Thanks Parklover, it's nice to get such current information. Sounds like it's not going to be much of a problem, though I'm sure I'll miss the convenience of the food court.by Sierrafan - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Thanks for the info on the food situation...sounds like we can probably get by for a few nights with what they're offering at the Garden Terrace (and get away from the smoky evening campground). Maybe will try for a couple of hot breakfasts too, depending on weather, but will see what is available. I always liked the hot oatmeal at the food court, not only good but the price was reasonable. Ifby Sierrafan - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
We're heading to Upper Pines next week (29th through 3rd), and have always relied on the Lodge food court for evening meals and a few breakfasts or lunches. Now I hear it's closed for remodeling, and since I haven't camped in the valley since Aramark took over, was wondering what choices are left...not only for food, but a couple of other things: 1. I heard there was some sort of buffet at thby Sierrafan - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Thanks for posting this info...was heading to Upper Pines at the end of the month and almost fell over when I saw the original message and thought our main food source was now closing in the winter. I love camping in the valley, but cooking/dishes are not what I want to do when there.by Sierrafan - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
I just got another email from Aramark; with my hopes up, I checked prices for a random, non-holiday midweek January Lodge visit (a time when I've personally seen walk-ins come up to the desk and ask the price (when DNC was in charge), and be quoted $139. Which made me feel good to have gotten the early booking sale deal of $89 or $99. Now they want $205 per night. In January, midweek, duringby Sierrafan - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
I haven't been to the valley since Aramark took over, but nearly every winter for the last 8-9 years we've taken advantage of the special sale prices during January and February to stay at the lodge. At times, multiple rooms for family, other times one room with the grandkids, or just the two of us. Prices ranged from $79 to $109, and often included breakfast at the food court. The Ahwahnee hadby Sierrafan - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
I thought our visit this week might be a little late for fall color in the valley, but it's spectacular right now, so head on over quickly if you want a colorful treat for your eyes. Cook's meadow, the Mirror Lake walk, Happy Isles, the walk to the Ahwahnee from Northside drive, El Cap meadow, the Fern Spring area and nearby along the river, and plenty of other areas have the yellow maples, reby Sierrafan - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
If you can avoid weekends, probably any time now. I nearly always see "space available" signs at the kiosk even when it was originally sold out, and there are always empty campsites, especially if the weather turns cold, rainy, etc. Not so much if the weather's great, but still possible. No guarantees, of course, and I always make reservations ahead of time, but this time of year tby Sierrafan - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
QuoteJohnC Dave and Gary, thank you. I've never been in winter and my ideal plan would be to drive in right after the storm to see and photograph some snow on the ground and elsewhere, but to avoid having to mess with the chains. I do have chains and would be carrying them but hate the idea of messing with them. I don't use them on any regular basis. I was under the impression driving 140 would kby Sierrafan - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Quoteshaunsmomo You forgot the part where management required everyone to purchase the sodas (some at a substantially increased price) whether they wanted soda or not. Oh, and also the part where management said we don't really know what will be in the machine, we will need to put it in here in order to find out. Simplistically, that makes great sense, and Ken's analogy is fine except soda andby Sierrafan - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
QuoteJohnC QuoteDave QuoteJohnCFunny, they didn't automatically cancel my reservation, they automatically charged me for it. My previous experinces dealing with DNC on the phone have been less than enjoyable. I'll just call my CC company and let them deal with it.Maybe they are just being hopeful this will be over by then. Well, I am too. But realistically it's too late for this to get resolvedby Sierrafan - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
QuoteDave QuoteW7SGAnd the beat goes on!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! http://www.breitbart.com/Big-Government/2013/10/01/House-to-pass-bills-to-reopen-national-parks--VAYou shouldn't believe anything you read on that site. Did they mention what else was in that bill? The Republicans are well known for their dishonesty in claiming that the Democrats wouldn't vote for a certain bill but neglect to mention thaby Sierrafan - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
I stay in a tent at the campground every October, and think it's great. It gets dark early, and while days can be springlike, nights can be around freezing (or at least feel like it). Rain does happen, but I've never gotten rained on in October, though an early October rain can mean Yosemite Falls is up and running. There's usually quite a bit of fall color by mid-October, but the timing varieby Sierrafan - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Most everything has been answered, but I did notice a few things that may be of some help. A lot depends on the month you go, but one basic principle for staying in Yosemite Valley most anytime is to be ready for anything (freezing weather or a nearly-unbearable hot spell in May, and T-shirt/shorts springlike weather in February, or freezing snow with the roads icy. I tent-camped in Upper Pinby Sierrafan - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Quoteoakroscoe Blue Moon, Perhaps there should be a seperate section then. Honestly, I find that people are so passionate about this puzzling and I disagree with the questionable ethics line. I see nothing ethically wrong with paying more than face value for something that someone wants. Something is worth whatever someone is willing to pay for it. If hotrod4x5 isn't willing to pay more foby Sierrafan - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
