>They allow horses. Aren't there even a few mounted ranger patrols? Don't get me started on horses... Typically Rangers on Patrol are not on horses in Yosemite. If you see a ranger on a horse he/she is probably going directly to or from a Ranger Cabin in the backcountry. Or heading to a spike camp. Now I said typically so maybe you have seen one but that is def. not the normal method of oby joe_schmo - General Discussion
>The Mist Trail isn't open yet Yeah, it depends soooo much. In '06 it was open on April 6.. (we took it all the way up to Nev Falls) (took the JMT down from Silver Apron though)by joe_schmo - General Discussion
Not sure exactly why you are so gung ho on backpacking when you haven't been to Yosemite before. However, as you wish... ok, so also ... no idea what your experience is or whatnot... But... Day 2 is more than I would recommend for anyone even in good conditions. Factor in that you may hit snow on the upper trail b/c there is plenty of forest cover and it may be quite painful. Again, I don'by joe_schmo - General Discussion
That's a nice blue dragonfly!... haven't seen one of those! And... thanks for not putting the "rear view" one up... (ok, it's probably gonna be there now, huh?)by joe_schmo - General Discussion
>Is that one of these? No... but that is one sweet Hopper! "bugs" get such a bad rap... they are soooo interesting...!! I know I have one at home... I'll put it on the dragonfly thread. I just don't think it's a "great" picture of one. I might have had to use some major zoom to get him.... seriously those little suckers are on a constant sugar rush or something....by joe_schmo - General Discussion
What! You only got 2 pictures of dragonflies! Protest. I guess I'll have to put up some more later tonight or tomorrow. oops.. by me... I mean my alter egoby joe_schmo - General Discussion
Ooops... Daniel, where are you from? (where'd you take the picture?) I put it on bugguide and I don't want them to be lead that it is in a locale it's not. And I don't want to take any credit for the picture either.by joe_schmo - General Discussion
Holy Crap. And I thought I was nuts. After minutes this came up on the bugguide page: "Nice image of a female giant ichneumon wasp, genus Megarhyssa. She uses that long, whip-like "tail" to lay an egg on the larva of another wasp that bores in dead trees and logs."by joe_schmo - General Discussion
>I thought it generally referred to crane flies and damsel flies. Yeah, sorry... I think we're both right. Looks like it is used for Crane, Dragon, and Damsel Flies...by joe_schmo - General Discussion
"mosquito hawk" is a common name for dragonfly I'm thinking it might just be a Wasp. Also think of just putting it up on bugguide.net and let them tell us...by joe_schmo - General Discussion
Ok. Thanks. I'm missing the trail from Chinquapin to Alder Creek. Sounds like a good reason to put it up higher on the list in the spring...by joe_schmo - General Discussion
Interesting. It's not a dragonfly for sure though.... It has Antennasby joe_schmo - General Discussion
This guy is from Nelson Lake. There were 100's on the shoreline (there are 2 in the picture along with 2 larva skins)by joe_schmo - General Discussion
For detailed weather I always use intellicast for Yosemite National Park. Take a look. weather.com and intellicast.com always seem to vary... For me... I've found intellicast more reliable...by joe_schmo - General Discussion
>If you're backpacking at higher elevation, the overnight temps can be considerably lower. Well... actually ... it depends... It's simple thermodynamics. Cold air falls. So if you camp down in a valley it will be colder than if you just go up a couple hundred feet off the floor. One example (and I have many more) is last Dec... top of El Cap very nice... hike down to Valley... and buttby joe_schmo - General Discussion
>What happened to the orchid discussion? I'm blaming Bee. and.. I'm still waiting for the "where was this taken" question to be answered... um, I mean that Billy Goat guy is...by joe_schmo - General Discussion
>Have fun. I'm rather jealous. Why? I thought you lived in the Bay Area... ???by joe_schmo - General Discussion
HD looks monstorously huge. And the foreground looks too "perfect". But it's a beautiful photo nontheless even if doctor'ed or whatnot. I'm just a caveman, sliderule taste yummy...by joe_schmo - General Discussion
The angle of the dangle and everything looks too spot on. btw. You can plainly see Modesto lights from the ridge SE of Kibbie Lake. And you can see the Coastal Range easily from Piute Mountain. I couldn't believe that HD was soooo clear in the Lick photo. But have been up there and seen it with my own eyeballs.by joe_schmo - General Discussion
El Cap is in the picture too.. plain as day... Take a look at this link too: http://www.flickr.com/photos/yzavala/sets/72157614402790202/by joe_schmo - General Discussion
maybe read this before you break your sliderule. http://www.eliasphoto.blogspot.com/ Post Edited (03-18-09 16:01)by joe_schmo - General Discussion
jormadotcom, So are you tooting your own horn? Was it you? Someone you know. ... first post... also on your website... ... suspicious... btw. how easy is it to "get your own website"?by joe_schmo - General Discussion
>Do you sit in front of a screen and keyboard all day like I do? O yeah... that's why job was put into quotes... I have no idea how I was able to make it thru the day before the web though. Luckily for me the wife lets me run up to my "backyard" on a ridiculous basis... Keeps me sane... (ok, some would venture otherwise)by joe_schmo - General Discussion
This is pretty cool. Nature Deficit Disorder I just KNEW I had some sort of affliction not wholely attributed to my "job". Now I just need to get a note from my Doctor so I can bail on Thursdays instead of Fridays...by joe_schmo - General Discussion
Hot Diggidy Dog, The show answer is no but that doesn't mean you can't have them. (studded tires do not subst for chains, you must always carry chains regardless of tire / 4wd, etc.) Here's a faq from CHiPs. http://www.chp.ca.gov/html/answers.html Ok, now I have to address the wilderness permit snippet: "he said that I couldn't rightly be expected to have one since the permit office aby joe_schmo - General Discussion
Hot Dog, The trail is in great shape. They've done alot of work on it in the last 15 years. The only section which is problematic now seems to be the area just above Columbia Rock which is pretty "sandy" and some schmos insist on cutting the trail and contributing to the errosion. It was in great shape last Dec. anyway.by joe_schmo - General Discussion
It's Tenaya Lake... not May. The creek can be a good 20-30 ft. wide in spring. In fall before any storm has come through: (the rocks in the picture above are for walking across)by joe_schmo - General Discussion
A torrent in Spring is a trickle in fall. Tenaya Lake -> Tenaya Creek -> Tenaya Canyonby joe_schmo - General Discussion
B, actually I think you should really just do Yosemite Falls the first time. I know a few people who were dragging some serious butt getting up to Yosemite Falls. You really need to see the "edge" of the falls and also hike up to Yosemite Point. More stuff I think you will plod by if you go to El Cap. As far as that Mike guy goes... man, I want to hike with him. He must climb someby joe_schmo - General Discussion
I would really recommend that you just hike to Eagle Peak and back. Eagle Peak is much more impressive in my humble opinion. I think it is a shame not to go up to Eable Peak, something you will probably do if you hike to El Cap and back in a day. The summit of El Cap may leave you wanting more... And to get more you should camp overnight and hike down to the edge. The edge is a good 500 ft. downby joe_schmo - General Discussion