Good News!by chicagocwright - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Quoteplawrence Quotechicagocwright Too long ago! (i.e. Not last night!) Didn't you skip eating at the Curry Pizza Deck during your last visit to Yosemite this past year? . Are you trying to start a fight with my wife and I again?by chicagocwright - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Quoteparklover Quotechicagocwright Quoteparklover I am sure that some people are going to get down on me for saying this, but I would have to hike a very long distance to like Curry Pizza the way it is now. IMO it has not been good for years and the Loft has better pizza. In December, we had Curry pizza and the crust was like those cardboard like, cheap frozen pizzas you can buy in stores. Weby chicagocwright - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Quoteparklover I am sure that some people are going to get down on me for saying this, but I would have to hike a very long distance to like Curry Pizza the way it is now. IMO it has not been good for years and the Loft has better pizza. In December, we had Curry pizza and the crust was like those cardboard like, cheap frozen pizzas you can buy in stores. We ended up throwing most of it away.by chicagocwright - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
I LOVE taking new people to Yosemite for the first time. So much fun!by chicagocwright - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
QuoteDave QuotechicagocwrightDave--I appreciate your thoughts. You are right, as I tried to point out, that all too often humans have done a terrible job of taking care of what has been entrusted to us. Despite that, my worldview would never accept the idea that we should ever put these things ahead of human lives. The trick is making sure we understand that sometimes "long term" neeby chicagocwright - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Dave--I appreciate your thoughts. You are right, as I tried to point out, that all too often humans have done a terrible job of taking care of what has been entrusted to us. Despite that, my worldview would never accept the idea that we should ever put these things ahead of human lives. The trick is making sure we understand that sometimes "long term" needs may outweigh short-term peby chicagocwright - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
QuoteDave QuotechicagocwrightPlease accept this as the naïve question that it is but if there is a bunch of burned trees in the woods that can be used for firewood why shouldn't it be used instead of just wasted? Is the thought that the process of gathering will hurt the area further? Does the gathering of this wood offset wood that might be taken in undamaged areas?Why do you assume that woodby chicagocwright - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Please accept this as the naïve question that it is but if there is a bunch of burned trees in the woods that can be used for firewood why shouldn't it be used instead of just wasted? Is the thought that the process of gathering will hurt the area further? Does the gathering of this wood offset wood that might be taken in undamaged areas?by chicagocwright - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
The 2% clearly did not visit the Curry Pizza Deck. SaveCurryPizzaDeckby chicagocwright - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Why would you disparage swamps? Swamps in Alaska, Florida, and Louisiana are wonderful places to visit!by chicagocwright - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
http://www.alaskadispatch.com/article/20131108/ak-beat-law-cracking-down-texting-drivers-ruled-too-ambiguous Black bears crash student dorms: Black bears at Sierra Nevada College have adapted to student life on the Tahoe campus a little too well, the college's newspaper Eagle’s Eye reports. The bears have learned how to open windows and raid students’ dorm rooms for food. Students say thatby chicagocwright - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
I'm certainly not the expert but got to do a little bit of Canyoneering/Big Wall Climbing a couple years ago in Yosemite. The short answer to your second question: If you have a 200 foot rappel, you have to have at least a 400 foot rope. You don't "tie your rope on to an anchor" instead you loop it through and pull it back out after the rappel.by chicagocwright - Backpacking and Hiking Yosemite and the Sierra
Sweet! Very nice. Did you get to do the pool jumps or was water too low for that?by chicagocwright - Backpacking and Hiking Yosemite and the Sierra
I've heard that standard "Your Permit has been cancelled" emails are going out to people who have reservations and are unable to pick up their Whitney permits. So yes indeed, anyone doing the hike would be doing it without a permit.by chicagocwright - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
How about Mt. Whitney? The permits that are normally required, and readily available this time of year are shut down. There were rumors of the road Whitney Portal road being closed but it seems as that is not the case. I haven't seen anything that suggests the Trail is "Closed" but YMMV. Of course, I am glad I don't live in CA. I would be VERY tempted to do an act of civil disoby chicagocwright - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
