Mars, If you have the time/opportunity to take that class at Shasta, I would highly suggest it. I took some lessons there a million years ago, and the opportunity to ask questions and experiment with techniques with an experienced guide was invaluable. Also, the incredible changing weather of Shasta (completely incongruent to what the surrounding clime) also added a small component of drama (thby Bee - General Discussion
Looking at the lower base measurement of the most recent report, do I assume correctly that there was not much snow from last week's storm? Bby Bee - General Discussion
To the best of my knowledge, the ice pack is smaller today than it was in 2003 (PLEASE pull up the evidence to prove me wrong -- I welcome such a finding). But if you will beg my pardon, the only direct comparison to 1979 that was available was 2003, thus, I was not trying to side-step or muddle the issue by providing an alternate year . Look folks, it is not/was not my intention to be contenby Bee - General Discussion
(excuse me for snickering in the background 'cause this is all very reminiscent of my days as a lab chemist. All of our work was VERY precise and it mostly involved using the Kelvin Scale, and I was continually reamed for being sloppy...)by Bee - General Discussion
Bill:>>But I do hope I live long enough to see the Global Warming charlatans admit it was all a scam.<< I, too, hope to see the experts proven wrong, and I wish that it came to pass that the photos above were doctored. And while I am logging in on hopes, I would add global peace, prosperity, and a 50% return on my investments (sans any connection to Madoff). As I mentioned back, perby Bee - General Discussion
Thanks, eeek, my computer skills on the technical level are somewhat lacking. Bby Bee - General Discussion
szalkowski: >>1) In scientific circles, if someone asks for a reference, it is considered bad form to not provide one - preferably from a reputable, refereed scientific journal. (Vince?)<< Oh, you KNOW it; when I was a lab chemist, one would have his/her sources in the "ready" before opening ones mouth, otherwise the "STATE YOUR SOURCES!!" crowd would eat youby Bee - General Discussion
NASA satellite photos of the 1979 and 2003 polar ice cap side by side. 1979 is the top(larger) mass. The internet is one of resources where folks can find most anything they are looking for, so I would be very interested in seeing the same types of comparisons showing the equal polar mass in 1979 as 2003 or more recent. (I was looking for the photos mytself, but I did not find them) http://wby Bee - General Discussion
VINCE: >>You falling for that line of crap?<< Hmm..."crap" being a very generic term (that I use quite often), I am left to assume that you are referring to the opening line: "Tree mortality rates have doubled in old-growth forests across the Sierra Nevada and western United States because of rising temperatures associated with climate change, a new study has found.&qby Bee - General Discussion
"Tree mortality rates have doubled in old-growth forests across the Sierra Nevada and western United States because of rising temperatures associated with climate change, a new study has found." http://www.sacbee.com/capitolandcalifornia/story/1567101.html Post Edited (01-23-09 09:53)by Bee - General Discussion
Waxed my skis in anticipation!! Bby Bee - General Discussion
>>I hope Yosemite gets a lot more before the winter is over<< Your wish might come true; as I write, the radio announced that Donner Summit has chain requirements starting in Kingvale. This may or may not reflect whats happening in Yosemite, but one can hope! (Donner being relatively close to my home in proximity to the Northern Sierra) Bby Bee - General Discussion
>>it has been the rampant deregulation policies that have devastated the economy.<< I have always believed that they could open up the mineral rights, gas exploration, and coal mining on every inch of this beautiful country, and it would never be enough. Its a favorite rant of mine that as I take my frequent trips to Az, I am amazed at how few of the buildings, homes, etc., in the eby Bee - General Discussion
Based on what I have seen, it's the mining operations that do the most physical damage, as compared to the oil and gas explorations. Bby Bee - General Discussion
<<Hydrating every 15 minutes seems a bit extreme>> Jim, my normal intake of water is about 30 min intervals, but it seems that when I need it the most (the hot steeps) is when I forget. The 15 min interval is usually a starting place that tapers off as I get my pace and/or the terrain evens out a bit. Also, most of my explorations take place in the desert, Grand Canyon (Bright Angelby Bee - General Discussion
Jim, I know you dont like electronics, but when it comes to dehydration, its no small matter. When i find myself heading up a particularly long stretch that pushes my limit at altitude, I actually set my watch to give me a little chime (one chime) every 15 minutes to remind me to drink, until I begin to anticipate the chime and turn it off (usually takes an hour -- four or five chimes) Annoying?by Bee - General Discussion
