TR: Yosemite and Carson Iceberg

Just back from a few days on the trail in Yosemite and the Carson Iceberg Wilderness. It was pretty amazing. Temps in the 50's and even 60's during the day, and dropping down to only about 30 at night. Trails were open, creeks were running (sometimes under ice, but still, there was water everywhere) and we had three really good days in the Sierra.

Carson-Iceberg we went to Boulder Lake---four miles in off the Clark Fork trailhead. The lake itself was frozen just about solid, except for a small section on the north shore where the ground was a nice dark broswn, which got warm enough to heat the water and melt it. By the way, you don't need a permit this time of year there---but they do ask that you stop in and let them know where you are going to leave your car, so that they can notify the CHP. That way nobody gets unnecessarily alarmed. And they leave the paperwork outside for you, if you get there after they are closed. Nice huh?

In Yosemite we dayhiked to a couple of spots that had been recommended on these boards--the foot of illilouette Falls and Ribbon Falls. Both were great hikes, great adventures, and yes, there are photos:

https://picasaweb.google.com/balzaccom/EmigrantAndYosemite2011Christmas#

And we wrapped things up at our 34th anniversary dinner at the Yosemite Lodge, complete with a bottle of 1999 Pommard. yum. I must be one of the luckiest people on Earth to have a wife who likes this stuff as much as I do!

Hope you all had happy holidays...and that 2012 is the best year yet.

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Check our our website: http://www.backpackthesierra.com/
Or just read a good mystery novel set in the Sierra; https://www.amazon.com/Danger-Falling-Rocks-Paul-Wagner/dp/0984884963



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 12/30/2011 04:19PM by balzaccom.

Thanks for posting the trip report and the link to your photos.

How long, time-wise, was your cross-country hike to the base of Illilouette Fall? It seems, based on your photos, that you had to turn back before reaching the base of the waterfall due to impending darkness. Are you planning a return trip when the days are longer?

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I still haven't made it to Carson Iceberg but like Emigrant Wilderness, it's been high on my list due to the ease for last-minute permits & planning. Thanks for the photos, they are inspiring, and congratulations on #34. My wife takes some cajoling to be willing to sleep on the dirt in the cold; next time, I'l have to try the nice dinner & bottle of wine trick!

I figure that we hiked for about 90 minutes or so to get to within about 300 yards of the falls. It might have taken another 15 minutes to get there.

But it was getting dark...and we had an anniversary dinner to eat.

Plus, that terrain isn't exactly like a trail. Yeah, we had headlamps, but buchwhacking through that kind of talus jumble in the dark is not fun.

Would we go back? Maybe. There are so many places to hike in Yosemite...and Indian Canyon is next on our list!

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Check our our website: http://www.backpackthesierra.com/
Or just read a good mystery novel set in the Sierra; https://www.amazon.com/Danger-Falling-Rocks-Paul-Wagner/dp/0984884963