This trip was a first in many respects for a number of people. Only Basilbop and I had done it before. All new to the others. The youngest was 14, his longest overall trip, his longest day, his longest continual downhill day. The oldest was 73, and as on previous trips with us, was FABULOUS. Basilop's sister's first backpacking trip as an adult and she did beautifully! And though backpacking wasby JustKeepWalking - Backpacking and Hiking Yosemite and the Sierra
We found this out the hard way after we arrived at camp. At 12:44 pm July 2, we were still within good cell data coverage, and had we been checking this website, would have known and coordinated differently with our friends who were coming up. Sigh. But it all worked out. Thanks Eeek - I hope your prompt posting helped others who were good about keeping an eye here!by JustKeepWalking - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
It's called riprap and you'll find it along many trails in Yosemite and beyond. Frankly, I prefer riprap to the loose jagged-yet-round-and-still-moves rocks they put on the High Sierra Trail as you get into the Kern river canyon and I believe we saw it again near Forester Pass a few years ago. The rocks are pointy, and since they are not fixed in place, move. Prime areas to sprain ankles, in my oby JustKeepWalking - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Eggscellent! As we drove by the trailhead this weekend, I remembered how lovely it was out there. Thanks for sharing! Lovely weekend, wasn't it?by JustKeepWalking - Backpacking and Hiking Yosemite and the Sierra
Sigh, love the Kuna Crest area! Miss it, maybe will have time later this year... loved looking at the pics, all good! Never get tired of it! Thanks!!!by JustKeepWalking - Backpacking and Hiking Yosemite and the Sierra
QuotetomdiscoI've hiked with others on this forum who use either a large tent like bivy or nothing at all. I do envy their ability to travel lighter in this regard but also know they have lower temperature rated sleeping bags than I do. I've been using a 30 degree down bag without liner. As to the claustrophobia problem, another thing that contributes to that is wearing multiple layers of uppeby JustKeepWalking - Backpacking and Hiking Yosemite and the Sierra
QuoteAlmostThereBivies are too confining... I agree, most bivy sacks are too confining for me. I sleep on my side on a thick (but light) mattress pad, and I like a lot of room inside so my quilt can loft fully. I ended up getting a "wide" model. The extra girth is not confining, blocks wind, bug barrier as needed and keeps my stuff from sprawling about at night. With all the puffies oby JustKeepWalking - Backpacking and Hiking Yosemite and the Sierra
QuoteAlmostThereLearn to love the canister. Great statement! I love ours!!!! Peace of mind!!!!by JustKeepWalking - Backpacking and Hiking Yosemite and the Sierra
Have found some high altitude spiders squished in between bivy and bag at times. But never been bitten, afaik, and I generally have bad reactions... I don't like bugs on me, but never had problems in bivy sack.by JustKeepWalking - Backpacking and Hiking Yosemite and the Sierra
Years ago started getting claustrophobic in tents. Never had that problem with bivy sack. Don't always zip up, and if windy/buggy and I do zip, I have a large mesh panel and can see...by JustKeepWalking - Backpacking and Hiking Yosemite and the Sierra
When car camping in a campground I prefer a big tent. One I can stand in and move around in. And change in without displaying skin to public. When backpacking, I prefer bivy sacks alone and w/shelter, if possible rain/strong wind. (MLD Trailstar current favorite). If buggy, tent with lots of mesh, so I can still see sky, and my own door, no fly unless rain might happen, at which point I willby JustKeepWalking - Backpacking and Hiking Yosemite and the Sierra
Weird thing is, we do it so often now, I don't really feel it. Seriously. Drive up, start backpacking from 9k'. Will be careful and have a slow start, but once warmed up, all good. (knock on wood and all that, since I just typed this out..)by JustKeepWalking - Backpacking and Hiking Yosemite and the Sierra
Going before the camps open is basically a requirement. The trails are much more pleasant that way. Except the trail crews hadn't gotten to Echo Canyon and those downed trees. Jeez. That's a downside...by JustKeepWalking - Backpacking and Hiking Yosemite and the Sierra
Now that I'm done responding directly to you Steve... I'll second wherever. Welcome to the forum and hope to hear about your trips!by JustKeepWalking - Backpacking and Hiking Yosemite and the Sierra
I'll add BackpackingLight.com for tips and tricks on lightening your load further. Many benefits to this. Also a lot of general tips/tricks there too. If you haven't done much cross-country work, I'd say stick to trails and start taking some cross-country excursions, trying to match what you see in the terrain around you to the map. Different areas have different personalities and you learn toby JustKeepWalking - Backpacking and Hiking Yosemite and the Sierra
Chick-on has been nothing but a gentle-bird to me. It's my own darned (yet dear) Basilbop who has sometimes lured me into "irritating" situations. I allow this to happen, I realize, because I do so love the country we explore. Basilbop is more physically capable than I am... Sometimes he forgets that and my own overinflated ego sometimes doesn't raise the flag soon enough!by JustKeepWalking - Backpacking and Hiking Yosemite and the Sierra