And they didn't say "procreate".by chicagocwright - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Quotetomdisco O.K., how far into the ice cave did you venture? You didn't come all that way and not do that! An "ice cave" is probably a loose description. Looking back at it, the loose ice boulders lying around give me a bit of pause. We went in as far as we could without equipment (crampons, ice axe, ropes, etc.) We may have tried to go a bit further down and try to cross the inby chicagocwright - General Discussion
QuoteSteveHall Quotechicagocwright QuoteSteveHall Fascinating trip report and photos. Looks like a fantastic area to hike through. I was curious about the polar bears... wouldn't they be way outside of their usual range in that area? My idea of a crazy joke to see if my friends in the Lower 48 are paying attention. They are the species of polar bears also known as Mountain Goats---very similby chicagocwright - General Discussion
You are all welcome. I am blessed to live in this wonderful place. I wrote out this itinerary for another site that provides a plan if anyone ever is visiting: First imagine yourself having made your way to Anchorage. A beautiful city surrounded by the Chugach Mountains on one side and the Cook Inlet on the other. You are minutes away from multiple trailheads and only a gorgeous 40 minuteby chicagocwright - General Discussion
QuoteSteveHall Fascinating trip report and photos. Looks like a fantastic area to hike through. I was curious about the polar bears... wouldn't they be way outside of their usual range in that area? My idea of a crazy joke to see if my friends in the Lower 48 are paying attention. They are the species of polar bears also known as Mountain Goats---very similar in appearance to Dall Sheep.by chicagocwright - General Discussion
Politics aside, I think both sides could join for civil disobedience of the Occupy Yosemite. The liberals could bring a banner protesting Republican intransigence and Republicans could bring a banner protesting Obama's intransigence. Base Jumpers could be the entertainment. Extra parachutes for those on either side who are particularly unruly. How about we meet at Noon on Sunday on top ofby chicagocwright - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Full Picture Album: Full Crow Pass 2013 Picture Album Crow Pass is a roughly 26 mile trek through the Chugach Mountains beginning in Girdwood and finishing at the Eagle River Nature Center. The hike begins with a 2,100 ft. elevation climb in the first few miles and mostly descends through valley of mountain peaks, glaciers, waterfalls, and a river crossing at the halfway point. My partnerby chicagocwright - General Discussion
If only I was nearby... I love the "no stopping" rule. That is hilarious. I was thinking how this would be the perfect time for a Clouds Rest/Half Dome hike even a Tenaya Canyon trek. For that matter, basejumpers should be taking this opportunity. All you would need is someone willing to drop you off as they slowly roll pass the trailhead--they wouldn't even have to stop! Maby chicagocwright - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
I plan on attempting a Crow Pass Hike this weekend with a friend-Friday/Saturday. Anchorage and the area just got a big dump of snow a few days ago so it will be interesting. I spoke with a Ranger and there are reports of a 4 foot snow drift at the top of pass and there is almost always snow on the 45 degree scree field descent from the pass to the start of the valley trail. We are overnnightinby chicagocwright - General Discussion
My first thought earlier when I saw this news was about the "propaganda" film coming true---Bambi.by chicagocwright - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
QuoteTedbay just curious. I know no guns allowed in natl parks but relative always carried gun when backpacking in Glacier (don't think it could stop a grizzly). did my first solo hike recently and worried wife a bit. do you guys carry anything for self defense like a gun. girl I came across was stalked by a mountain lion and was scared but she was small. gun, knife, or not needed? If youby chicagocwright - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
I promise I am not trying to be hard-headed or offensive and truly think I may just be plain ignorant. But aren't most erratics, at least the impressive ones, for the most part immovable? And the part I may be ignorant about it is seems to be an assumption that folks who may participate in activities such as the Mirror Lake "Rock Garden" would be the same ones breaking all kinds of otby chicagocwright - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Hey Guys, I know I am in danger of expressing my ignorance every time this topic comes up but it seems to me to be a far cry between leaving trash out, feeding wildlife, not using bear canisters, etc. vs. using or building cairns. Lumping all that together just doesn't seem logical. I normally carry a bag to pack trash left out by others and while I don't build cairns, I just don't care abouby chicagocwright - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
I frequently have friends who INSIST they saw a grizzly in California. Some even insisting they spotted the humped back/neck of the typical grizzly. I've always tried to explain that grizzlies are no longer present, and "black bear" doesn't necessarily refer to color. But Tomdisco presents an interesting question. How different are the variations of black bears in the Sierras?by chicagocwright - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion