Thanks for the comparo pic and the bug update. Grrr. I was really hoping the hot/cold would knock the little buggers out. Headnet, 3M Ultrathon cream and spray. Check. Check. Check. Benzocaine, Benadryl. Check. Check. Sigh.by JustKeepWalking - Backpacking and Hiking Yosemite and the Sierra
Ah, we have the car "glamping" down to an art. I'll try to find a pic somewhere of our "Camp REI" setup. multiple tents, kitchen, tables, alcoves, chairs galore, we settle in for a siege! I mean, the waste of it all... our Hobbitat 6 for just us two.. KING size air mattress. Down comforter what sprawl, what comfort! Royal spoilage... all at clearance and scratch and dent priby JustKeepWalking - Backpacking and Hiking Yosemite and the Sierra
Lovely, definitely seems like more water than when we were there a couple of weeks ago. Also this felt like the first warm weekend I can remember since Tioga opened. Seems like the weeks were hot, weekends cold until recently and the extra snow... Hm. Might be a nice walk down there... How were the mosquitos??by JustKeepWalking - Backpacking and Hiking Yosemite and the Sierra
Lucky you! Would have loved that water this past weekend! Cold, I hope?? the first section as you are heading down-river always seems coldest to me. Nummy!by JustKeepWalking - Backpacking and Hiking Yosemite and the Sierra
Skeeters weren't too bad, actually, I only have 5 bites of note. Basilbop didn't even notice them at all. Got a little spoiled car camping... Sleeping in, eating carnitas and eggs and hash browns for breakfast. Oh my. Good thing we have several backpacking trips planned already and more in the planning process!by JustKeepWalking - Backpacking and Hiking Yosemite and the Sierra
The day we did it, I could barely get to my knee, and I was searching for deeper water. It's snowed since, but I've never seen it with more than mid thigh in pretty wet years. (Sorry for delay in responding, forgot to follow topic, and pretty busy prepping for this weekend.)by JustKeepWalking - Backpacking and Hiking Yosemite and the Sierra
Right.. Slightly windy? Almost lost a tent and two ground cloths went flying in the air (not ours). We had our own troubles, though. The absolute hardest time so far pitching one of our shelters. Ever. I blame what the pink one calls "food mood". Some bird brain didn't eat enough later in the day.... Naughty parrot! I should have given him a cracker! (And I speak from personaby JustKeepWalking - Backpacking and Hiking Yosemite and the Sierra
Again, I agree with AlmostThere. Only GoreTex (or other waterproof breathable) shoes I use are mids for snowshoes. In warmer months (like our balmy high of 48 in TM last weekend), I walk through the water and keep walking, feet dry as I walk. If it's constant in and out of water, I make sure to dry them out fully before bed and use dry socks ("sacred" socks) for sleeping. I use BodyGlidby JustKeepWalking - Backpacking and Hiking Yosemite and the Sierra
When we did Bearpaw a few times years ago, they had down comforters which were great. The Yosemite HSC wool blankets proved themselves too heavy and cold for me time and time again, and I started bringing my own bag for use on top. I layered all the wool blankets I could find UNDER me, to help insulate from the heat sink that was the bed. That worked pretty darned well!by JustKeepWalking - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
I agree with AlmostThere.by JustKeepWalking - Backpacking and Hiking Yosemite and the Sierra
Wow, memories of a really good time. Something about those two mountains really hit me and I'd be happy spending a week just walking on them/up them from different places (or not) every darned day - the weather changed so much during the time we were there, no two days were identical. We *did* walk on one beach, for a few minutes... in the heat. But I was happiest over 10,000'!by JustKeepWalking - Backpacking and Hiking Yosemite and the Sierra
Funny. This was the first trip I was able to do after dad came home. And I totally didn't even see the trip report until late yesterday! Things have been a blur. It was such a gloriously relaxing weekend (except for the weight of 7 liters of water*), just what I needed. And the way I was situated at night in my bivy sack, I could just open my eyes and look at Clouds Rest, which has been my favoriby JustKeepWalking - Backpacking and Hiking Yosemite and the Sierra
I do love ultralight. I was down to 8.5 pounds base weight years ago with a four ounce backpack. Times change and I carry a few luxury items. And items which allow me not to worry while out there... So Basilbop and I always carry a key secured to the inside of our backpacks. One each. We often get back to the car late, and we need to get scooting back.... On solo trips, one in backpack, oby JustKeepWalking - Backpacking and Hiking Yosemite and the Sierra
So.. this was the final weekend I had "free" before I took over care of my dad at home, so it was a very special trip for me. Not only was it a culmination of over a year's worth of planning and shopping and scheming to help my friend backpack, it was a fabulous way to prep me for what was to come in my personal life. And though I wondered at the time how long it would be before I retuby JustKeepWalking - Backpacking and Hiking Yosemite and the Sierra
As I mentioned in another thread earlier today, my only real gripe was that the water levels were so low and relatively warm! I crave hiking through the cold water and I was only partially satisfied... Oh well! One funny bit, at least to me: upon arriving home Sunday night, I checked on my dad (who is recovering in my house after breaking his hip 6 weeks ago. I gave him the nutshell storyby JustKeepWalking - Backpacking and Hiking Yosemite and the Sierra
