QuoteOhnivy-Drak Wonder how many people witnessed the fall. Someone must have in order to report it. The article says that they "...appeared to have fallen from Taft Point..." That sounds more like the discovery of the bodies was reported rather than the fall itself being witnessed. It's got to be traumatic for anybody witnessing such a fall or finding the bodies after the falby DavidK42 - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Wow! Stunning images, David! (as always )by DavidK42 - Backpacking and Hiking Yosemite and the Sierra
And don't forget the old roads...they range from almost-still-suitable-for-stagecoaches (and, in some cases, even cars) to "WTF am I doing here?!?!?!"by DavidK42 - Backpacking and Hiking Yosemite and the Sierra
I've seen slightly conflicting reports and maps as to the exact location of Gentry's but I've been up and down almost every stretch of the OBOFR in the Park and certainly the stretch between TF CG and Rainbow View which would have included all the Gentry's locations I've seen referenced (not in that area but, FWIW, it's still a bit of a puzzle to me exactly where the old road went immediately easby DavidK42 - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Thanks for the detailed write-up. Looks like a lovely excursion!by DavidK42 - Backpacking and Hiking Yosemite and the Sierra
This is the first chapter in Huber's final collection of essays "Geological Ramblings in Yosemite" which was published just a few months after his death. (for bargain hunters, I'll mention that the book was $16.95 when I bought it a decade ago, but I see that the Yosemite Conservancy has now slashed the price to $7.99!). It's a fascinating book that gives you a real sense of the geoloby DavidK42 - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
OK, I know I'm late out of the gate on this one but I've been trying to struggle along with Picasa but there's just too much it's not doing correctly (or at all) anymore and it's time to move everything somewhere else. Is there any consensus amongst folks here on the best service to use? My primary requirements are Automatically uploads my photos from my (Windows) computer Respects my folderby DavidK42 - Photography advice, critiques and tutorials
Yes, the reliability definitely seems hit-or-miss with the Lumix line...my ZS20 was unpredictable prior to this one...in particular, it was very prone to (presumably) getting small specks of dust or dirt stuck in the automatic lens cover such that the cover wouldn't completely close (fortunately, it only briefly had a problem with not opening)...eventually it would clear up. Also had the more-thby DavidK42 - Photography advice, critiques and tutorials
My Panasonic Lumix ZS20 VERY suddenly gave up the ghost (and I mean VERY suddenly as in...took it out to take a picture...no problem...100 feet down the trail took it out again and got nothing but black on the screen (LCD works in all modes other than viewfinder, already taken pictures are fine, the lens cover is retracting properly but still, the lens seems like it no longer sees anything)).by DavidK42 - Photography advice, critiques and tutorials
Congratulations, Kevin! Will you also be getting married in the same grove?by DavidK42 - Backpacking and Hiking Yosemite and the Sierra
Yikes! Thought this was an April Fool's Day post for a minute but this sounds like they're anticipating one helluva storm!by DavidK42 - Backpacking and Hiking Yosemite and the Sierra
Yeah...what they said! Seriously, chick-on, thank you for all you do to keep the love of Yosemite alive...both on the ground and here in cyberspace! Have a fabulous birthday and wonderful year.by DavidK42 - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
It seems that it's all too common for "missing hiker" stories to end in "missing hiker's body found..." what a very nice relief to see one of these stories with a happy ending (and I'm sure it's a much bigger relief to Alan's family!)by DavidK42 - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
The OCR can be a bit of a bear to follow because there are a LOT of Forest Service Roads crossing it. If you went just slightly beyond Twin Bridges, you'd have noticed that when you climb up the embankment there, you end up on a modern paved road that goes both left and right. As nearly as I can tell from old maps, turning left there keeps you on the OCR alignment but if you're doing an out-andby DavidK42 - Backpacking and Hiking Yosemite and the Sierra
Any info on the nature and/or cause of the damage?by DavidK42 - Backpacking and Hiking Yosemite and the Sierra
Since we only do day hikes when we travel, we typically pick up several bottles of PowerAde Zero and do a roughly 50/50 mix of this with water in our Camelbaks. It adds a bit of flavor and also helps restore electrolytes and some vitamins. It's getting to be a bit harder to find, though (for example, on our way from SFO to Yosemite, our usual stops seem more and more only to carry GatorAde (whiby DavidK42 - Backpacking and Hiking Yosemite and the Sierra
