Just a quick note to say thanks to all of you that have offered advice as I've been getting ready for my trip starting tomorrow. Thanks to all of you, I did indeed get 9 days worth of food into my BearVault with a bit of room to spare!by holz - General Discussion
Thanks for the info gents. I think the 32F is the winner. It goes against my conservative nature, but doing it anyway. See you all in a couple of weeks!by holz - General Discussion
Hi Gents, Couple of last minute questions. 1. Anyone up there over this last weekend? If so, how were the skeeters? 2. I have 2 sleeping bags. 15F Mountain Hardwear 2nd Dimension (synthetic) 3lbs 2oz, and 32F Mountain Hardwear Phatom (Down) 1 lb 7oz. Is the 15F bag overkill for Yosemite in July? Thanks!by holz - General Discussion
Hi, Well, statistics don't lie. The US is 24th on the list of murder rates. NONE of Western Europe with their gun control laws are above us. Period. Canada is #44 with about 1/4 of the rate of us here in the US. I'm not implying that we need to make more gun control laws, but I do think there is a cultural problem that we in the US have when it comes to violence. I think there is a strongby holz - General Discussion
Is that a beer bottle in the foreground? Or is it a bottle of single malt? I personally prefer to carry my single malt in Lexan, but to each his own.by holz - General Discussion
Hiya, I just can't imagine feeling the need to carry a gun in the wilderness and just can't fathom the need to carry guns in Yosemite. Now, there may be some places where carrying a gun is justified. I have heard that there are some areas on the AT where it may be justified as a self defense measure. Heck, I suppose I could even see it in parts of Alaska where the consequences of even injuryby holz - General Discussion
Best of luck on the accomodations. You may be staying WELL outside the park. I'd suggest googling "yosemite lodging" or the such. See if you can luck out and find something reasonably near the park. After the Half Dome day hike you won't feel like driving too far no matter how fit everyone is! I found a place in El Portal, CA just outside the park about a week earlier, but it isby holz - General Discussion
Is there a site that can help me pick a site at Dorst Campground in Sequoia National Park?by holz - General Discussion
Hi, Anyone have any idea if I will need to bring a screen room for my family car camping trip up at Hume Lake near Sequoia NP? It is at 5200 ft. We aren't bothered by reasonable quantities of mosquitoes, but wondered if they might be completely out of control still this early in the season. Thank you,by holz - General Discussion
Yeah, you have very valid points here. I suppose another bear vault is 1lb each and sure does alleviate a whole lot of headache. I am keenly aware that toothbrush, toothpaste, deet, sun screen etc all have to go in there as well. I have seen one website where a guy claims to have put 12 days of stuff into a 700 cu in bear vault and it even sounded reasonably tasty. BUT, I have to admit that perby holz - General Discussion
Hi, I see everyone says "sandwich bags" and not ziplocs. Is there a reason for this? From the research I've been doing I'm thinking: Oatmeal, TrailMix, Jerky, Tortillas, Almond Butter, Chocolate and 2 clif bars/day. Unfortunately, the other person is bringing some of the food with him (he lives up in Seattle) so trying it out won't be possible until we are actually heading up. Anyone tby holz - General Discussion
Hi Bill, Well, my conditioning is "decent". I had noted that the vertical was relatively minor over the 14 mile first day which was the only reason I had thought it possible. I was going to summit Matterhorn on a layover day, so it would just be the 10 essentials and enough food for the day. All the heavy stuff would be safely back in our base camp. I do think you have a very valid poby holz - General Discussion
Hi All, Looking for advice on how to cram 8 nights 9 days worth of stuff into a Bear Vault. I have a BearVault BV400 which has 700 cu in of space. Is it possible that I can even do this? I really prefer to avoid "cooking" beyond boiling water in the outdoors. If anyone has pulled this off, I'd be appreciative of any advice. I haven't tried my current menu in yet, but I'm not hopeful.by holz - General Discussion
Hi Bill, Well, maybe you would be willing to help me "tweak" my plans? I'm very open to input! 7/19 Toulumne to McCabe Lakes 7/20 Matterhorn Canyon (Not sure exactly where to camp, but likely close to the trail junction) 7/21 Matterhorn Canyon (Go up Matterhorn Pass to Horse Creek Pass and possibly summit Matterhorn Peak ) 7/22 Rodgers Lake 7/23 Rodgers Lake (Summit one of the peaksby holz - General Discussion
Hi szalkowski, I have been using a book called "Trekking California" which is published by Backpacker Magazine. I really like the trips they have in it and have modified two trips this year since I got it. The book claims that the trip is 59.3 miles with +10,790 and -10,790 over the course of the route. I would imagine that if I leave from White Wolf instead of Toulumne Meadows, it woby holz - General Discussion
Thank you very much for the info. It is very valuable. I will be at Toulumne Meadows Wilderness Office about an hour before the open on Friday 7/18. If the two of us can't get out that day, we'll wait for Saturday 7/19 for a pass through and spend our day day hiking around the park somewhere and take advantage of the guaranteed (hopefully!) spot in a backpacker's campground that evening. The siby holz - General Discussion
Hi all, Newb here to Yosemite backpacking although a very experienced backpacker overall. I am planning a loop through Cold Canyon, past Rodgers Lake, down to Pate Valley, through the GC of the Toulumne and up to Glen Aulin. I have a permit reserved for Sat 7/19 (which I intend to change to Fri 7/18 no matter what) leaving from White Wolf, but it is now very clear that leaving from Glen Aulin wouby holz - General Discussion