Out there this past weekend may 10-11. If using main trail from TM, patches of snow, easy, solid when cold, post-holey as it warms. Creek crossings were easy. Can use log over first, or walk through as I did and only mid-calf as I tried to find a deep spot near main crossing. I like it colder and deeper (but not too fast moving) to cover my knees. I was disappointed. Second creek's straby JustKeepWalking - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Basilbop and I backpack as a couple as often as we can. We've been hiking together and backpacking for over two decades now. I'd say over the past 10 years, given schedules (both) and injuries (mine), we've each had either solo trips or trips with other friends. Because of my injuries/schedule Basilbop has gone without me more than I've gone without him. And I find it VERY HARD to be left behind!by JustKeepWalking - Backpacking and Hiking Yosemite and the Sierra
Hi all. Been out of it for some time. Mom died Feb. 25, life rough before and very busy after. Basilbop has posted some of what we've been up to.. But in trying to catch up on site, had to stop to comment on this one. I was just at REI yesterday and was looking at this new Exos 58. I love my "first edition" one and was interested in the changes they made. I want to hear what you bothby JustKeepWalking - Backpacking and Hiking Yosemite and the Sierra
IIRC, you need a permit to hike Whitney, even as a day hike (in the Whitney Zone). Quota window is the only thing that changes through the year, and that's Nov. 1, I think. If you can't get a permit (which you can't during the shutdown), they can fine you, based on what I've read. Looks like NF land, the fine is up to $100? Up to $500 (?) in a National Park, and you cross into Sequoia National Paby JustKeepWalking - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
With all my soft tissue injuries..I've been warned off of hot baths (and even hot showers) by my PTs over the years.Inflammation is my enemy... Our house came with an awesome hot tub with a boiler sized for a pool which could get the water super hot, if desired, but I always came out feeling worse even though we got it pretty cool by "tub" standards. Finally ripped it all out, working oby JustKeepWalking - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Yah, usually the grouse are more skittish... but I recall two instances on that trip where they were asking for pics. One on the first day, where the bird was just hanging around, posing. The light wasn't the best, but it wasn't going anywhere And then after Mule, the grouse on the trail didn't seem afraid, weren't fluttering off in a loud thunder of feather flapping. At least they usually soundby JustKeepWalking - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
I've been sick for a week now, missing being out there in the mountains, so reading this now is just such a fabulous treat! I really, really, really enjoyed the trip! I'm sorry we didn't know/find the "easy" way down Horse! Maybe I can look at our pics, see where it was. We probably looked down on it? I think only one chute was full of snow/ice. After some of the stuff we've done aftby JustKeepWalking - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
I recall discussing whether it was a pheasant or a grouse.... I'm pretty clear on quail, we have families of them around our house, and they are noticeably different. I must've forgotten the quail talk. I'm used to calling birds in the picture "grouse", but I'm not an expert in recognizing wild birds. I am, however, pretty good at psittacines in aviculture, or at least, once was...by JustKeepWalking - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
How lovely to come back and see this post! Love that area! Sunburst pic was great! Thanks for the Rim of the World shot, too. Soberingby JustKeepWalking - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Looks like it was an awesome trip! Very jealous! Especially missed seeing/hearing the little froggies! I love froggies! Hope there were no froggie casualties! Poor little things seem to get stranded rather easily... Thanks for the post!by JustKeepWalking - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Quotemtn man ...and this site was very instrumental in limiting and hopefully eliminating people who were reserving and then selling at a profit campsites in the Valley. I am also very appreciative of these efforts! Thanks again to all of you!by JustKeepWalking - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Posting on Craigslist for SFBay So... the recent post on the "Thank You.." topic got me to do a quick search and I found the above posting on Craigslist. It doesn't seem right, but I haven't emailed the person to find out if he's just giving advice on how to use recreation.gov, or if he's doing anything that would be considered "wrong". What do you think? Are the scalpby JustKeepWalking - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Wowza! Great shots! Love love love the sunbeams!!! Thanks for the trail conditions update. Haven't been in the area since 2010... Lovely! An aside: I wonder what I would have thought of the water temp? I should start using a thermometer to get an idea of what my feet like vs what I'll swim in. I like it cold, in general... But I like icy cold for my feet: I-can't-swim-in-it-cold!by JustKeepWalking - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Awesome! Never have been around the same bear for that long a period of time! Glad to hear he wasn't trying to beg/"borrow"/steal any food from you or other hikers! What a treat you all must have had! The 4 Mile Trail is a favorite of ours and we do a number of variations/iterations of it every year with friends, etc! And yah, never really get tired of Glacier Point! Whatby JustKeepWalking - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Thanks for the trip report! Glad the modified plan went well! Too bad about the smoke, but at least it cleared. Really makes you value clean air, no? And if I named a fish Fred, I don't think I could eat it. It would have been hard on me just thinking about cleaning it, but naming it.. yikes!by JustKeepWalking - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion