Great weather.
Day trip from San Jose to Ostrander Lake. Still some good ice on there
https://picasaweb.google.com/105955546605383965707/Ostrander?authkey=Gv1sRgCIznie6Pm4X7TA&feat=directlink
The Moon is Waxing Gibbous (86% of Full)
Re: Ostrander Lake and Horse Ridge
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Ostrander Lake and Horse Ridge June 26, 2011 10:52PM |
Sunday, June 26th
Great weather.
Day trip from San Jose to Ostrander Lake. Still some good ice on there
https://picasaweb.google.com/105955546605383965707/Ostrander?authkey=Gv1sRgCIznie6Pm4X7TA&feat=directlink
Great weather.
Day trip from San Jose to Ostrander Lake. Still some good ice on there
https://picasaweb.google.com/105955546605383965707/Ostrander?authkey=Gv1sRgCIznie6Pm4X7TA&feat=directlink
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Re: Ostrander Lake and Horse Ridge June 27, 2011 12:47AM |
Great pictures. This is nicely timed since I'm planning a day trip to the lake next Sunday from San Francisco. I'd really appreciate it if you could tell me about trail conditions and give any advice for my trip next week. 
. I've only been in snow once so I'm really curious as to how long all that snow will last. I hope it's still there next week.
Thanks!
Edit: Oh one last thing, what were your start/end times for the hike?
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 06/27/2011 12:56AM by vict1019.
. I've only been in snow once so I'm really curious as to how long all that snow will last. I hope it's still there next week.Thanks!
Edit: Oh one last thing, what were your start/end times for the hike?
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 06/27/2011 12:56AM by vict1019.
June 27, 2011 06:58AM |
You may be interested in this from 2 weeks ago for some comparison:
http://yosemitenews.info/forum/read.php?3,38691
I looked at where I had gone up and down Horse Ridge before (same location as they went up in one instance),
and said no way was I going up there... w/o crampons and ice axe
Have fun (it's 6 miles on trail... how long could it possibly take?
)
http://yosemitenews.info/forum/read.php?3,38691
I looked at where I had gone up and down Horse Ridge before (same location as they went up in one instance),
and said no way was I going up there... w/o crampons and ice axe
Have fun (it's 6 miles on trail... how long could it possibly take?
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Re: Ostrander Lake and Horse Ridge June 27, 2011 08:42AM |
Hey! I'm glad the pictures could help. I know I always like when I get some updates around then.
The way up took 2 hours but we weren't pushing too hard and took a break or two. There were patches of snow in the first hour but nothing too bad. The ground was pretty moist and mucky in some places. But the last hour or more was done all in the snow. You can check out the pictures and see that everything is pretty much covered. If you have a hard time finding the trail in the snow....look up towards the trees and spot the little yellow markers to find your way. Once we hit the hut we headed right and then went up the ridge. The short steep way looked like more fun so we took that up and then the longer way down. I would say the trip took us a little longer than it should but we weren't under any time limits.
8:30am got on the trail
10:30-11:00am got to the lake
12pm go to the top of the ridge
hung out for a while
4:30pm back at the car
Oh and the first entrance that you could use to Bridalveil Campground was closed because of a downed tree I believe so you might have to still make your way to the second entrance down the road a bit. It comes up quick.
For the 4th going to do Mono Med to Clark and then up to Tahoe for the day of the 4th
The way up took 2 hours but we weren't pushing too hard and took a break or two. There were patches of snow in the first hour but nothing too bad. The ground was pretty moist and mucky in some places. But the last hour or more was done all in the snow. You can check out the pictures and see that everything is pretty much covered. If you have a hard time finding the trail in the snow....look up towards the trees and spot the little yellow markers to find your way. Once we hit the hut we headed right and then went up the ridge. The short steep way looked like more fun so we took that up and then the longer way down. I would say the trip took us a little longer than it should but we weren't under any time limits.
8:30am got on the trail
10:30-11:00am got to the lake
12pm go to the top of the ridge
hung out for a while
4:30pm back at the car
Oh and the first entrance that you could use to Bridalveil Campground was closed because of a downed tree I believe so you might have to still make your way to the second entrance down the road a bit. It comes up quick.
For the 4th going to do Mono Med to Clark and then up to Tahoe for the day of the 4th
June 27, 2011 10:01AM |
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gkam2
Oh and the first entrance that you could use to Bridalveil Campground was closed because of a downed tree I believe so you might have to still make your way to the second entrance down the road a bit. It comes up quick.
