Wawona rangers? Is this normal or was the Valley short-staffed? Wawona rangers just happened to be in the area?by sierranomad - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Of course, Hope Valley. It's magical.by sierranomad - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Yosemite Valley. A few places I love to visit in fall: 1) El Capitan Meadow - especially for sunset. 2) There's a spot by the Merced & North Pines campground that is idyllic (and N. Pines is usually empty by then). 3) Stoneman Meadow. While there isn't a lot of fall color in the trees there that I can remember, the grasses turn yellow and I love the contrast of the yellow grasses with theby sierranomad - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
I've been to Yosemite about a dozen times this year, and EVERY TIME I've seen at least one bear. I've been calling it "The Year of the Bear". In past years, I've gone months without spotting a bear, but boy, this year!!!by sierranomad - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Thanks for the pronunciation. I didn't know Peeka or Pika. We ran into them at Guitar Lake (before ascending Mt. Whitney). I think about 11,400'. We got such a kick out of them. We heard a couple making a lot of chattering/whistling noise in the rocks above us so went to check them out. They'd run/hop about like Scrat in Ice Age. After watching/laughing at them for about 10 minutes we headby sierranomad - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Quotebobhelenyosemite would like too know if flowers are at peak or past it by 1st week in Aug. I was at elevation from Y.V. to Whitney (4,000 - 14,495) the last 3 weeks. All flowers we saw were either at or slightly past peak.by sierranomad - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
A buddy and I just finished 3 weeks on the trail (completed the JMT). What a great trip! We saw 5 bears during that time. 2 we saw while driving into Yosemite, another in the Y.V. backpacker campround that night; the 4th we saw in the TM backpacker campground on day 3. We didn't see another bear for over 2 weeks and this one was from a distance, and swimming across a pond near Bullfrog Lake nby sierranomad - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
QuoteSierrafan Crowded or not, you can't beat the valley for easy access to wonderful scenery I agree wholeheartedly. There's nothing like being able to take an evening stroll in the "Incomparable Valley", knowing that you don't have to drive an hour or more to your tent.Given the choice, I would always take one of the Pines campgrounds over Crane Flat - even when there are hordes ofby sierranomad - General Discussion
Quotetomdisco sierranomad, I was told you go about half-way up from the tree line and then swing around wide to the left side where it is much easier going. This eliminates some hand over hand rock climbing. Jim Thanks Jim. I've always been by myself, and there's never been anyone else to watch. Next time I'll take a look at your suggested route. I imagine the views must be incredible frby sierranomad - General Discussion
Quoteeeek Did you feel the same way coming down? Yes. I felt even more comfortable than going up.by sierranomad - General Discussion
It seems that even when it comes to the same fear (heights in this case) we are affected by different things. Though HD initially looked terrifying to me, once I started up I had barely an adrenaline rush; just the acute awareness that I had to pay full attention to what I was doing. Now, here I may be opening myself up to ridicule. But, Lembert Dome, a feature that numerous people have walby sierranomad - General Discussion
In addition to YARTS, there is a Hiker's Bus that you can take from Yosemite Lodge to Tuolumne Meadows. They will drop you off at trailheads in route. If I remember right, the bus leaves the Lodge at about 7:20 a.m. Last year it cost $14.50 one way; $23 round trip. Call the Lodge for reservations (recommended), schedule and this years price. (209) 372-1240.by sierranomad - General Discussion
Near Pohono Bridge, as the Valley Loop heads down toward the Merced?by sierranomad - General Discussion
QuoteBob Weaver Wouldn't you think that if they can make it to the flat area before the bottom of the cables, they are probably fit enough to do the cables? I haven't read all of the posts, so I apologize if my comment has already been covered. But there's another side to being "fit" to do the cables than general fitness. When I tried to make it to the top 3 weeks ago I was pushiby sierranomad - General Discussion
Is that dogwood in the background? If so, I agree with Bill. Beyond Mirror Lake, the Meadow Loop. Jonby sierranomad - General Discussion
Thanks Bill! I'm sure I will. Evolution, huh? OK, I'll be looking for that one. Jonby sierranomad - General Discussion
Quotemrcondron Jon, Come up with some signage that would make a difference. Be ready for some hard questions and criticisms about its efficacy. Mike: I'm not going to go into exact wording, because I simply don't have the time (preparing for JMT hike & numerous other day-to-day goings on). But here's what I think the general, non-hiking public should be specifically informed about:by sierranomad - General Discussion
Quotebill-e-g 2) place a volunteer or ranger at the top of the shoulder to give advice I actually thought they were doing something close to #2 this year. At least that is what I heard. Obviously not though. When I was there a couple of weeks ago (thunderstorms all around; rain) there was a ranger on top (I wasn't up there, had stopped at the base of the cables when the clouds moved inby sierranomad - General Discussion
QuoteVince Quotemrcondron I don't remember stream crossings being a problem on the JMT but this year with the slow melt there might be a lot of snow on the high passes. In '05 the log across Minaret Creek was broken in two so I had to stop there. That was first day of summer. It will be interesting to see how things up there are four years later with a halfway decent snow pack. Yes, I've beenby sierranomad - General Discussion
QuoteVince What part of the JMT are you going after? The whole thing. I'm very excited about it. Have wanted to do it since I was a kid, and finally everything worked out so I can take 3 weeks and do it. Jonby sierranomad - General Discussion
I'm going to be hiking the JMT, starting July 1. It's going to be colder, more mosquitoes and more difficult stream crossings than I thought when I set the date.by sierranomad - General Discussion
QuoteFrank Furter In addition, there has been a crush of people at times on the cables producing a "people related" danger as the access to holds on the cables is compromised by too many hands on the cable and too many feet on the wood crossbars. What happened when people started going over Vernal Falls while trying to swim in the area known as the Silver Apron? Liability is a fby sierranomad - General Discussion
This is crazy. The weather as of late has made the rock even more slippery but people don't seem to have the sense to see the danger. Last weeks incident, in addition to the wet granite, was hampered by being overly cold and tired.by sierranomad - General Discussion
Wow! I drove by the accident scene. Had no idea that it was so serious.by sierranomad - General Discussion
Quotemrcondron ...death rate in cars well before worrying about Half Dome. Human society is concerned about the death rate in cars: speed limits, drunk driving laws, seat belts, airbags, child safety seats.. What concerns me most isn't HD's overall track record, but the dramatic increase in accidents in the last 2 or 3 years. Jonby sierranomad - General Discussion
QuoteBob Weaver Seriously, though, maybe they should start regulating it, at least from the cables on up. Require a license to ascend the cables, and to get the permit you must go through a training class operated by the park, for a fee. I hate that we are at this point, but I agree with Bob. Not hand-holding, but education to instill some respect/healthy level of fear. There are now too many pby sierranomad - General Discussion
Wow! Very few incidents for years and now it's becoming unsettlingly common. People seem to be taking the hike to HD too lightly.by sierranomad - General Discussion
That is a REALLY nice picture Bill!by sierranomad - General Discussion
I always face down on the descent. I like to see what's coming toward me (all those coming up). I feel very safe, and it doesn't feel awkward.by sierranomad - General Discussion