In a casual search, these were the closest dates to compare snowpacks that I found: Late Jan 2008:"Results from the California Department of Water Resources’ snow survey completed on Jan. 31 2008 near Echo Summit on Highway 50 revealed snowpacks that were more than seven feet deep, or 123 percent above average for this time of year." http://www.nevadaappeal.com/article/SS/200802by Bee - General Discussion
If the warm weather persists, and there is an unusual amount of melting snow, is there a possibility that they would Re-open roads/passes that would normally be closed this time of year? (sentinal cell site is down and it will otherwise take until spring to get to it from Glacier Point access) Bby Bee - General Discussion
thanks for the link, bill. Its a nice comprehensive map (instead of the parts and pieces that I use for specific areas) because most of my trips are determined by how long the maintenance is going to take at either Sentinal Dome or TM (I hitch along and play while the work is taking place) My hikes at Yosemite have mostly been limited to how much I can cover in a day, thus, my overall familiarityby Bee - General Discussion
Vince, some of my friends thought that it would be funny to give me the book, Yosemite: Off the Wall, as a B-day gift before one of my trips to Yosemite. I thought that the book was going to be trivial and gimmicky. I could not have been more wrong!! I sort of used the book as a checklist of a lifetime of Pet Peeves, as I went from one potential disaster scene to another. I make an annual trip tby Bee - General Discussion
I guess we are all getting itchy feet; I drove right by Colfax on my way to Donner Summit today(18-1-09). It was a balmy day indeed (about 55 F) with the snow melting at an alarming rate. However, it was glorious to be able to ski in a T-shirt on a mid January day. sorry, no pix, still a bit gun shy about multi-tasking after a boo-boo on top Sentinal Dome. Bby Bee - General Discussion
The only two "hazzards" that I have experienced hiking alone is 1) The time I chose to share the same backcountry with the opening day of hunting season folk (thought I was having a flashback!) 2) The looks of pity you get as a female hiking alone (read bubble over their heads: "good god, whats WRONG with you that you can't find ANYone to go with!" gotta get that thickby Bee - General Discussion
WOW -- some of these daily mileage counts are waaaaay outta my league!! Fully outfitted, I can hope to cover 10-12 miles at the most. Day hiking with an Alice pack, I can cover about 25 strenuous miles on a good day. Cell phone coverage: my boyfriend is the contractor in charge of the two cell sites in Yosemite -- Sentinal Dome & Tuolome Meadows (hence, my ever frequent trips into the Vallby Bee - General Discussion
Buon viaggio, Jim!! Yes, its true, I do a majority of my hiking etc alone, and I do so with the utmost responsibility for my actions, as I do not go forth with the false sense of a safety net overcoming any lacking on my part. My trips are planned, mapped, and undertaken after much advice from those who have gone before me. And in the process of enjoying the great outdoors, i have rescued capsby Bee - General Discussion
>I have just never heard of anyone hiking up Half Dome from Crane Flat< The actual hike began from the Mist Trail (without looking it up, I believe that the hike actually covered three different trails: Mist Trail, Muir Trail, and the actual trek to Half Dome) >Did you ride the bus for part of that?< Yes, I did ride the bus for part of the trip TO Mist Trail, but now I cannot reby Bee - General Discussion
>>Crane Flat to Half Dome?!? That's probably a little more than a day hike...<< I camped out at Crane Flat, walked to the first shuttle bus depot (dont remember how far that was) and begin the Half Dome hike via the Mist trail. Altogether, the mileage was about 25(strenuous) miles up/back(if my guesstimation was correct, which it could be wrong....) (The military demanded far wby Bee - General Discussion
Thanks, Gary, for the tutorial! I love the little arrows and labels. This explains a LOT (I could not understand the perspective of how Ansel Adams would have taken THEE photo from where I thought the diving board was) Is it much of a detour from the usual Half Dome hike to get to the diving board? (hmmm, I know its on the pet peeves list to use the term "diving board" so feel freby Bee - General Discussion
I must be out of the loop -- I never heard the term "diving board" for that ledge on half dome (I hike mostly by myself, so I dont get in on as much conversation) >>Of course the diving board is nowhere near the summit<< Its been a few years since I hiked half dome, is the summit of the dome much higher at another point than the ledge? I seem to have lost perspective on thby Bee - General Discussion
Interesting wildfire deterrent http://www.sacbee.com/topstories/story/1531037.html Bby Bee - General Discussion
The actual Spanish translation of Sierra Nevada is "Snowy Range" (Snowy Mountains in some text) so I guess that it would be ambiguous at best to refer to them as "Snowys" or "Ranges" DB PS Funny that they dont mistakenly refer to the Sierra Madre as the "Sierras", too.by Bee - General Discussion