throw snow at each other. The powder was very fresh and did not make for cohesive snowballs, but the time was nevertheless fun, and it was a nice time playing as a family.

We didn’t stay too long at the state park. It was getting cold, and there wasn’t too much more to safely explore. So we headed back south to Murphys, where we had planned on stopping for dinner.

Thankfully, CalTrans was now plowing the highway, and while the snow was still falling, the storm was slowing down. After a stop to take the chains off, we made it safely to Murphys. The town looked different with the snow compared to when we visited in the summer; indeed it looked like it could have been the setting for a Hallmark special. It made for a nice walk.

Unfortunately, however, our dinner plans had to change. There was a power outage over half the town, and many of the shops and restaurants closed for the day. We ended up stopping at Murphys Irish Pub on Main Street for some hot drinks. The Irish coffee with some cinnamon whipped cream was perfect on a snowy day.

Thus, we ended up driving back to where we started- the Save Mart in Angels Camp. We bought fixings to prepare a Mediterranean-style meal back at the WorldMark. The cashier informed us that we were in luck; they lost power too and PG&E had it restored not long before we arrived. It turned out that the resort lost electricity for several hours and had come back online about an hour or so before we returned. In the end, preparing dinner together and spending time laughing over the ordeals of life made for a pleasant last evening of spring break.

Some things to consider:

We found out the hard way that while the Apple weather app is correct much of the time, it is not correct one hundred percent of the time. While we knew there was a chance of a winter storm and had planned our Yosemite trips accordingly, the severity of the storm in Calaveras County took us- and many others-by surprise. Spring can bring changeful weather, so it was fortunate that on this trip we brought clothing that could be layered for the warm days as well as the sudden cold. Which brings me to the next point…

I had considered whether we might need snow chains for the car on this trip. Ultimately, I decided against it, figuring that we would just plan our trips around the forecasted weather. I knew that CA-120 would be unsafe, if not impassable, in a snowstorm, and even in the rain, the winding road would be a challenge. That said, I did not anticipate how bad the storm would be, nor did I consider the change in elevation heading up to Calaveras Big Trees State Park. Next time, especially in the spring during a year with cooler temps and atmospheric rivers and changeful weather, I will be sure to carry the tire chains. Just in case.

Even with the chains, we did turn around when conditions did not improve. It was better to be safer; the state park will be there when conditions improve. We had the chance to play in the snow under some big trees, and we thankfully did not get stranded at the park. It is better to be safe than stuck.

The cell signal was inconsistent past Arnold. As we headed onto the Ebbetts Pass Scenic Byway, our 5G and LTE signals dropped, and while we had one bar, it was not great. On a good day, this would be great to disconnect and enjoy the nature. In case of emergencies, however, it would make getting help more difficult.

I hope to be able to return to Calaveras Big Trees State Park and hike among the giant sequoias. As Angels Camp has become a favorite spot for vacation, I trust one day we will, and hopefully the weather will cooperate. Even so, while our trip was not exactly what we expected heading out, it was definitely an adventure. We learned that we could problem solve and work together- and put snow chains on a car. And we ended up with some fun stories to tell. Because life is an adventure- and sometimes misadventure- meant to be shared.