We just got back to NJ this morning (have to head out on a business trip pretty soon so may be a while before I can post any photos). We ended up moving up to TM Lodge a day early and we were very glad we did. We had a good time down south but had to cancel all our planned hikes. Ended up doing the Mirror Lake loop and extending it up Tenaya Canyon to what I THINK is Hidden Falls on Day 1. LOby DavidK42 - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Thanks for the update, parklover. We'll be arriving in the park on Friday morning and have switched our reservations so we'll only be 3 nights at Yose West and the rest of the time at TM Lodge. I've got lots of "plan B" hikes sized up for the first couple of days just in case things are uncomfortably smoky.by DavidK42 - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
My wife and I will be making our annual trek to Yosemite and plan to be in the park from 9/1 to 9/7. The last 2 (possibly 3) nights, we'll be at Tuolumne Meadows Lodge but we'll be in Yosemite West for the first few nights (currently booked in there for 4 nights but may be able to head up to TM a day early). We'll be doing day hikes (on average 8-12 miles but maybe something a little longer...dby DavidK42 - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Sad commentary on the state of the lake but, on a brighter note, I LOVED the emoticon!by DavidK42 - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
That mostly sounds disappointing to me as well. I was amused, however, by the following sentence: Quoteparklover They now have something they call Irish nachos made with waffle fries, BBQ chicken wings, green salad, fruit salad, waffle fries, meatballs, pound cake and a cream pie of the day in addition to pizza. The way I read this at first was that that entire string of items was the list of iby DavidK42 - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
I've done the stretch from Tuolumne Grove parking area to about a mile beyond the lower end of the Grove. I'd planned to go out to Carlon Day Use but there was a last-minute issue with the pickup I'd arranged there and I realized I was going to have to turn around and climb back up the 3000 feet of elevation I'd just given up! I did go down to the road into Hodgdon CG later to see where I wouldby DavidK42 - Backpacking and Hiking Yosemite and the Sierra
Man! My palms got sweaty just READING about it!!!!by DavidK42 - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Quotergliebe I recommend you start at the trailhead off of the new Big Oak Flat Road near the Foresta turnoff. Just beware that crossing Tamarack Creek at this time of year (especially this time of THIS year) could be tricky but I'm sure someone else can provide more current intel on that than I can.by DavidK42 - Backpacking and Hiking Yosemite and the Sierra
Wow! It's still a great deal but, seriously, nothing says "screw you" quite like an 800% increase! (I've still got 10 months before I qualify for mine so don't have the option to buy now).by DavidK42 - General Discussion
Thanks for all the great pix! We've only been to Sequoia once...about 10 years ago. It was late summer but we hit many of these same locations and it's so nice to see them again! If you think the name "Lost Grove" is a bit odd (given the grove's location relative to the road), I seem to recall that there's actually a trail (starting in or near Dorst CG), which takes quite a few mby DavidK42 - Backpacking and Hiking Yosemite and the Sierra
Looks like it should be fully open not too long after that: Road work will still be underway when the road reopens...The road will be closed from 7:00 pm to 5:00 am for several days as work crews finalize the repairs to the Big Oak Flat road. That's pretty amazing work given what was involved in stabilizing this stretch.by DavidK42 - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Quotequmqats I've only been past this point once a long time ago, but I seem to remember its right there, like 10 feet off the trail. His exact phrase is "It's not entirely trivial to some/most to get to this spot..." This might mean that some people who are afraid of heights would have trouble, especially because there isn't a railing, and you're walking up to a cliff face where youby DavidK42 - Backpacking and Hiking Yosemite and the Sierra
Oops...I'm late to the party but Happy Birthday, Dale! It's hard to imagine this board without you! Thank you so much for all the incredible knowledge and experience you share with us all. Now go out and get some more!by DavidK42 - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Thanks for the TR, Kevin. Bryce is such a fascinating NP. Only been there once (for a few days) and, IIRC, Under-the-Rim was the only trail that I did NOT get onto so nice to see some of it from a hiker's perspective (even with the copious fog!). Glad you enjoyed the trip.by DavidK42 - General Discussion