Here is the NPS proposal, which includes, among many other things, complete removal of North Pines campground. http://www.nps.gov/archive/yose/planning/yvp/seis/vol_Ia/chapter_2_a2.html I found the link here: http://www.backpackinglight.com/cgi-bin/backpackinglight/xdpy/forum_thread/8175/?skip_to_post=58891by Vince - General Discussion
Three suggestions: 1. White Mountains/Ancient Bristlecone Pine Forest. Go east from the Giant Sequoia tree (allegedly planted by Teddy Roosevelt over 100 years ago) just north of Big Pine and hang a left at Westgard Pass, drive to the 10,000-foot forest. Nice visitor center, easy 4.25-mile self-guided tour of the world's oldest known living things. Campground (free, no water) at 8,400 ft. calledby Vince - General Discussion
Kewl thread. Thanks letterknit, I fired off the link to huell howser, rumor is he's seeking that kind of stuff. huell@calgold.comby Vince - General Discussion
My NP annual pass has a pic of the Guadalupe Mts in Texas, on the reverse there is a photo credit to Thomas Cooper. My opinion...give it away and insist on a credit, that's payment enough!by Vince - General Discussion
Here's Lionel Van Deerlin's take: http://www.bendweekly.com/Opinion/6904.htmlby Vince - General Discussion
Ran into this photo on Google Earth, it's a panoramio photo out of Camp Curry (the poster of the pic misplaced it at 37:43:26.44N, 119:32:19.63W) http://www.panoramio.com/photo/485080by Vince - General Discussion
I use a Sweetwater filter, weighs about a pound, pumps about a quart a minute, and I bring the Potable Aqua two-step system as a backup in case the filter breaks. Quicker results, safe, you can retrieve even muddy water, and the filtered water tastes real good after running it through the charcoal!by Vince - General Discussion
Why is the Yosemite NP web site so horribly updated under it's "Bear Facts" page? Last entry was May 19 and today is June 2.by Vince - General Discussion
This mamma black bear several years ago (2000) at the Minaret Falls campground brought her two cubs to raid a campsite carelessy laden with food. By the time they were through, a cooler was emptied of "lunchables" among the rest, a camera bag ripped open, a tent with another cooler ripped open, all while the owners of the property were gone for several hours frolicking in Mammoth insteaby Vince - General Discussion
http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2007/05/31/BAGFPQ5QM56.DTLby Vince - General Discussion
Look at these pathetic water flows compared to normal: http://waterdata.usgs.gov/ca/nwis/uv/?site_no=11266500&agency_cd=USGS Anyone want to start a "pool" on when Yosemite Falls drys up this year? andyhughes03's post about snow above 9000 feet was interesting but I'm not sure how much it applies to Yosemite Creek.by Vince - General Discussion
Please stop this "we won't have national parks without illegals" Like teenagers have nothing to do? This is from the "Free Internet Press" http://freeinternetpress.com/story.php?sid=11960 From Ukraine to Ecuador, scores of young maids and dishwashers are having trouble getting U.S. visas this spring - and that means trouble in Yosemite Valley. "I've been making bedby Vince - General Discussion
Now, do you honestly believe anyone will ride the bus up from Visalia, and if so, will their patronage pay for the expense of having a shuttle? Right now in the Mammoth area, the shuttle buses and rules squelching day-trippers down to Devils Postpile/Reds Meadow have done OK at keeping traffic down, but those who camp out in the valley have to pay a "use fee" in addition to regular camby Vince - General Discussion
Isn't there a 100-yard rule around any bear or other potentially aggressive wildlife? I'll probably regret the day I get too close to an angry pika...by Vince - General Discussion
Who's the sucker on this estimate? http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/state/20070526-1319-wst-yosemiterockslide.htmlby Vince - General Discussion
http://www.fresnobee.com/263/story/50111.htmlby Vince - General Discussion
According to this web site dedicated to the search for the missing person, he fell into the Merced River upstream of the Vernal Fall footbridge while reaching for "an object" in the river. http://findkiran.blogspot.com/2007/05/latest-update-on-search-for-kiran.htmlby Vince - General Discussion