You should use the Ostrander Lake TH (clearly marked with a sign now) (wasn't two weeks ago).
Unless you want to cross Bridalveil without a bridge...
July 05, 2011 03:15PM |
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gkam2
For the 4th going to do Mono Med to Clark
You make it?
July 06, 2011 04:21PM |
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chick-on
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gkam2
For the 4th going to do Mono Med to Clark
You make it?
I take that as a no.
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Re: Ostrander Lake and Horse Ridge July 04, 2011 01:48PM |
Fun trip, gkam2. The hourly summary of your trip really helps.
In a few weeks, I intend to spend the night near the lake, and hike back to the trailhead the next day. Purchasing permit now.
I have a backpacking tent, but it is NOT freestanding. Requires 4 stakes, plus needs to be guy'd out in 4 additional areas. Kind of a stupid design now that I think about it.
Q1) Will this tent suffice @ the lake area?
I ask this because I don't want to find out that the area is made of granite and rocks, which would prevent me from using my non-freestanding backpacking tent.
Q2) I can surely find the proper Ostrander trailhead pullout area, because it's been discussed around the forums before. But...someone please tell me more about the Bridalveil Creek Campground access to this trail. Does this campground (I know, it's not open yet) somehow also provide access to the Ostrander lake trail?
Thanks for the info, folks.
In a few weeks, I intend to spend the night near the lake, and hike back to the trailhead the next day. Purchasing permit now.
I have a backpacking tent, but it is NOT freestanding. Requires 4 stakes, plus needs to be guy'd out in 4 additional areas. Kind of a stupid design now that I think about it.
Q1) Will this tent suffice @ the lake area?
I ask this because I don't want to find out that the area is made of granite and rocks, which would prevent me from using my non-freestanding backpacking tent
.Q2) I can surely find the proper Ostrander trailhead pullout area, because it's been discussed around the forums before. But...someone please tell me more about the Bridalveil Creek Campground access to this trail. Does this campground (I know, it's not open yet) somehow also provide access to the Ostrander lake trail?
Thanks for the info, folks.
July 04, 2011 06:49PM |
A1.1) Why wouldn't it? Put some cordage on where you put el stake-o... and use rocks to hold tent down.
A1.2) But yes, there is dirt to stick tent stakes.
A1.3) I have a few non-free standing thing-a-dings... I almost never bring stakes
A2.1) Yes
A1.2) But yes, there is dirt to stick tent stakes.
A1.3) I have a few non-free standing thing-a-dings... I almost never bring stakes
A2.1) Yes
July 04, 2011 09:24PM |
July 04, 2011 09:38PM |
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AlmostThere
but there are footprints and flags up in the trees to keep you oriented.
What the heck are footprints doing up in the trees?
My original answer to Q2 was: didn't I already answer this?
BV Campground trail has the advantage of being able to peeky at the creek every once in awhile...
The Ostrander TH goes thru Lost Bear Meadow... although it's been awhile since I've been thru there.
Of course you can skip the trail... and go the way we did ... Horizon Ridge the entire way...
but don't blame me for my transgressions...
July 04, 2011 09:39PM |
July 04, 2011 09:52PM |
July 04, 2011 09:55PM |
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szalkowski
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chick-on
What the heck are footprints doing up in the trees?
Normally chikin traps are placed on the ground.
However... some of the rangers get a bit overexuberent.
(Baitingly Yours)
The Marmots
July 04, 2011 10:10PM |
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herosemblem
I hadn't thought about using rocks to hold down my non-freestanding tent.
Exhibit A:
I never rely on other people's footprints...
In this case the Ski Trail markers follow the trail closely... but that is not always the case
(case in pt. Ghost Forest Trail is between BV CG trail and Lost Bear meadow... )
(and Taft Pt. Ski Trail does not go to TH parking is another example)
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Re: Ostrander Lake and Horse Ridge July 05, 2011 03:40PM |
The difference a week makes:
We went up Friday - on Sunday most of the snow patches we'd crossed on the way to the lake were gone. All the ice in the lake was gone. Hart Lake had maybe 25% ice coverage when we went by it, on the way back to Ostrander an hour later, half that ice had melted.
It's really warm up there - didn't get below 45F at night.
We went up Friday - on Sunday most of the snow patches we'd crossed on the way to the lake were gone. All the ice in the lake was gone. Hart Lake had maybe 25% ice coverage when we went by it, on the way back to Ostrander an hour later, half that ice had melted.
It's really warm up there - didn't get below 45F at night.
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