Glad you made it to Moose! I'd be okay returning as you did. Lovely walk any which way you cut it!by JustKeepWalking - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
re: brush shot. Yah, been there. Done that. Maybe laughed afterwards. First real brush-whacking for me was going XC from Many Island to Kibbie Lake. Some silly crack filled with brush. Just kept "jumping" into the brush to try to work my way down. Jeez. Worst brush experiences for me (have not yet been to Enchanted Gorge) have been around Cherry/Kibbie. Makes so much of everything elseby JustKeepWalking - Backpacking and Hiking Yosemite and the Sierra
Good for you for making a wise choice! The mountain will still be there. Come back and try again when conditions are more amenable. Once you get the idea of the route, maybe try again and challenge yourself with more difficult conditions. Build up to it. And as Chick-on said, thanks for coming back to report on your trip. I never get tired of seeing those beautiful places! Brings back all sortby JustKeepWalking - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
SEKI NP - went to Stage 1 fire restrictions today (6/18) - not strong enough for backcountry, I think. Inyo NF - Inyo wasn't loading properly for me, but their alerts page didn't have anything listed, unlike Humboldt-Toiyabe Humboldt-Toiyabe NF - certain ranger districts restricted to stage 1, but their Stage 1 is more restrictive it seems, and I'm all in favor of it. Sierra NF- no alerts I cby JustKeepWalking - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
I may get some heat for this, but I really wish they'd ban all campfires this season. Any elevation in all parts of the backcountry. What we've seen already is very worrisome. Conditions are really dry. It was sad to see so many sickly plants and trees. Very worried. Natural causes (t-storms) are bad enough. Human mistakes that could be avoided.. I say should be avoided.by JustKeepWalking - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
I went to try to find current conditions in areas of interest, but ended up backing up quite a bit to read even more. I've really enjoyed it. She's got a good head on her shoulders, and she writes well. And boy, can she hike! Thanks for sharing this post!by JustKeepWalking - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Loved the pics! All of them! Great seeing different perspectives on so much of the country we were hiking through about the same time! How fun! Definitely want to go back and visit the off-trail bits too... some new, some old. So much to say "hi" to! I seem to never, never get tired of all the great pics from you and everyone else! Keep them coming! And it was great knowing you were ouby JustKeepWalking - Backpacking and Hiking Yosemite and the Sierra
Thank you! You know, even though you weren't walking the same trail we were, knowing you were out enjoying the same area at the same time.. I don't know, it felt right and it made me happy. My little hiking flock was all together in Yosemite. Very satisfying.by JustKeepWalking - Backpacking and Hiking Yosemite and the Sierra
Now that sounds fun: another night out in the backcountry and finishing with the GCT! What all of us share is the desire to just walk all day out in the mountains. For some reason, we seem to crave that. Not really hard, not really fast, just happy wallking all day. I saw another thread someone said they had a peak bagger in the group.. a real stickler for that. I think we've all enjoyed peak bby JustKeepWalking - Backpacking and Hiking Yosemite and the Sierra
The first attempt I made at it (a few years ago?) (thwarted by mosquito bites and allergic reactions), when we picked up our permit, the young woman who gave us our permit said she and her friends (all workers of some type up there) had just done the entire loop in a day. And it was almost 24 hours! And they crashed and slept most of the next day. We ran into some Glen Aulin hikers on the way toby JustKeepWalking - Backpacking and Hiking Yosemite and the Sierra
We were just telling two of the group we were hiking with this past weekend that they really should *at least* go from the Valley to Merced (and beyond, if possible), the Merced river canyon is just lovely! You have a great trip planned, enjoy!by JustKeepWalking - Backpacking and Hiking Yosemite and the Sierra
A few thoughts: When I read what Basilbop wrote about Nic, I almost cried. He was an inspiration to us. I only hope I can wander amongst those mountains until I'm in my 80s. Water crossings - were disappointing to me on one hand, but since it was easy enough to keep feet dry, I did. Especially the second day, when I wasn't sure what the Glen Aulin jaunt would do to my skin...I've had wet feeby JustKeepWalking - Backpacking and Hiking Yosemite and the Sierra
So I made a permit reservation today and found out that the Rancheria Falls trail is now open. I was so excited to hear this (long story/reasons why), that I forgot to ask exactly when it opened. But it sounded recent and I was unable to find any articles announcing this. All I know is I got my confirmation and Rancheria is listed on it! YAY! I haven't been able to visit that area since before laby JustKeepWalking - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Great photos, thanks for posting, really enjoyed the night shots especially! Looks like it was a lovely trip! Also, Tenaya Lake, not Tioga. Not that we haven't been misleading folks ourselves!by JustKeepWalking - Backpacking and Hiking Yosemite and the Sierra