Volunteer with Inner City Outings! You can become a leader or just volunteer to help out with the trips. I just became an Inner City Outings leader in Chicago http://www.sierraclub.org/ico/by letterknit - General Discussion
When we got a permit to backpack to Half Dome, I asked about camping on the shoulder of Half Dome. I asked because it was described in the Lonely Planet Yosemite guide as being an option for camping. The rangers at the wilderness center said we could not camp on the shoulder. I'm sure there are people who do it, but if they say don't do it, I'm sure there are good reasons why. The reasons onby letterknit - General Discussion
Maybe this will help: Mariposa Grove Winter Trails http://www.nps.gov/yose/planyourvisit/upload/mgrove-winter.pdf I hiked Mariposa Grove around Thanksgiving once. No snow then. I think you would just need snowshoes, not crampons. The trail goes up, up, up, but if you follow the road it's graded. Post Edited (01-13-08 16:09)by letterknit - General Discussion
There is a backpacker's campground at Tuolumne Meadows, too. My opinion is that going from 4,000 feet to 8,000 feet and then back down again is really difficult. Maybe consider starting at Tuolumne Meadows and go down (ending in the valley) or start in the valley and finish at Tuolumne Meadows. Or just stay up, starting and ending at Tuolumne Meadows. It's still by no means easy. But if you'by letterknit - General Discussion
That is just a ridiculous amount of snow!!by letterknit - General Discussion
Yeah, actually the fun stuff is the snowshoeing, hiking, and sightseeing during the day. So you might want to just go snowshoeing or skiing for the day and head back to a rustic tent cabin in the valley that night. Then go back out the next day. The night is really the least fun part of it. You can get cold as soon as you stop hiking/skiing. I always slept like crap when snowcamping. In adby letterknit - General Discussion
If you're loaded, they offer quite a few guided trip$ in Yosemite listed on the page linked to below. You can even rent a lot of gear if you are traveling and don't want to bring it all. http://www.yosemitepark.com/BadgerPass_RentalPricing.aspxby letterknit - General Discussion
You may also want to consider going on a trip with the Sierra Club Backpacking section (not the Snowcamping section), they usually do a trip to Yosemite every year. That way you are going with a group. I don't know if you live in the area or only have a particular weekend you want to go. Mar 15 · Sat through Mar 16 · Sun · Backpacking Section Dewey Point - Yosemite Backpack and Winter Campiby letterknit - General Discussion
Bad idea. The hike from Yosemite Valley floor to Little Yosemite Valley is up-up-up 2,000 feet. It's definitely not easy. It is difficult without a backpack. It is difficult with a summer backpack. It would be extremely difficult with a backpack filled with winter gear. You (or your wife) may get sick working that hard at high altitudes if you haven't spent time at that high elevation. Whenby letterknit - General Discussion
It is really far, 10.5 miles one way...21 miles round trip. I think some hard core people go to Glacier Point and back in a day, but I don't know how they do it. 10.5 miles was more than enough for me. It probably took us 5 hours one way on XC skis and it was exhausting. The weather was pretty bad (rain) on the way there and made it kind of difficult to ski. The next day the groomer went by,by letterknit - General Discussion
You can also rent snowshoes and cross country skis! Head out to Dewey Point! Book an overnight trip to stay in the lodge at Glacier Point! Glacier Point Road may be closed past Badger Pass, but you can snowshoe/ski on it to various destinations. If you're lucky, they may just groom it with XC ski tracks. Glacier Point in Winter: http://www.flickr.com/photos/2carolyn/sets/7215759453817677by letterknit - General Discussion
From Glacier Point Road - Sentinel Dome and Taft Point. Great views from up there ! http://www.flickr.com/photos/2carolyn/414978165/in/set-72157594577780871/ http://www.flickr.com/photos/2carolyn/414978024/in/set-72157594577780871/ I was also very impressed in the views from the top of Lembert Dome in Tuolumne Meadows. http://www.flickr.com/photos/2carolyn/420424897/in/set-72157594586920311by letterknit - General Discussion
Try to go during the day so you can enjoy the views.by letterknit - General Discussion
Yay, I'm glad it was helpful information! Too bad your family wasn't in it, now that would have been fun. Maybe I'll get a copy, too. I remember thinking it was such a great idea when I saw a few of the pictures in a magazine.by letterknit - General Discussion
Thanks for the report, it looks like you had a great trip! I enjoyed your pictures and description.by letterknit - General Discussion
I really enjoyed the "check you for ticks" song.by letterknit - General Discussion
How exactly is using technology making someone dumb? How old are you? I agree with Jennifer. Not everyone brings a guidebook to Yosemite, which are hardly exhaustive anyway. I would like to be able to use one of those. I find that the more I learn about a place, the more I appreciate it. So many people look at Yosemite without learning much - except what it looks like. Grants are being madby letterknit - General Discussion
I think I read about that in Backpacker or some other magazine. I don't think the pictures are necessarily Ansel Adams, but several photographers. Yosemite in Time: Ice Ages, Tree Clocks, Ghost Rivers (Hardcover) by Mark Klett (Author), Rebecca Solnit (Author), Byron G. Wolfe (Author) http://www.amazon.com/Yosemite-Time-Clocks-Ghost-Rivers/dp/1595340165 Post Edited (09-28-07 12:07)by letterknit - General Discussion
I have a pair of North Face boots similar to these: North Face Lifty http://www.thenorthface.com/opencms/opencms/tnf/gear.jsp?site=NA&model=AYV4&language=en They are pretty comfy for snowshoeing and keep my feet fairly warm with Primaloft insulation. Zappos is a great place to buy boots & shoes. Free shipping & free return shipping if they don't fit. So you can ordeby letterknit - General Discussion
I love the news reporter's props!by letterknit - General Discussion
foustmi, have you reserved the permit already and just picking it up? in that case, i think you can pick it up anywhere. or are you going to try to get the first-come first served permit? if so, they give priority to the people closest to the trailhead the morning before. for example, i don't think you'd be likely to get a little yosemite valley/half dome permit at Tuolumne Meadows. if youby letterknit - General Discussion
You're such a hater! Mosquitos are just part of the food chain. Or something. Heh.by letterknit - General Discussion
Have you tried: http://www.395.com/by letterknit - General Discussion
I always stop at that gas station at the top of "the hill" to get an It's-It. You know, that one above the Don Pedro Reservoir on 120. What do they call it.. Priest Grade Road or something?by letterknit - General Discussion
The golf shirt... now *that's" fashionable!by letterknit - General Discussion
If you're going to Glacier Point, check out Sentinel Dome, it's a trailhead along Glacier Point Road. Great view!by letterknit - General Discussion
A hamburger at the Tuolumne Meadows Grill at the end of your hike sure tastes good. And you can get a shower at the Tuolumne Meadows Lodge. How's that for pearls of wisdom? I've never hiked the PCT, so I'm not much help in the other areas you asked about.by letterknit - General Discussion
Maybe I take that back.... skip the Chevy Aveo? Those are super tiny. What do others here think? The roads really aren't that steep.by letterknit - General Discussion
Josh, All the campsites will have space for your car, don't worry about that. The only campground that is walk-in is Camp 4 and there's a parking lot. Go ahead and get the cheapest car. I have an 8 year old Honda Civic and it does fine.by letterknit - General Discussion