The cave has a granite "lip" as sort of a barrier to the outside, so it's not really so scary just being in the cave; however, climbing over or leaning over the lip might (and probably should) be a bit intimidating, depending on how you handle heights. http://www.pbase.com/roberthouse/image/63142132 http://www.pbase.com/roberthouse/image/61298401 http://www.pbase.com/roberthouse/imagby Sierrafan - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
QuoteSteveC Unfortunately, it is people repeating tales like that of the swiftwater rescue people that continue the whole water filter hype. It is far more likely that they got some tainted food somewhere, or someone didn't clean up properly before handling their food. I don't care if people do want to use filters or treat their water -- it is their money, their time, and their extra weight.by Sierrafan - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
You were probably wise, or lucky to have missed it. Unfortunately the moonbow has somewhat gone the way of the firefall...something that used to be fun but is now a sea of photographers (looking very serious and protective of their territory that they stake out hours in advance) with massive tripods and pricey gear. Over the past 6-7 years I've watched it get more and more crowded, and I can'tby Sierrafan - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
QuoteAtaim I'm getting ready for my trip and the only thing I don have is a water purifier. What do you use? I'll use it a few time a year, so I don't want to spend 100 buck on one, but I also don't what to get sick. Thanks, Paul I've had a Katadyn Hiker for many years, which has always been fine when I needed it. Pay heed to the instructions about drying it out for storage though, ifby Sierrafan - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
If you do your Columbia Rock hike first, the Sentinel Dome and Taft Point hikes will seem easy no matter which way you go, even if you do them as separate legs. The upper Falls trail doesn't fool around, starting immediately with steep switchbacks (in the shade mostly, though). I think because of this, a high percentage of people go no farther than Columbia Rock. Since you said you "migby Sierrafan - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Wish I'd read your pre-report a little earlier. I was just up there today, figuring Rainbow View as being the turnaround point. (I'd hiked OBOFR a few years back, but turned around after getting tired of climbing over several large rockfalls, and not knowing how many were ahead. This time I already knew about the scrambling, so figured I'd go back and finish it to Rainbow (I have a book, Traby Sierrafan - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Don't be fooled by it being a somewhat dry year...the Merced is ripping right now, especially with the warm weather. I've been here this time of year for the last several years, and it looks every bit as large and quick as the past years. Definitely not July-like. Yosemite Falls is roaring and crashing too, and more warm days are expected. The OP may know this already, but there is a bus thby Sierrafan - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Well, I only looked in to see if there was any mention of dogwoods blooming, but I can't resist answering this after all the comments. Like it or not, driving faster increases the odds of hitting something crossing the road, or any accident for that matter, and increases the damage caused. It takes you longer to stop, a longer distance to react, gives the victim less time to avoid you, and leby Sierrafan - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Thanks to all that replied; I'll forward the original message to the 3 email addresses given, and I did send them to the abuse@ for both hotmail and yahoo (yahoo replied that I need to follow a more complicated process, so will have to redo that one...the guy can just open a new account though, with a different address, so that will be of limited usefulness. Bee, I have my mail reader set to rby Sierrafan - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
I don't generally participate here any more, but I did know some here are involved in a welcome effort to make things hard for the permit scalpers for the HD cables. I got an email today that was so infuriating, I figured I'd post it here, in case someone knows who or where it can be reported to. Naturally it's through hotmail with a reply link through Yahoo mail, both of which are difficult toby Sierrafan - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
I think enforcement is the main problem...the rangers and hosts seem completely unaware of generators that run constantly, and will only do something if someone complains. In other words, "do as you like, if someone actually goes to the trouble of complaining that you're violating the rules, we'll probably come and talk to you about it". But wishy-washy rules are responsible too. Tby Sierrafan - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Looking at it this morning as I was leaving... The black oaks in Cook's meadow (near the Lodge/falls) are doing great, very showy. The ones in El Cap meadow, so-so; not as impressive as some years, but nice. Bigleaf Maples are still showing, but many lost a LOT of leaves in the winds. I was watching for the outstanding show between the Lodge and 3 bros along Northside to see how it had heldby Sierrafan - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
The oak groves held up through the Mono winds Tuesday night. The maples lost a lot of leaves...trails and paths are covered with them, but there's still quite a bit left. The birch etc. by the river are looking pretty wintery with but a few leaves left. Best get up to the valley within the next few days if you want to see it with a lot of fall leaves. It's warming up slowly, but nights are veby Sierrafan - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
I really like the valley campgrounds, but not for the campgrounds themselves...they're smoky, sometimes noisy (and sometimes peaceful), and certainly not for anyone looking for solitude or wilderness experience. But they are a good place to spend the night inexpensively, with quick access to the valley and all the trails and sights. Hot food nearby (and obviously internet), showers, and folks fby Sierrafan - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Frank and Forrestranger, you can read the EXIF data from online photos using a free tool; no need to download the photo. Opanda iEXIF is the name, just get the free version, and you just right-click the photo in IE or probably Firefox, and have the option to read the EXIF. Don't have the link handy but Google will find it. (I thought you meant the technical aspects of the slow-shutter silkyby Sierrafan - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion