well, not literally. But every summer my family spent 2 weeks there... well, My dad was back and forth to our campground because he had farming to do. A few summers we camped there for a month. I met my first girlfriend there.... we were maybe 9 years old or so? We roamed the valley from dawn til late night... always watching the firefall together.

I didn't ski at Badger until my mid-teens. My friend, who I mentioned above, loved Badger for basically the same reasons you mentioned. As did I. Not a trail in Yosemite National Park I haven't hiked several time... some of them quite long and requiring a few days.

Badger is one of my favorite places on earth... Yosemite in general.... and I'd ski there every time I went skiing if it was me; but my grandson's want steeper, bigger.... perfectly understandable.

Last time I was there was maybe 6 or 7 years ago? It's still got that same feel to it, or did then. Also skiers like us who are there as much to commune with nature as ski. Lots of cross country skiers and well as those who telemark... something I never tried, my loss. - JamesJM