The through hike from Sunset TH to Happy Isles in the valley, via Clouds Rest and HD would be my first choice. It is a well beaten path and requires a shuttle back to you car, but will provide the biggest bang for your buck. Because of the popularity of these spots you'll never be truly alone when you're on the trails. However, if you choose your campsites carefully, and visit the summitsby Jayabrams - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
I'm taking the family to Hawaii at the beginning of summer and then going to this crazy party in the desert at the very end. So most of my vacations days are spoken for. I'll try and squeeze out a couple of weekends up in the high country when I can. It feels kind of strange that I don't have anything planned... A trip to Mt. Dana is high on my list!by Jayabrams - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Here's a good thread on campsites and hiking to Clouds Rest. My kids LOVED this trip! http://yosemitenews.info/forum/read.php?3,58086,58316#msg-58316 I will second what Chick-on said...Don't try to do too much, you'll have fun no matter what you choose!by Jayabrams - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
I've looked into that shuttle for a lot of different trips and have never found the correct timing or availability to make it work for me. Then again...I'm pretty impatient when it comes to those things, so I didn't try too hard to make it work. It IS possible! We live pretty close (and there were 6 of us) so we could bring a second commuter car for about the same cost as the bus tickets andby Jayabrams - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
PS...My little Avatar photo is taken from North Dome!by Jayabrams - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Hi Patsfan! I did that North Dome trip about 3 years ago when my kids were 10 and 7 and my wife was still crazy enough to come with me on these trips. It was a great trip but it tested us (as a family) to our limits. Which is kind of what I wanted... Here's a quick recap of what we did. It was late August and there was little or no water in Yosemite Creek/Falls when we went, but not maby Jayabrams - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
As my kids were growing up I had to come up with those exact types of trips to be sure the adults and the kids had fun. Spectacular scenery can be found anywhere in the park but one good choice,without a whole lot of elevation gain you might try is Tioga Pass Rd. to North Dome. From here, you can retrace your steps or you can extend your trip along the rim in either direction to the top ofby Jayabrams - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
I think you'll find all the info you need right here. http://www.nps.gov/yose/planyourvisit/hdwildpermits.htm Looks like you'll need to call and make sure there's none available (for BPer's) for your time frame and if not...I think the walk-up process may be your best bet. You must not have requested them on your original application, or there were none available at the time.. Get toby Jayabrams - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
That's really nice...I miss his posts too! He made quite an impression.by Jayabrams - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
I love this thread. Ever since my Brother and I rented a Fire Lookout called Acker Rock in Southern Oregon about ten years ago, we have been on the lookout for "Loo's with a view", or exotic back country toilets. The toilet for the lookout was down a trail about 100 yards through the trees and out of view from the lookout. Like the others in your pictures, it's just a throne. Buby Jayabrams - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Hi everyone, Back at my desk...ugh! On Friday, I set up camp at Pinecrest Lake and made my way up to Sonora Pass/Peak and the PCT via the Saint Mary's trailhead. It was a beautiful day and only saw three people on the trail. It is not often that I get to hike by myself and I really enjoyed the experience. The solitude is just what I needed, especially with a weekend of catering to my Motby Jayabrams - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Thanks everyone for your help! I'm leaving tomorrow and will have a full day to myself before Mom and the kids show up. I think I'l do some of the high elevation hiking on my own and then some easier stuff with the family. Blue Canyon and Blue Canyon Lake are at the top of my list along with Sonora Peak. I'll see what happens when I get up there. Thanks again for all the suggestions. Iby Jayabrams - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
OK, epic might be a bit of an over reach...I'll settle for "awesome" or even "really cool". I think I'm leaning towards a hike to Relief Reservoir from Kennedy Meadows. Thanks for that one, Jim! You people are awesome...as usual!by Jayabrams - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Hi everyone, I thought I would turn to my friends here for some advice on day hikes in the Pinecrest Lake / Sonora Pass area. I am sneaking away with the family for a car camping weekend up at Pinecrest Lake and was wondering if there are any epic day hikes that I am missing. I've done some initial research on the local trails near the lake and the easy ascent up to Sonora Peak, but not muby Jayabrams - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