Keep in mind, when you "summit" (i.e. walk there and climb cables for a few minutes) Half Dome, a hike, without cables (except for about 50 feet), is about 5,700 feet below the summit of Mt. Whitney. Gasp when you reach the top of Half Dome, and then gasp again when you imagine Mt. Whitney towering over a mile and a quarter above The Visor. Might be an interesting photoshop adventure.by Vince - General Discussion
140 has the one-way control around the rockslide but so far for me it hasn't been a problem, then again haven't visited since Feb... Hwy 41 will be crowded because of the 140 detour, might think outside the canyon and accept the 140...LOL Plus you can help out those along the 140 recover from last year's devastating slide by buying maybe a pizza up or back and some souvenirs.by Vince - General Discussion
Hume Lake is owned by a Christian organization. Please visit humelake.org for more information. I am not associated with them at all. I'm just a big fan of Kings Canyon and have visited Hume Lake only once on my way to Sequoia and it seemed liked a nice diversion off the main road. You can camp around Hume Lake without professing any religious allegiance. It is a pretty place. If memory servesby Vince - General Discussion
http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/state/20070522-1103-ca-brf-sjvalley-yosemite-manmissing.htmlby Vince - General Discussion
Half Dome (actually about 80 percent dome but who's counting) is a great place to shoot the bull, chew the rag, just plain BS with people you just met and won't see again unless you care to. Have fun!by Vince - General Discussion
Camp at Cedar Grove. You will have the entire valley to yourself almost. Kings Canyon is severely underappreciated. And you can sit on the rock where John Muir started the Sierra Club. I'm no fan of the Sierra Club since they became radical, but the rock is the rock. Take yourself back 100 years.by Vince - General Discussion
I like to stay at either Cedar Lodge (only do this in the off-season, right now is double or triple rates) or somewhere in Mariposa (I stay at the BW at the fork in the road). I would recommend Mariposa since the commerce there has been devastated since the Ferguson rock slide, you might find a slight delay at the slide but who cares, are you in a hurry? If you are, don't go to Yosemite in the fiby Vince - General Discussion
Minaret Falls/Rainbow Falls/Reds Meadow/Devils Postpile Opens May 26 Campgrounds as far as I can tell open June 8 or 9. I shall be there with tent and sleeping bag. If you are in the Yosemite area and have a day extra, drive over Tioga Pass and drop south into Mammoth Lakes and then go West, young man, to Devils Postpile National Monument. I think the monument itself is still under the jurby Vince - General Discussion
I usually leave my backpack on the shoulder. If someone steals it all they'll get is half a sandwich and a little water. Everything else goes in my pockets and up the cables. There might be minor crimes from the shoulder on up but most of those would be committed by marmots.by Vince - General Discussion
szalkowski, good post! I think the tunnel view is fine, and since I avoid peak traffic times, the parking lot is just fine as well. And letterknit, there are restrooms at the base of Bridalvail Fall, what, 5 minutes away. Or (if you're a guy) sneak over the rock barrier at the viewpoint and pretend you're taking pictures...by Vince - General Discussion
You have to be kidding. It's a book for adults and mature kids (I qualify for both). Somewhere in internetville you will find a pop-up book to your liking. Good luck.by Vince - General Discussion
Camp in Cedar Grove in Kings Canyon. You will have no problem finding a campsite. Hume Lake/Grant Grove/Boyden Cavern are all within minutes of driving. Hiking trails abound. Kings Canyon is every bit as beautiful as Yosemite without the crowds. A side trip from there is the giant forest on the Generals Highway, a windy but easy half-day trip to General Sherman tree. Sequoia/Kings Canyon parks arby Vince - General Discussion
You mean these cables? It's not as scary as it looks and getting there is, um, 50 percent of the adventure? 60 percent? Go there and decide for yourself!by Vince - General Discussion