OK...very subjective...I agree. And I would defer to the Chicken all day long... It is very fresh in my memory and we had a windless, bluebird day up there recently that gets me real fired up when I think about it! For new visitors to the park, It's a great way to go! But not the only way...for sure!by Jayabrams - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Neat post...thanks BanjoDave!by Jayabrams - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
I think your chances at a FCFS permit are very good based upon your plan and the time of year. Go for it! If you get in line early (1st 3 ppl or so) on Friday for a Saturday permit, you should be fine. If you miss out, go for the Sunrise trail head and go over Clouds Rest on your way to HD. You could even continue down to LYV and the valley floor if you leave a car there and do a shuttle hiby Jayabrams - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
I think there is quite a bit of over-reaction to this issue. As stated in all the reports, the main source of the outbreak has been closed to the public and only a tiny percentage of guests who stayed at ground zero became infected. I stayed at the HSC's where one of the infections occurred also, and I'm fine! That being said, there is and will always be deer mice in Yosemite that have theby Jayabrams - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Damn...that gets me fired up!by Jayabrams - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Thanks for your nice comments. I saw the two main backpacker campgrounds on the southern trails and both looked pretty nice. The Bright Angel campground is at the bottom next to Phantom Ranch along the opposite side of the creek. You can see them in this photo along the right edge. There are sites along the creek and sites along the cliff wall with a trail that runs between them. It lookedby Jayabrams - General Discussion
My brother and I got extremely lucky and snagged a reservation for a 4 person, private cabin at Phantom Ranch for Sunday night over this Labor Day weekend. Normally you have to make reservations a year in advance, but there was a cancellation right before he called the reservation # for another reason. Xanterra is the management company for a bunch of different parks. The agent mentioned it waby Jayabrams - General Discussion
I'm sorry to hear the trip didn't work out the way you wanted. But very glad to hear you're ok and heading back to the high country. That same thing happened to me on Whitney at about the same spot. I made it to the summit a few years later without a problem. It will be there when you come back!by Jayabrams - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
That is definitely a chicken cloud! It's just Mother Nature's way of saying THANK YOU for all the love you give to her!by Jayabrams - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
I've already forwarded this link to the authorities. They should be knocking on your door sometime later today!!! That's really funny and got me thinking....I've never even had to consider going without a permit before. I always plan ahead, but It might just add a new element of excitement! JK No matter how remote the routes I choose (not nearly as remote as most of you), I always seemby Jayabrams - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Nope...bastards left me to die...jk... They were very concerned but I was kindly accepted by a group heading down to the trailhead, so I encouraged my friends to continue. They kept me moving and kept an eye on me. Really nice people. I've returned the favor many times over since....by Jayabrams - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Here's where my we went! My best pics of the summer... The highest point on Devil's Island, in the middle of Crater Lake On top of Clouds Rest At the entrance to the Jot Dean Ice Cave near Medicine Lake...not a great photo, but cool anyway. Not done yet,,,Going to the Phantom Ranch in Grand Canyon over Labor day!by Jayabrams - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Hi Bear, I am surely glad that you're feeling better! You are a wise man to follow your instincts and return to lower elevations when you did. I hopes this serves as a lesson to others. I have had issues with acclimatization my whole adult life. Mostly my issues are the same as most. When I was younger I would drive from sea level in the Bay Area and start hiking by 10am. By 2:30 or soby Jayabrams - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Have a wonderful adventure. The weather looks great! Can't wait to hear about it!by Jayabrams - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
I'm really happy everything worked out so well! Those are some great photos. Thanks for sharing.by Jayabrams - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
I just got back from Lava Beds National Monument in Modoc County. Didn't get too many good pictures from inside the caves....Also took the boat tour and climbed to the top of Wizard Island in the center of Crater Lake! Then it was off the the beach house in Lincoln City, Oregon for a week.... Back to work now...dreaming up the next adventure!by Jayabrams - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion